I'm delighted to speak in support of this motion today and endorse what colleagues have said in praising the role of hospices and the services that they provide to those experiencing a life-limiting condition and their families. In my own constituency, I'd like to pay tribute to the League of Friends of Llanidloes Hospital. Their palliative care suite was officially opened last year, and I was delighted to attend the launch.

The suite was fully funded by the Llanidloes League of Friends and by the local community, through its own fundraising, as well. The palliative care suite has been absolutely invaluable to the community of Llanidloes and the surrounding areas, allowing people to access care and support outside a hospital setting. And it's designed in such a way that it's just so appropriate for families and younger children as well to visit family members that are using that facility. While I'm sure that we all recognise the important role that hospices and palliative care centres have within the wider care services provision, no funding—no funding—was provided by either the health board or the Welsh Government to support the establishment of Llanidloes palliative care suite. And this situation is replicated across the country.

And I agree with my colleague Mark Isherwood with regard to the lack of statutory funding from the Welsh Government, which results in financial pressures that restrict the ability of hospices to provide services due to the lack of specialist palliative care staff. So, it's now time, I do think, that the funding formula, which is 10 years old, is reviewed to reflect the recent changes in population need and to end the postcode lottery that exists, and the overreliance on the voluntary and charitable sectors. And I put this question to the Minister: is it right that, as I've outlined, it's up to communities and the League of Friends to raise funds themselves for a palliative care facility? Without that facility, people in that area would have to travel miles—miles—in order to visit family and loved ones. So, I do think we need to see some more leadership from health boards as well as the Welsh Government to deliver a more proactive approach to help hospices and palliative care suites meet future funding and operational challenges.

In conclusion, Presiding Officer, hospices and palliative care centres in Wales certainly need more statutory support to allow them to continue to provide the level of service and support they currently deliver to those coming towards the end of their lives, so we don't fall behind other devolved nations in providing fair and adequate funding for hospices.