Diolch, Dirprwy Lywydd. As chair of the cross-party group on stroke, I am pleased to introduce this motion on how COVID-19 has impacted on the 70,000 stroke survivors in Wales and their carers. I am grateful for the support of Members across my Senedd screen and look forward to their input, as, in the time allotted, I cannot possibly cover all bases.

Now, the cross-party group on stroke meets regularly and I'm regularly astonished by the number of people attending and the breadth and excellence of experience of all attendees, be they survivors of stroke or the foremost consultants in Wales. And the Stroke Association not only provides huge support to the cross-party group, but, more importantly, invaluable work with survivors of stroke themselves, as well as carrying out the research that outlined the huge impact of COVID on stroke survivors and their carers. The situation is desperate and there is huge suffering. The figures are there, and doubtless will be quoted by Members. Their truly heroic work goes on in our communities and our hospitals, and epic tales of heroism, of pioneering and inventive medical genius regularly peppered our cross-party group review into various aspects of stroke delivery over the last couple of years. Thank you to all who contribute to that in-depth review.