The coronavirus pandemic has had a drastic impact on our health and care systems. Not only have waiting times for treatments vastly increased, but we have also seen fewer people seeking help for fear of contracting a disease that has killed millions of people in the past 12 months. So, whilst this issue has affected all services, it's keenly felt in stroke services.

Stroke is one of the leading causes of death and a leading cause of adult disability in Wales. Each year, around 7,500 people in Wales die from a stroke. Thankfully, thousands more survive, yet they are left with life-limiting disabilities that require a great deal of care and support. And it's believed that just over 2 per cent of the Welsh population are stroke survivors: that's around 66,000 people in need of services such as rehabilitation and mental health support.

Pre-pandemic, these services were already struggling to meet the needs of survivors, but since coronavirus took hold on our shores, around two thirds of survivors have not received sufficient care and support. It is little wonder, therefore, that in a survey of stroke survivors and their carers, over two thirds of survivors have felt anxious or depressed, and nearly six in 10 carers felt overwhelmed or unable to cope—hardly surprising when half of all appointments have been cancelled. We weren't doing great pre-pandemic, but we now have the opportunity to build back better.

We must have a new stroke delivery plan, and the new plan must put an end to the regional variance that has existed since the introduction of the last delivery plan. But more importantly, we have to ensure that we focus on implementing the recommendations of the stroke cross-party group to reconfigure our existing units into hyper acute stroke units. I urge Members to support this by supporting the motion. Thank you. Diolch yn fawr.