4. Statement by the First Minister: Review of the Health Protection (Coronavirus Restrictions) (No. 5) (Wales) Regulations 2020

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 19 May 2021.

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Photo of Jenny Rathbone Jenny Rathbone Labour 3:31, 19 May 2021

It's really fantastic that the people of Wales have responded to the regulations and that is why we are in the good position we're in, and particularly the sacrifices made by children on our behalf need to be recognised, as well as the fantastic work done by our NHS and social care staff in keeping people safe or looking after them when they become sick.

As we're now in level 2, I wondered whether your excellent new health Minister or yourself have had the opportunity to look at whether the regulations around out-patient appointments could be amended to make them less restrictive, given the importance of having somebody with you when you're being told what may be difficult news or complicated news to ensure that you've fully understood what you've been told. I think this is a particular concern for those who are pregnant and who wish to have their partners with them, and that isn't always the case, and particularly where the pregnancy isn't going that well or according to plan, it seems to me rather important. At the moment, it's absolutely down to the discretion of individual health boards and individual colleges, so I wondered if you could say anything about how the guidance on how the health service operates, interfaces with individuals could be amended to be a little bit less restrictive given that, obviously, people socially are able to meet in groups of six indoors these days.