Members can be assured that I will be asking for regular updates about the capacity for delivering this support, and it must be available in a timely and sustainable manner. We know that the pandemic has made it more difficult to provide the vital named midwifery and health visitor support following birth. I will be asking for updates for Members on how that is now working on the ground, following the more flexible guidance now issued. It's important we acknowledge that experiences have been more difficult for so many families through the pandemic, and may have increased the risk of birth trauma for some families. Women need, more than ever, the opportunity to discuss their experiences and their trauma, to fully understand what happened and prevent longer-term impact. Restrictions on visiting maternity units during the pandemic have been so very difficult for new parents, particularly if the birth has been traumatic. Health boards are required to continue to take into account individual circumstances, including mental health needs, but we need to be sure this is working as it should, and therefore health boards have been asked to review visiting restrictions on an ongoing basis. Lateral flow testing is also now available in maternity units to support better access.

I know, though, that, despite all these mitigating changes, experiences will be more difficult for too many. It would be wrong not to acknowledge that, and it's crucial we recognise that the impacts of birth trauma can occur long after birth, not least because not all women will be diagnosed with PTSD within the time frame for perinatal services. I know that all health boards offer a variety of services to support women in discussing experiences and referring on as necessary, but I want to see this taken forward to look at best practice pathways for women and families in Wales. Perinatal mental health services, like other mental health services, have continued throughout the pandemic. Across Wales, community perinatal teams have been working hard to ensure support has been available despite COVID-19, both digitally and via the telephone, but we know that providing face-to-face support when clinically necessary is vital. 

There are some broader themes and longer term developments that I think Members will also be interested in. For example, we're investing in Traumatic Stress Wales, an initiative that aims to meet the needs of parents who've experienced trauma. Some of this work has been accelerated due to the pandemic. An emotional stabilisation training package has also been developed for use across sectors. The training aims to support people to feel more confident to help people who've been affected by trauma, and I'm pleased to say that, as part of this work, there is a specialist workstream being developed on perinatal mental health. This will improve the effectiveness of psychological therapies for people who experience trauma and fear giving birth. Health visitors, midwives, neonatal staff and the third sector are all making a contribution to how this will work in the future, with the aim of developing a perinatal trauma pathway. We all want to improve transitions between services within the pathway, as well as increasing the capacity of specialist and non-specialist mental health services.

An additional £42 million has been earmarked for mental health support this year, with £7 million of that funding targeted at improving key priority areas, including perinatal mental health. As Buffy mentioned in her speech, the opening of the specialist mother and baby unit in Swansea bay is a significant step forward. This will help new mothers to get the specialist support they have a right to expect closer to home. The opening of the unit marks a significant step in providing improved perinatal mental health support for mothers in Wales, and we will closely monitor the transition to providing perinatal in-patient provision in south Wales to ensure the unit is delivering as it should.

I'm personally committed to driving the further work needed to ensure this provision is also made available for mothers who live in north Wales. There has been significant engagement between Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee and NHS England regarding a joint unit to offer provision for women in north Wales. Both the ease of access for women from north Wales and Welsh language needs will be fundamental to this development.

I'm also pleased to let Members know that health boards have now recommenced their work in improving community perinatal support. The push to meet standards set by the Royal College of Psychiatrists had been interrupted by the pandemic, but that vital improvement work now continues. We also have a rolling programme of audits by the Royal College of Psychiatrists to understand compliance and to understand where more work is needed.

Too often, the voices of women haven't been heard on issues that are central to their lives. We cannot let the pandemic push back the progress we have begun to make, particularly in relation to perinatal mental health. I'm determined that we catch up and leave no parent behind in our duty to support and protect families at their most vulnerable moments. Once again, I'd like to thank Buffy for bringing this vitally important debate forward today. I know that countless mothers and whole families will be grateful for her leadership in putting this on the agenda today and breaking down barriers for discussion. I, for one, will be very grateful if she continues to hold my feet to the fire and the feet of the whole Welsh Government to the fire on this issue. Diolch yn fawr.