4. Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Update on COVID-19

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:25 pm on 14 September 2021.

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Photo of Heledd Fychan Heledd Fychan Plaid Cymru 4:25, 14 September 2021

(Translated)

You will be aware that a number of health boards, including Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board, have put measures in place once again to restrict visitors to their sites, which, of course, is understandable. But, once again, we've seen restrictions in terms of when a partner or another individual can be with a woman giving birth, and it's only during birth and immediately afterwards that can happen—during active labour, as it's described. There are no visitors to prenatal or postnatal wards either, and there's only one person in terms of paediatric and neonatal appointments. With over 20,000 people in the stadium last week watching Wales, and I was one of them, I have received phone calls and e-mails that are very emotional from mothers talking about the impact of this on their own mental health, fathers saying that this impacts that important bond between themselves and their children, and in terms of paediatrics, children wanting both parents there, and children in tears because that can't happen. Is there anything that we can do to provide those assurances and to ensure that people get the support when they are most vulnerable and in most need of that company and to have that bond with their children so that this doesn't become a responsibility for mothers alone?