Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:18 pm on 29 September 2021.
Thank you, Mark; thank you for that intervention. Of course I will join with you; anything that improves and enhances the delivery of services to both those who suffer from dementia and their carers in a rural area such as Mid and West Wales—I'd be very happy to join with you and others in supporting that moving forward.
Over 17,000 people are affected by dementia in rural Wales, yet there are huge difficulties in accessing specialist support. Poor public transport networks in rural areas lead to social isolation and loneliness for those affected, as they are unable to access those specialist services.
As we've also heard, it's really important that carers must not be forgotten as part of this debate too. Difficulties in accessing respite care, especially, once again, in rural areas, makes carers' lives more challenging as they struggle with the pressures of caring responsibilities and a shrinking support network after COVID. And there is the embarrassment and sometimes shame that can come with a diagnosis or the potential of a diagnosis of Alzheimer's and dementia, and I can speak about that as somebody personally affected.
The work that our unpaid carers do is underestimated, and it's important that we properly support their work. My party has proposed a £1,000 increase in the carers allowance in order to ensure that we recognise their contribution, and I'm sure that others also want to ensure that that contribution is recognised.
I finish once again by thanking Luke—diolch yn fawr iawn ichi—for bringing forward this debate, and I hope that we can all work across parties to ensure that there is dignity for those we love, for their carers, and continued gratitude and the right rewards and recognition for the staff who look after them so expertly. Thank you—diolch yn fawr iawn.