Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 4:43 pm on 3 November 2021.
I don't wish to repeat other contributions today, but I do wish to echo other sentiments and pay tribute to Rhian and others who have suffered the worst of times but have found the strength to help so many others. We are united today in our support, and rightly so. This is something that we hope we'll never have to experience but unfortunately happens, and whatever we put in place, we cannot end sudden or unexpected death in children and young adults, but we can take steps to reduce. But being able to ensure that the services are there when the worst thing happens is something that is within our control.
Looking at the petition, and specifically Rhian's response to the committee, I would urge the Minister—and I'm sure you have done so—to look carefully at Rhian's recommendations, because, obviously, she is coming from a place of experience and representing so many. In her correspondence to the Petitions Committee, Rhian mentioned the survey of bereavement services in Wales in 2020, and, as Sam rightfully mentioned, the lack of consistency. And though we do have a summary of those responses, it isn't clear what those services are, who's delivering them and neither what kind of support is being provided. In the survey, it also states that 42 per cent of services provide immediate support, but that isn't measured either. It isn't clear what that support constitutes. Rhian rightfully says that we need to better understand, even though this survey has taken place, what the current situation is, because my experience already as a new Member is that it is very difficult to find what services are available locally, especially representing an area such as South Wales Central, which, obviously, covers two different health boards and so on. It is very difficult to be able to signpost exactly what the services are.
As we've heard during this debate, the fact that it is charities such as 2 Wish that are providing this essential support means that it isn't mandatory at present. I think that's the thing that I would like to see come out of the petition more than anything else: we have warm words of support, we know the value of services provided, we realise the impact of organisations such as 2 Wish—we've also got organisations like Grief Support Cymru within my region—but, at the worst of times, we need to make sure that staff who are faced with grieving parents and relatives and so on know where to signpost immediately, because, unfortunately, as Rhian tragically experienced herself, that impact is devastating on parents and can lead to further loss and grief.
I would urge the Government to reflect on Rhian's thoughtful and meaningful reflections and recommendations, so that those are fully considered. I don't like with the petitions that we just note petitions. I know that is the way of the Senedd, and I find it extremely strange, because it's not about noting, is it? It's about wholeheartedly supporting the sentiment and the effort behind here, and it is about just ensuring that simple request of the immediate support being mandatory. If we can achieve that, I think that we will be in a better place to support people at the worst of times.