One in two of us will develop some form of cancer in our lifetime. This inevitably means that we'll all feel the effects of cancer, but much like many other diseases and illnesses, thanks to groundbreaking research funding, not all cancer diagnoses are a death sentence. We have made leaps and bounds over the decades, with survival rates doubling over the last 40 years, but inequalities still remain, so there is work still to be done. Reading today's motion makes me feel a great amount of sadness. The lowest single cancer pathway performance by tumour site is gynaecological, and one-year and five-year survival rates for cancer of the uterus have dropped significantly. This inequality is unfair, and it's only right that we discuss this on the Chamber floor together during Gynaecological Cancer Awareness Month.

If we're to save more lives, and if we're to reach the ambitions of today's motion, we must remove the barriers that women face at each and every milestone on their journey with cancer. It's absolutely shocking that 80 per cent of working women who work full time can't get a convenient cervical screening appointment. If we are to save more lives, we need to be diagnosing early. We'll only make sure this happens if women are able to arrange appointments when needed. This, to me, has to be the most important aspect of the cancer action plan. After receiving a diagnosis, too often we hear stories from women who are waiting unacceptable durations from one appointment to the next. The uncertainty this causes leads to an even further decline in their health and mental health. Conducting an urgent review into gynaecological waiting times is a must if we are to bring this to an end.

I think, during these debates, the language that we use and the points that we make can make NHS staff feel as if they're the ones to blame. So, let me make one thing absolutely clear: NHS staff aren't the problem. We need more dedicated NHS staff, so that doctors and nurses aren't working more than their contracted hours out of goodwill. We need more dedicated NHS staff to plug the gaps in endoscopy, imaging, pathology and non-surgical oncology. They aren't the problem; they are the solution, and I can't thank them enough for their work. We need to unashamedly support the new Velindre Cancer Centre, not shy away from it or treat it as some sort of profanity. We need to unashamedly support the plans for the centre of true world-class standard in the treatment of all types of cancer care—no ifs, no buts.

I'd like to finish my contribution today with a thank you to Wayne Griffiths, who some of you met earlier this year at the Senedd. As many of you will know, I am a proud support of the Forget Me Not fund, which is a tribute fund in loving memory of Rhian Griffiths, who sadly passed away at the age of 25 in June 2012 from cervical cancer. Rhian's story and her legacy, thanks to her parents, changes lives every day. Let's take inspiration from Rhian, from her parents, from the Forget Me Not fund that celebrates its 10-year anniversary this year, to ensure that we can change the outcomes for women diagnosed with gynaecological cancer in Wales. Diolch.