I was very pleased to co-submit this debate today. It's clear to me and to other Members, as we've already heard, that there is far more that needs to be done in order to assist the high number of children and young people who do suffer migraine regularly in Wales. It's a huge problem that's been ignored for too long, if we're honest, and, too often, it is treated like any other short-term illness, but it's more than that.

The truth is that migraine is a neurological condition that can have serious consequences in the long term on a child's educational performance, never mind their self-confidence and their social lives. Children who suffer migraine can miss up to three months of school per year—we see that in statistics. We need to do more to tackle that issue, clearly, and that's what we're calling for today.

The Migraine Trust and other organisations offer a way forward, including providing the right support, not just to those who are suffering, but also to teachers, parents and the carers responsible for those children.

Research also shows that teachers are uncertain when it comes to helping individuals with migraine, but simple steps can be taken in order to alleviate the pain—drinking enough water, having access to a dark room, possibly. But, at the moment, schools and teachers aren't adequately trained to help pupils through these experiences. Almost 17,000 unnecessary trips are made to hospitals every year because of migraine. By providing better training, I'm confident that that number could be reduced, reducing the stress on the health service, and of course ensuring that children don't miss school too, which is key.

There are examples of good practice in Wales. In north Wales, for example, patients have seen benefit from the opening of the Walton Centre in Holywell. It's reduced waiting times for patients with serious neurological conditions. But, unfortunately, the same services aren't available in all parts of the country, and that's a well-rehearsed story, of course. And, generally speaking, there are huge problems in terms of waiting times, the resources available to patients, including children. People can be waiting up to two years for treatment in certain cases. At the moment, only three of the seven health boards, I believe, have the resources to treat the most serious neurological cases. Simply, we need a national plan to enhance services for migraine, to correspond to the fact that so many people are suffering as a result of migraine.

But there are other practical steps that can be taken too to improve the quality of life of children and people who do suffer: improving training for teachers, as I've mentioned; sharing guidance with children and young people as to how to manage their own care; and, yes, improving the provision of care through the health service for those who suffer most. The Government needs to tackle what is the country's most common headache, but, as we've already heard, which is far more than that too, and that is to ensure that it doesn't have too great an influence on the educational and social lives of our children and young people. And that's why we're asking the Senedd not only to note the motion as it appears before us, but also to support the principles underpinning what we've brought forward today.