I'm grateful to my colleagues for tabling this motion, especially given that this Saturday marks World Stroke Day 2022. As Mark Isherwood mentioned in his opening remarks, on average, 7,400 people a year in Wales will experience a stroke, the fourth leading cause of death in this country. Therefore, the importance of fast-acting, excellent-quality stroke services cannot and should not be underestimated, not just in supporting and treating patients, but within the wider context of pressures within the health and social care system.

But for this to be the case, the entire system needs to be overhauled. We have heard this afternoon about the importance of those first 60 minutes post stroke. In that time, treatment intervention can be the difference between a successful recovery or irreversible damage. And if you live in a rural area like Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, then the attainability of this target is one of huge concern. Since 2015, stroke emergencies have had no target time, meaning that patients displaying FAST symptoms can often wait several hours for an ambulance to respond to their call. And as we've heard during the debate, stroke patients do not have hours to wait.

Not only does the Government need to review its clinical response model, but it also needs to ensure that there are quality services in place to support an individual through their stroke treatment action plan. On both fronts, unfortunately, this isn't currently happening. Over the past few weeks, I've had the pleasure of meeting with both Carmarthen Stroke Group and Stroke Association UK on the Senedd steps to discuss the effectiveness of the FAST acronym, the importance of quality stroke services, and the administration of quick and fast access to healthcare. 

However, having reviewed the most recent SSNAP data for west Wales—the sentinel stroke national audit programme—where services are rated from A to E depending on their quality, it is clear that stroke services across the country have not received the focus and funding they require. SSNAP data for Withybush Hospital categorises four of their six ratings as outside the acceptable green zone, with their 'admission to stroke unit' rating scoring an E, the lowest possible grade. At Glangwili Hospital, both 'admission to stroke unit' and thrombolysis services were rated an E. And at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli, three services—stroke admissions, thrombolysis and occupational therapy services—received, again, an E, Minister. I'm sure you'll agree that simply isn't good enough, and this is happening in our region as Members. 

Let us make no mistake: the situation I have described this afternoon is certainly not the fault of our committed and dedicated NHS staff; this is the responsibility of the Government. But if we are to give any stroke patient the best chance of recovery, then we must ensure that stroke services across the board are the very best that they can be. This is our opportunity to overhaul stroke services in Wales and ensure that every person, no matter what their postcode, has excellent access to top-class services, which can take the necessary interventions to prohibit the irreversible damage of severe strokes. With that, I would urge all colleagues in this Chamber to vote in favour of this motion this afternoon. Diolch.