Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:51 pm on 10 January 2023.
Thank you, Minister, for today's statement. Of course, there is excellent work happening every day in our NHS, but it's important that we all recognise today the huge pressures facing staff. I've received so much correspondence that has been heartbreaking over Christmas—and I'm sure everyone else has—from constituents who are patients, members of patients' families, but also from workers who say, 'We simply can't cope. Yes, we're doing our best, but we can't continue to work at this level', and they are talking about leaving the NHS, and we can't afford to lose these people. Also, there are heartbreaking stories about people who are dying whilst waiting for ambulances, or those who are taking your advice, as you mentioned on Radio Cymru, and taking responsibility for their own health, but who then ignore symptoms that are very serious indeed and reach that point of dying at home or dying when they're at crisis point. So, can we have an assurance too that we send a message to people that they should continue to contact the NHS when they need to?
Another point I'd like to make—you also referred on Radio Cymru this morning to diabetes. Now, we must also recognise that there is that strong link between poverty and diabetes. If you're poor, then you're twice as likely to have diabetes, so what Rhun mentioned in terms of preventative is so very important. But how will we support people who now are facing the cost-of-living crisis and can't afford to eat healthily, can't afford to exercise? So, how will we ensure—? This is a problem for the whole of Government, and there is a responsibility on the Labour Government. You are in charge of health and you have that responsibility. We have to see some action.