4. How is the Welsh Government working to support palliative care and hospices across Wales? OQ59361

Llywydd, phase 1 of our programme for government commitment to palliative care has been completed. Phase 2 reported at the end of January. The full programme will conclude by January of next year, as part of our continuing investment in a high-quality service across Wales.

Thank you, First Minister. Earlier this month I had the pleasure of visiting Sandville self-help centre, which is in Ton Kenfig in my constituency, and they have provided life-changing support for those diagnosed with cancer, Parkinson's disease, multiple sclerosis, dementia and other serious life-limiting and life-changing conditions for over 40 years. Sandville relies on the generosity of fundraisers, and they've recently done the most incredible refurbishment of the whole centre, and it includes, but is not limited to, a hydrotherapy pool, counselling rooms, a gym and mobility suite, and also, at the moment, they're working towards having a cabin that can be used for families when a child has cancer, so that the whole family can have respite together. 

Minister, I'm not alone, either, in recognising the work that Sandville does. Callum Hughes, service improvement adviser at Parkinson's UK, recently visited the site and said there is nothing like this in Wales or the rest of the UK, especially with their free, open-to-anyone, drop-in therapy sessions for people with Parkinson's each week. As you can tell, I'm incredibly proud of the Sandville centre, and I would like people from across Wales to be able to benefit from the incredible support, and also learn from their model of care, so that we can have this service across Wales for everybody who needs it.

So, First Minister, I'm just asking you today, really, to join me in congratulating the team and the trustees and the volunteers, as well as so many people from across Wales who have fundraised for Sandville. Diolch. 

Llywydd, I absolutely echo what Sarah Murphy has said in congratulating Sandville hospice. It is a fine example of the work that hospices do in every part of Wales. It has always been an outstanding example of voluntary and committed effort that people make in improving services in the way that the Member has set out, and the fact that Sandville hospice has been able to offer that service to the people of Bridgend and the surrounding areas for over 40 years is an incredible achievement, and something of which I know Sarah and many other people in that part of Wales are immensely proud. In the work that the Welsh Government is doing, of course, we look forward to continuing to work with the hospice and other hospices in Wales to ensure that anyone with life-changing or life-limiting illnesses has access to the best possible care.