Meetings
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Support for babies and new parents during Covid-19
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Meeting: 09/12/2020 - Plenary - Fifth Senedd (Item 5)
Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - Support for babies and new parents during Covid-19
NDM7462 Lynne
Neagle (Torfaen)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises that the evidence is
unequivocal that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to age
two, lay the foundations for a happy and healthy life and that the support and
wellbeing of babies during this time is strongly linked to better outcomes
later in life, including educational achievement, progress at work and better
physical and mental health.
2. Notes that since the outbreak of
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown and social distancing measures, a growing
body of research indicates parents are facing unprecedented pressures,
heightened anxieties, and are at increased risk of developing mental health
problems in the perinatal period.
3. Notes that the Babies in Lockdown 2020
survey showed that for 66 per cent of respondents from Wales, parental mental
health was cited as a main concern during lockdown: only 26 per cent felt
confident that they could find help for mental health if they needed it and 69
per cent of parents felt the changes brought on by COVID-19 were affecting
their unborn baby, baby or young child.
4. Notes that the New Parents and COVID-19
2020 research found that over half of the 257 respondents who have given birth
since lockdown felt that their birth experience was more difficult than
expected due to the coronavirus restrictions, more than 60 per cent not
receiving any form of post-natal check-up and almost a quarter wanting
perinatal mental health support..
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure
services and support for families during pregnancy and the perinatal period are
prioritised and that the midwifery, health visiting and perinatal mental health
workforce is protected from redeployment during the pandemic.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to
proactively work with health boards to ensure women can be safely supported by
their partners during hospital visits during pregnancy.
7. Calls on the Welsh Government to provide
additional ring-fenced investment for perinatal mental health services and
voluntary services to cope with the increase in demand because of COVID-19.
Co-submitters
Supporters
Minutes:
The item started at 15.15
Voting
on the motion under this item was deferred until Voting Time.
NDM7462 Lynne Neagle
(Torfaen)
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Recognises that the evidence is
unequivocal that the first 1,000 days of a child’s life, from pregnancy to age
two, lay the foundations for a happy and healthy life and that the support and
wellbeing of babies during this time is strongly linked to better outcomes
later in life, including educational achievement, progress at work and better
physical and mental health.
2. Notes that since the outbreak of
COVID-19 and the subsequent lockdown and social distancing measures, a growing
body of research indicates parents are facing unprecedented pressures,
heightened anxieties, and are at increased risk of developing mental health
problems in the perinatal period.
3. Notes that the Babies in Lockdown 2020
survey showed that for 66 per cent of respondents from Wales, parental mental
health was cited as a main concern during lockdown: only 26 per cent felt
confident that they could find help for mental health if they needed it and 69
per cent of parents felt the changes brought on by COVID-19 were affecting
their unborn baby, baby or young child.
4. Notes that the New Parents and COVID-19
2020 research found that over half of the 257 respondents who have given birth
since lockdown felt that their birth experience was more difficult than
expected due to the coronavirus restrictions, more than 60 per cent not
receiving any form of post-natal check-up and almost a quarter wanting
perinatal mental health support..
5. Calls on the Welsh Government to ensure
services and support for families during pregnancy and the perinatal period are
prioritised and that the midwifery, health visiting and perinatal mental health
workforce is protected from redeployment during the pandemic.
6. Calls on the Welsh Government to
proactively work with health boards to ensure women can be safely supported by
their partners during hospital visits during pregnancy.
7. Calls on the Welsh Government to provide
additional ring-fenced investment for perinatal mental health services and
voluntary services to cope with the increase in demand because of COVID-19.
Co-submitters
Supporters
The
result was as follows:
|
For |
Abstain |
Against |
Total |
|
41 |
12 |
0 |
53 |
The motion was agreed.