Agenda and minutes

This meeting was held in a hybrid format, with some Members in the Senedd Chamber and others joining by video-conference.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 13.30

The first 8 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

The Presiding Officer will call party spokespeople to ask questions without notice to the Cabinet Secretary after Question 2.

View Questions

The item started at 14.20

The first 7 questions were asked. The Presiding Officer invited party spokespeople to ask questions to the Cabinet Secretary after question 2.

To ask the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire): What discussions is the Welsh Government having with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to provide guidance to farmers, and reduce the spread of bluetongue, in light of the first cases being found in sheep in Wales?

The item started at 15.05

Answered by the Deputy First Minister and Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs

James Evans (Brecon and Radnorshire): What discussions is the Welsh Government having with the Animal and Plant Health Agency to provide guidance to farmers, and reduce the spread of bluetongue, in light of the first cases being found in sheep in Wales?

The item started at 15.17

Russell George made a statement on – Constituents Completing the Welsh Three Peaks challenge by constituents in support of the charity, Max Appeal (21-22 September).

Llyr Gruffydd made a statement on - Wishing The New Saints FC well, as they represent Wales in Europe (3 October).

NDM8566 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Regrets the normalisation of women’s physical and emotional pain in their healthcare, as well as the expectation that pain is a regrettable but unavoidable aspect of women's health.

2. Believes that by consulting with gynaecologists, midwives and women's health groups, health professionals should aim to reduce situations where pain is expected and accepted as normal in NHS healthcare.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) strengthen the expectations for NHS services in the Quality Statement for women and girls’ health;

b) establish a legal requirement for healthcare providers to regularly collect feedback from female patients about their experiences and satisfaction with the care they receive, especially in relation to gynaecological appointments, midwifery and postnatal services, perinatal mental health and menopause; and 

c) introduce statutory obligations for the development, coordination and implementation of the Women’s Health Plan developed by the Welsh NHS and consulted on with gynaecologists, midwives and women's health groups, which should include measures to address and counter the normalisation of pain in women’s healthcare.

Co-submitters

Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Supporters

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales)

Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd)

Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

Lee Waters (Llanelli)

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

Samuel Kurtz (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

The item started at 15.20

NDM8566 Delyth Jewell (South Wales East)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Regrets the normalisation of women’s physical and emotional pain in their healthcare, as well as the expectation that pain is a regrettable but unavoidable aspect of women's health.

2. Believes that by consulting with gynaecologists, midwives and women's health groups, health professionals should aim to reduce situations where pain is expected and accepted as normal in NHS healthcare.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) strengthen the expectations for NHS services in the Quality Statement for women and girls’ health;

b) establish a legal requirement for healthcare providers to regularly collect feedback from female patients about their experiences and satisfaction with the care they receive, especially in relation to gynaecological appointments, midwifery and postnatal services, perinatal mental health and menopause; and 

c) introduce statutory obligations for the development, coordination and implementation of the Women’s Health Plan developed by the Welsh NHS and consulted on with gynaecologists, midwives and women's health groups, which should include measures to address and counter the normalisation of pain in women’s healthcare.

Co-submitters

Jenny Rathbone (Cardiff Central)

Jane Dodds (Mid and West Wales)

Carolyn Thomas (North Wales)

Supporters

Cefin Campbell (Mid and West Wales)

Gareth Davies (Vale of Clwyd)

Hannah Blythyn (Delyn)

Lee Waters (Llanelli)

Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Dwyfor Meirionnydd)

Peredur Owen Griffiths (South Wales East)

Rhianon Passmore (Islwyn)

Rhun ap Iorwerth (Ynys Môn)

Rhys ab Owen (South Wales Central)

Russell George (Montgomeryshire)

Samuel Kurtz (Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire)

Sian Gwenllian (Arfon)

Sioned Williams (South Wales West)

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8678 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, ‘Natural Resources Wales - Annual Scrutiny 2023-24’, laid on 21 May 2024.

Note: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 25 September 2024. Natural Resources Wales responded on 2 July 2024.

The item started at 16.28

NDM8678 Llyr Gruffydd (North Wales)

To propose that the Senedd:

Notes the Climate Change, Environment and Infrastructure Committee report, ‘Natural Resources Wales - Annual Scrutiny 2023-24’, laid on 21 May 2024.

Notes: The response from the Welsh Government to the report was laid in the Table Office on 25 September 2024. Natural Resources Wales responded on 2 July 2024.

The motion was agreed in accordance with Standing Order 12.36.

NDM8679 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) concerns raised by RNIB Cymru that around 80,000 people who are the highest risk of irreversible sight loss are waiting beyond their target date for an appointment;

b) that in April 2024, there were over 104,000 patient pathways in Wales waiting for an ophthalmology appointment; and

c) that the Royal College of Ophthalmologists estimates that demand for eye-care services in Wales is expected to increase by 40 per cent over the next 20 years.

2. Regrets that:

a) the biggest increase in the number of patient pathways waiting over a year was in ophthalmology;

b) the ophthalmic workforce has seen a 2 per cent drop in its workforce alongside a 56 per cent increase in referrals in the past decade; and

c) the electronic patient record and referral system, first launched in 2021, is still not operational across Wales.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) accept the recommendations of the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology and commit to making the investment necessary to prevent the wholesale collapse of eye-care services across Wales;

b) set out targets and deadlines for improving waiting-list backlogs, ensuring patients waiting receive communication about their clinical risk; and

c) publish a timetable for the development and rollout of the electronic patient record and referral system.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges ophthalmology waiting times are not where the Welsh Government or the public wants them to be.

2. Notes the number of ophthalmology pathways waiting more than two years at the end of July 2024 was 44 per cent lower than at the peak in March 2022.

3. Recognises the work being undertaken by the NHS Executive and the ophthalmology clinical network to reform pathways for ophthalmology across primary and secondary care.

4. Welcomes the reforms to optometry, which mean community optometrists are now able to diagnose, treat, and manage more people in primary care, providing faster and easier access.

The item started at 17.25

Voting on the motion and amendments under this item was deferred until Voting Time.

A vote was taken on the motion without amendment:

NDM8679 Darren Millar (Clwyd West)

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Notes:

a) concerns raised by RNIB Cymru that around 80,000 people who are the highest risk of irreversible sight loss are waiting beyond their target date for an appointment;

b) that in April 2024, there were over 104,000 patient pathways in Wales waiting for an ophthalmology appointment; and

c) that the Royal College of Ophthalmologists estimates that demand for eye-care services in Wales is expected to increase by 40 per cent over the next 20 years.

2. Regrets that:

a) the biggest increase in the number of patient pathways waiting over a year was in ophthalmology;

b) the ophthalmic workforce has seen a 2 per cent drop in its workforce alongside a 56 per cent increase in referrals in the past decade; and

c) the electronic patient record and referral system, first launched in 2021, is still not operational across Wales.

3. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) accept the recommendations of the National Clinical Strategy for Ophthalmology and commit to making the investment necessary to prevent the wholesale collapse of eye-care services across Wales;

b) set out targets and deadlines for improving waiting-list backlogs, ensuring patients waiting receive communication about their clinical risk; and

c) publish a timetable for the development and rollout of the electronic patient record and referral system.

The motion without amendment not agreed.

The following amendment was tabled:

Amendment 1 Jane Hutt (Vale of Glamorgan)

Delete all and replace with:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges ophthalmology waiting times are not where the Welsh Government or the public wants them to be.

2. Notes the number of ophthalmology pathways waiting more than two years at the end of July 2024 was 44 per cent lower than at the peak in March 2022.

3. Recognises the work being undertaken by the NHS Executive and the ophthalmology clinical network to reform pathways for ophthalmology across primary and secondary care.

4. Welcomes the reforms to optometry, which mean community optometrists are now able to diagnose, treat, and manage more people in primary care, providing faster and easier access.

A vote was taken on amendment 1:

Amendment 1 was agreed.

A vote was taken on the motion as amended:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Acknowledges ophthalmology waiting times are not where the Welsh Government or the public wants them to be.

2. Notes the number of ophthalmology pathways waiting more than two years at the end of July 2024 was 44 per cent lower than at the peak in March 2022.

3. Recognises the work being undertaken by the NHS Executive and the ophthalmology clinical network to reform pathways for ophthalmology across primary and secondary care.

4. Welcomes the reforms to optometry, which mean community optometrists are now able to diagnose, treat, and manage more people in primary care, providing faster and easier access.

The motion as amended was agreed.

The item started at 18.05

NDM8677 Julie Morgan (Cardiff North)

A fair chance – ensuring blind and partially-sighted people can live the life they choose.

The item started at 18.08

NDM8677 Julie Morgan (Cardiff North)

A fair chance – ensuring blind and partially-sighted people can live the life they choose.