"The pandemic has exacerbated delays to diagnosis and treatment for life threatening illnesses"

Almost five-and-half-years after the Labour Welsh Government were forced to place Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in special measures, the Health Minister made the shock announcement that he was lifting it out of special measures, despite the Health Board again having the poorest A&E waiting times in Wales the previous month.

Responding to his statement in the Welsh Parliament, I praised "the heroic, hardworking" staff, adding "concerns lie elsewhere", that North Wales Community Health Council (CHC) had previously written to him, stating that "after nearly five years in special measures, much of it related to mental health issues", the findings of the independent review of Psychological Therapies in North Wales "are deeply disappointing", and that only the previous Friday the CHC had said, "It is vital that we present the experiences and suggestions of all those who use mental health services to those who make decisions and policies". I therefore asked why he wasn't waiting for this, "putting patients before politics rather than leaping into the dark?".

Speaking in the Welsh Conservative debate on 'The Impact of Covid-19 on Health Services', I detailed how the pandemic has exacerbated delays to diagnosis and treatment for life threatening illnesses resulting from over two decades of Labour Welsh Government policies, and called for action to address them, including a cancer recovery plan.

With small B&B businesses continuing to miss out on funding to help them survive the pandemic, I again called on the Finance Minister to provide an urgent statement detailing how she's going to support them.

Questioning the Education Minister about Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD), I praised Shotton's Ysgol Tŷ Ffynnon, the first in Wales to be awarded 'ADHD Friendly School' status by the ADHD Foundation, but called on her to respond to Flintshire parents who state that their children with diagnosed or suspected ADHD are not being properly supported.

I proposed a series of amendments to protect both tenants and landlords during Stage 2 proceedings of the Renting Homes (Amendment) (Wales) Bill, but Labour voted them all down.

Online engagements included Chairing the joint meeting of the Cross Party Groups for Funerals and Bereavement and for Hospices and Palliative Care, 'FNF Both Parents Matter Cymru', 'How Wales can become a Deforestation Free Nation' and Police Federation of England and Wales.

I also spoke to pupils at Ysgol Bro Famau, Llanarmon-yn-Ial, and answered their questions, during an online educational session about the Welsh Parliament.

Stay safe. If you need my help, email Mark.Isherwood@senedd.wales or call 0300 200 7219.