English: As Members will know, the recent change in the cervical screening arrangements in Wales has been of significant public interest. This petition to the Senedd, titled 'Reinstate cervical screening to every 3 years' gathered 30,133 signatures in just three days, and a similar petition on the change.org platform has so far received over 1.2 million signatures. Llywydd, to put this into perspective, that is over 100,000 more people than who voted in the Senedd elections last May. This is utterly remarkable and it demonstrates the strength of feeling and concern about women's health in Wales. I don't pretend to be a medical expert, but what is clear to me is that women right across Wales want and deserve answers. The petitioner, Joanne Stroud, is passionate about the importance of regular screening and is pleased that the Senedd's petitions process has ensured that her voice will be heard on the floor of this Chamber today. Her petition represents thousands of women's fears, disappointment and dismay about how and why this change happened. Therefore, Llywydd, we asked the petitioner to close the petition after just three days, so that it could come forward to the Petitions Committee last week, and they agreed to request it be considered for debate immediately. I'm grateful to the Llywydd and members of the Business Committee for enabling this debate to take place today, and I'm also grateful of the Welsh Conservatives for offering some of their time in today's proceedings. I'd also like to extend my thanks, on behalf of the committee, to Gareth and Mared and the wider clerking team for all their work on this important petition. At the start of January, Cervical Screening Wales extended the routine screening for 25 to 49-year-olds from three to five years. The change was recommended by the UK National Screening Committee in 2019 due to the success of the human papillomavirus vaccine roll-out and the use of, and I quote, 'more accurate' cervical screening. This was announced on 4 January and a social media storm erupted - challenging, questioning and seeking clarification about why there would be a longer interval between life-saving cervical screenings. Such an important decision and change should have been carefully and fully explained and effectively communicated to all women in Wales. Social media is excellent for many things, but it should not have been used as the way to announce such an important issue. I do hope that this debate today will provide an opportunity to listen to the concerns women in Wales have, and to hear facts about why the changes to the screening framework have been made. Many women will not have been offered the highly effective HPV vaccine, which was introduced in 2008. For them, the key question is whether it is possible to come into contact with HPV and for problems to develop in the five-year gap between screenings. I know many of you will have read similar concerned e-mails to the ones I have received from women in my constituency who feel they are bearing the brunt of cost-cutting and time-saving measures during a period of extreme pressure on our NHS. Llywydd, in her petition Joanne states her concerns that these important changes have been made without public consultation, stating that the response to the announcement on 4 January was, and I quote, 'met with anger, sadness and serious concern for the cervical health of Welsh women.' She shares the concerns and questions of thousands of people in Wales about whether this change would result in later detection of cancers resulting in, and, again, I quote, 'more aggressive, lengthy and costly treatments', and is it ultimately a risk to life. These concerns have been widely reported in the media and on social media platforms following the announcement at the beginning of the month. And as I mentioned at the start of my contribution, over a million people have signed a similar petition on change.org, emphasising the genuine concerns, the genuine anxiety and the genuine distress resulting from the announcement, made without sufficient clarity or explanation regarding why the change was made. I'm glad to see that Public Health Wales apologised on social media, acknowledging that they didn't do enough to explain the changes, which created so much confusion and so much anxiety. They have since provided more information to explain the decision and tried to reassure women. Their communication strategy was clearly flawed to say the least, and I would call on them to carefully reflect and review their policy for the future. Clear, high-quality information is vital when sharing such important information and messages. When communicating with residents, you should do so. Isn't it in everyone's next appointment? Wouldn't that have been much easier, and wouldn't that have been the time to raise this important message? I must say I was also disappointed that such a significant change in our public health approach was not announced by the Minister for Health and Social Services on the floor of our Parliament in advance of the changes. All their adult life, women have been told about the dangers of delaying their smear tests, that a quick trip to the doctor every three years could make all the difference. It should come as no surprise that the announcement of a two-year delay via Twitter caused such extreme outrage. We, as Members of the Senedd, as their representatives, should have been given the chance to raise their fears and concerns openly, and for the Minister to explain the reasons behind the change in full. Gweinidog, I did read with interest the reports this morning from medical professionals, pointing to the vaccine as a crucial development, and I accept this. I would welcome you using your response to update the Chamber on the percentage of women in Wales who have been vaccinated. I would also urge you to use your response to address the information vacuum that was left by the way this was announced, and in that vacuum, I'm aware of young women throughout Wales who have been targeted by Facebook ads encouraging them to pay £500 for the vaccine. This has really troubled me. Llywydd, before I conclude, I would like to thank Joanne for petitioning the Senedd so that these important concerns about women's health are discussed here in our Parliament today. There are around 166 new cervical cancer cases in Wales every year according to Cancer Research UK. Screening to identify those at risk or who have cancer is essential. It can save lives, ensuring women or people with a cervix receive the treatment they need. Coincidentally, this debate is taking place during Cervical Cancer Prevention Week, and I hope it will contribute to raise awareness of the importance and benefits of cervical screening. There are many who don't take up screening opportunities for various reasons. We all need to support that campaign to raise awareness and aim to increase the take-up to protect lives. Llywydd, I look forward to hearing the Members' contributions this afternoon, and I look forward to the Minister's response, and I trust she will answer the questions of the many women who signed this petition, and those similar petitions out there. Diolch yn fawr.
Welsh: Fel y gŵyr yr Aelodau, mae'r newid diweddar yn y trefniadau sgrinio serfigol yng Nghymru wedi bod o gryn ddiddordeb i'r cyhoedd. Mae'r ddeiseb hon i'r Senedd, 'Adfer sgrinio serfigol i bob tair blynedd' wedi casglu 30,133 o lofnodion mewn tri diwrnod yn unig, ac mae deiseb debyg ar blatfform change.org wedi derbyn dros 1.2 miliwn o lofnodion hyd yn hyn. Lywydd, i roi hyn mewn persbectif, mae hynny dros 100,000 yn fwy o bobl nag a bleidleisiodd yn etholiadau'r Senedd fis Mai diwethaf. Mae hyn yn gwbl ryfeddol ac mae'n dangos cryfder y teimladau a'r pryderon ynghylch iechyd menywod yng Nghymru. Nid wyf yn esgus bod yn arbenigwr meddygol, ond yr hyn sy'n amlwg i mi yw bod menywod ledled Cymru eisiau ac yn haeddu atebion. Mae'r deisebydd, Joanne Stroud, yn angerddol ynglŷn â phwysigrwydd sgrinio rheolaidd, ac mae'n falch fod proses ddeisebau'r Senedd wedi sicrhau y bydd ei llais yn cael ei glywed ar lawr y Siambr hon heddiw. Mae ei deiseb yn cynrychioli ofnau, siom a gofid miloedd o fenywod ynglŷn â sut a pham y digwyddodd y newid hwn. Felly, Lywydd, fe wnaethom ofyn i'r deisebydd gau'r ddeiseb ar ôl tridiau yn unig, er mwyn ei chyflwyno i'r Pwyllgor Deisebau yr wythnos diwethaf, ac fe wnaethant gytuno i ofyn iddi gael ei hystyried ar gyfer dadl ar unwaith. Rwy'n ddiolchgar i'r Llywydd ac aelodau'r Pwyllgor Busnes am ei gwneud hi'n bosibl cynnal y ddadl hon heddiw, ac rwy'n ddiolchgar hefyd i'r Ceidwadwyr Cymreig am gynnig peth o'u hamser yn y trafodion heddiw. Hoffwn ddiolch hefyd, ar ran y pwyllgor, i Gareth a Mared a'r tîm clercio ehangach am eu holl waith ar y ddeiseb bwysig hon. Ddechrau mis Ionawr, ymestynnodd Sgrinio Serfigol Cymru y cyfnod sgrinio arferol ar gyfer pobl 25 i 49 oed o dair i bum mlynedd. Argymhellwyd y newid gan Bwyllgor Sgrinio Cenedlaethol y DU yn 2019 oherwydd llwyddiant y broses o gyflwyno'r brechlyn feirws papiloma dynol a'r defnydd o, a dyfynnaf, sgrinio serfigol 'mwy cywir'. Cyhoeddwyd hyn ar 4 Ionawr a ffrwydrodd storm ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol - yn herio, cwestiynu a cheisio eglurhad ynghylch pam y byddai cyfnod hwy rhwng sgriniadau serfigol sy'n gallu achub bywydau. Dylai penderfyniad a newid mor bwysig fod wedi cael ei esbonio'n ofalus ac yn llawn a'i gyfathrebu'n effeithiol i bob menyw yng Nghymru. Mae'r cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn ardderchog ar gyfer llawer o bethau, ond ni ddylid bod wedi'u defnyddio fel y ffordd o gyhoeddi mater mor bwysig. Rwy'n gobeithio y bydd y ddadl hon heddiw yn rhoi cyfle i wrando ar y pryderon sydd gan fenywod yng Nghymru, ac i glywed ffeithiau ynghylch pam fod y newidiadau wedi'u gwneud i'r fframwaith sgrinio. Bydd llawer o fenywod heb gael cynnig y brechlyn feirws papiloma dynol (HPV) hynod effeithiol, a gyflwynwyd yn 2008. Iddynt hwy, y cwestiwn allweddol yw a yw'n bosibl dod i gysylltiad â HPV a bod problemau yn datblygu yn y bwlch pum mlynedd rhwng sgriniadau. Gwn y bydd llawer ohonoch wedi darllen e-byst pryderus tebyg i'r rhai a gefais gan fenywod yn fy etholaeth sy'n teimlo eu bod yn dioddef yn sgil mesurau torri costau ac arbed amser mewn cyfnod o bwysau aruthrol ar ein GIG. Lywydd, yn ei deiseb, mae Joanne yn datgan ei phryderon fod y newidiadau pwysig hyn wedi'u gwneud heb ymgynghoriad cyhoeddus, gan nodi mai'r ymateb i'r cyhoeddiad ar 4 Ionawr oedd, a dyfynnaf, 'dicter, tristwch a phryderon difrifol am iechyd serfigol menywod Cymru.' Mae'n rhannu pryderon a chwestiynau miloedd o bobl yng Nghymru ynglŷn ag a fyddai'r newid hwn yn arwain at ganfod canserau yn hwyrach, gan arwain at driniaeth, a dyfynnaf eto, 'fwy ffyrnig, hir a chostus' a fydd yn bygwth bywydau yn y pen draw. Mae'r pryderon hyn wedi cael llawer o sylw yn y cyfryngau ac ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol yn dilyn y cyhoeddiad ddechrau'r mis. Ac fel y soniais ar ddechrau fy nghyfraniad, mae dros filiwn o bobl wedi llofnodi deiseb debyg ar change.org, yn pwysleisio'r ofnau gwirioneddol, y pryder gwirioneddol a'r trallod gwirioneddol sy'n deillio o'r cyhoeddiad, a wnaed heb ddigon o eglurder nac esboniad ynghylch pam y gwnaed y newid. Rwy'n falch o weld bod Iechyd Cyhoeddus Cymru wedi ymddiheuro ar y cyfryngau cymdeithasol, gan gydnabod na wnaethant ddigon i egluro'r newidiadau, a greodd gymaint o ddryswch a chymaint o bryder. Ers hynny, maent wedi darparu mwy o wybodaeth i egluro'r penderfyniad ac wedi ceisio tawelu meddyliau menywod. Roedd eu strategaeth gyfathrebu yn amlwg yn ddiffygiol a dweud y lleiaf, a hoffwn alw arnynt i ystyried yn ofalus ac adolygu eu polisi ar gyfer y dyfodol. Mae gwybodaeth glir o ansawdd uchel yn hanfodol wrth rannu gwybodaeth a negeseuon mor bwysig. Wrth gyfathrebu â thrigolion, dylech wneud yn union hynny. Onid yw yn apwyntiadau nesaf pawb? Oni fyddai hynny wedi bod yn llawer haws, ac onid dyna'r adeg i rannu'r neges bwysig hon? Mae'n rhaid imi ddweud fy mod hefyd yn siomedig na chafodd newid mor arwyddocaol o ran iechyd y cyhoedd ei gyhoeddi gan y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol ar lawr ein Senedd cyn y newidiadau. Drwy gydol eu hoes fel oedolion, mae menywod wedi cael gwybod am beryglon gohirio profion ceg y groth, y gallai ymweliad sydyn â'r meddyg bob tair blynedd wneud byd o wahaniaeth. Ni ddylai fod yn syndod fod cyhoeddi oedi o ddwy flynedd drwy Twitter wedi achosi cymaint o ddicter. Dylem ni, fel Aelodau o'r Senedd, fel eu cynrychiolwyr, fod wedi cael cyfle i drafod eu hofnau a'u pryderon yn agored, ac i'r Gweinidog egluro'r rhesymau sy'n sail i'r newid. Weinidog, darllenais yr adroddiadau gan weithwyr meddygol proffesiynol gyda chryn ddiddordeb y bore yma, ac roeddent yn tynnu sylw at y brechlyn fel datblygiad hollbwysig, ac rwy'n derbyn hyn. Byddwn yn falch pe baech yn defnyddio eich ymateb i roi'r wybodaeth ddiweddaraf i'r Siambr am ganran y menywod yng Nghymru sydd wedi cael eu brechu. Hoffwn eich annog hefyd i ddefnyddio eich ymateb i fynd i'r afael â'r gwactod gwybodaeth a ddeilliodd o'r ffordd y cafodd hyn ei gyhoeddi, ac yn y gwactod hwnnw, rwy'n ymwybodol o fenywod ifanc ledled Cymru sydd wedi cael eu targedu gan hysbysebion Facebook yn eu hannog i dalu £500 am y brechlyn. Mae hyn wedi fy mhoeni'n fawr. Lywydd, cyn imi gloi, hoffwn ddiolch i Joanne am gyflwyno'r ddeiseb i'r Senedd fel bod y pryderon pwysig hyn ynglŷn ag iechyd menywod yn cael eu trafod yma yn ein Senedd heddiw. Ceir oddeutu 166 o achosion newydd o ganser ceg y groth yng Nghymru bob blwyddyn yn ôl Cancer Research UK. Mae sgrinio i ganfod pwy sydd mewn perygl neu sydd â chanser yn hanfodol. Gall achub bywydau, gan sicrhau bod menywod neu bobl â serfics yn cael y driniaeth sydd ei hangen arnynt. Drwy gyd-ddigwyddiad, cynhelir ddadl hon yn ystod Wythnos Atal Canser Ceg y Groth, ac rwy'n gobeithio y bydd yn cyfrannu at y gwaith o godi ymwybyddiaeth o bwysigrwydd a manteision sgrinio serfigol. Ceir llawer o bobl nad ydynt yn manteisio ar gyfleoedd sgrinio am wahanol resymau. Mae angen i bob un ohonom gefnogi'r ymgyrch i godi ymwybyddiaeth ac anelu at gynyddu'r niferoedd sy'n manteisio ar gyfleoedd sgrinio er mwyn diogelu bywydau. Lywydd, edrychaf ymlaen at glywed cyfraniadau'r Aelodau y prynhawn yma, ac edrychaf ymlaen at ymateb y Gweinidog, a hyderaf y bydd yn ateb cwestiynau'r nifer o fenywod a lofnododd y ddeiseb hon, a deisebau tebyg. Diolch yn fawr.