English: Our focus throughout the pandemic has been to support a flexible and practical approach to help children and families, and I recognise the comments made where families have not felt that that support has reached them. We are trying to ensure that our services work together and deliver as much support possible within the current restrictions that we're living with, and at the centre of this is the universal provision of maternity and health visiting services. I am still tremendously grateful for all the support that my own family had from maternity staff and health visitors when our own family was created. We need to ensure that we have the right services available to support children and their families. During the pandemic, maternity services have always been designated as an essential service and there has been no redeployment of staff. So, midwives and obstetricians have continued to provide the emotional and clinical support that every woman will require, using both face-to-face and virtual meetings. I do acknowledge the importance of parents being given the opportunity to bond with their baby and to make sure that the mother is supported through pregnancy and childbirth. The virus has forced us to make difficult decisions about partners attending hospitals. Revised guidance, which I note Lynne Neagle welcomed, on hospital visiting was published at the end of November. So, visiting maternity services will now be based on a risk assessment approach. That will take into account local and environmental factors such as room size, ability to social distance and infection prevention and control risks to enable partners to safely accompany pregnant women and new mothers. All women will be supported with at least one partner with them during active labour, birth and the period immediately after birth, unless there are exceptional circumstances. The recent visiting guidance does still limit visiting for neonates to one parent, guardian or carer at the bedside at a time. That's imperative to maintain physical space in neonatal areas, and to reduce the risk of infection and to keep these vulnerable babies safe. Individual circumstances can be taken into account where the benefits to the well-being of the patient or the visitor outweigh the infection control risks, but those risks are very real, as we all know. Once at home, midwives and health visitors continue to provide ongoing support and will work with women to assess their needs on an individual basis. Breastfeeding remains a key priority area and support has continued in different ways during the pandemic. I was pleased to see that the breastfeeding data published at the end of November shows that breastfeeding rates for the quarter have actually increased at birth, 10 days, six weeks and six months old. Health visiting services continue to provide a universal programme of support through the Healthy Child Wales programme. We did issue specific guidance to all health boards in March in response to the unprecedented circumstances. The guidance on provision advised a temporary reduction in the number of contacts. In August, that was updated, with the expectation that all health boards will offer the full range of Healthy Child Wales contacts without exception. At the height of the first wave, some health boards did need to redeploy health visitors with specialist skills to acute areas. We have had assurance that these health visitors have now returned to their roles, and we expect health boards to plan the workforce to continue to meet the requirements of the Healthy Child Wales programme. During the more recent local restrictions and the firebreak, health visiting services continued to support families and increase contacts with them. They still work closely with families and provide face-to-face contact, where possible. But if that face-to-face contact is not practical - and a number of families have not wanted to have face-to-face contact - they can, and do, offer virtual contact using Attend Anywhere to arrange appointments with parents that suit them. Throughout the pandemic, this is one of the points that Members raised again. My officials, led by the chief nurse, have continued to regularly meet with leads for both maternity and health visiting services to be aware of issues and to provide reassurance and assurance on service delivery. That's provided an opportunity for shared learning and a 'once for Wales' approach to solutions. So, we are still very much looking to have direct professional leadership and sharing of learning and experience across the country. Flying Start continues to be provided, and I'm extremely proud, as a former Minister with responsibility for Flying Start. The guidance we issued on 21 October confirmed that the full range of the Healthy Child Wales programme and enhanced Flying Start context should be delivered. There are excellent examples of children and families being supported in ways that are innovative, including online support, interactive parents' courses and children and family resource packs. One of the key innovations during this pandemic has been the use of virtual technology. We know some health boards have not had the equipment to run all applications, but our officials are continuing to work closely with health boards to identify their requirements so they can properly support women and their families. I do recognise that parents at this time may well feel a sense of isolation from families and friends, and that may have a negative impact on perinatal mental health. We remain committed to improving perinatal mental health services, not just following the investment we've consistently made since 2015, but our ongoing commitment, including during this pandemic. The money we made available for service improvement in the pandemic, and the additional money we've made, in line with the priorities in accordance with our 'Together for Mental Health' delivery plan, included, specifically, perinatal mental health services. We will continue to monitor the available evidence to understand the growing impact of COVID-19 on mental health. This will include population surveys as well as information provided by our NHS. We're also working closely with our national clinical lead for perinatal mental health to understand the impact and to agree how we need to respond to it. It is vitally important, though, that families know that perinatal mental health is still available, and they should not avoid accessing necessary healthcare. Our community perinatal mental health teams across Wales continue to show innovation and dedication, and they've moved to a range of different ways to support families where possible. I do understand how important peer support can be for new parents, so parent, baby and toddler groups I know can help reduce isolation, and support the emotional and mental health and well-being of parents. The current coronavirus regulations confirm that these sessions can take place. They're subject to the same requirements that apply for organised activities for the development or well-being of children. The guidance has been issued and is available on the Welsh Government website. As Lynne Neagle noted, COVID-19 has and continues to have a negative impact on the lives of our most vulnerable and disadvantaged families, particularly in the early years, where some services have been paused or scaled down because of the pandemic. The child development fund has been established to provide additional support to children and families who have been most affected by lockdown, to address concerns about developmental delay in key areas such as speech, language, communication, motor skills and personal and social development. I recognise that we must continue to develop a comprehensive offer for early years, to simplify the current landscape, and deliver a truly integrated early years system. We must do that by taking account of the emerging evidence on the impact of COVID-19 on children, and work with partners in health and social care to ensure that children and families remain supported during the extraordinary times that we continue to live through. We know that we are not in a perfect position now, and there is much more for us to learn from the real lived experience of parents. So, I don't underplay any of the experiences that Members have highlighted in this debate; we must continue to learn, develop and improve together. Thank you, Llywydd.
Welsh: Ein ffocws drwy gydol y pandemig fu cefnogi dull hyblyg ac ymarferol o helpu plant a theuluoedd, ac rwy'n cydnabod y sylwadau a wnaed lle nad yw teuluoedd wedi teimlo bod y cymorth hwnnw wedi'u cyrraedd. Rydym yn ceisio sicrhau bod ein gwasanaethau'n gweithio gyda'i gilydd ac yn darparu cymaint o gymorth ag sy'n bosibl o fewn y cyfyngiadau presennol rydym yn byw gyda hwy, ac wrth wraidd hyn mae'r ddarpariaeth gyffredinol o wasanaethau mamolaeth ac ymwelwyr iechyd. Rwy'n dal i fod yn hynod ddiolchgar am yr holl gefnogaeth a gafodd fy nheulu fy hun gan staff mamolaeth ac ymwelwyr iechyd pan grëwyd ein teulu ni. Mae angen inni sicrhau bod gennym y gwasanaethau cywir ar gael i gefnogi plant a'u teuluoedd. Yn ystod y pandemig, mae gwasanaethau mamolaeth bob amser wedi'u dynodi'n wasanaethau hanfodol ac ni chafodd unrhyw staff eu hadleoli. Felly, mae bydwragedd ac obstetregwyr wedi parhau i ddarparu'r cymorth emosiynol a chlinigol y bydd ei angen ar bob menyw, gan ddefnyddio cyfarfodydd wyneb yn wyneb a rhithwir. Rwy'n cydnabod pwysigrwydd rhoi cyfle i rieni greu cwlwm agosrwydd gyda'u baban a sicrhau bod y fam yn cael ei chefnogi drwy ei beichiogrwydd a'r enedigaeth. Mae'r feirws wedi ein gorfodi i wneud penderfyniadau anodd am bartneriaid yn mynychu ysbytai. Cyhoeddwyd canllawiau diwygiedig, a nodaf fod Lynne Neagle wedi'u croesawu, ar gyfer ymweliadau ag ysbytai ddiwedd mis Tachwedd. Felly, bydd ymweld â gwasanaethau mamolaeth bellach yn seiliedig ar ddull asesu risg. Bydd hwnnw'n ystyried ffactorau lleol ac amgylcheddol megis maint ystafelloedd, y gallu i gadw pellter cymdeithasol ac atal a rheoli heintiau er mwyn galluogi partneriaid i fod gyda menywod beichiog a mamau newydd yn ddiogel. Bydd pob menyw yn cael ei chefnogi gan o leiaf un partner i fod gyda hi yn ystod yr esgor, yr enedigaeth a'r cyfnod yn syth ar ôl geni, oni bai bod amgylchiadau eithriadol. Mae'r canllawiau ymweld diweddar yn dal i gyfyngu ymweliadau babanod newydd-anedig i un rhiant, gwarcheidwad neu ofalwr wrth y gwely ar y tro. Mae hynny'n hanfodol er mwyn cadw pellter corfforol mewn mannau newyddenedigol, a lleihau'r risg o haint ac i gadw'r babanod hyn sy'n agored i niwed yn ddiogel. Gellir ystyried amgylchiadau unigol lle mae'r manteision i lesiant y claf neu'r ymwelydd yn drech na'r risgiau rheoli heintiau, ond mae'r risgiau hynny'n real iawn, fel y gwyddom i gyd. Pan fyddant gartref, mae bydwragedd ac ymwelwyr iechyd yn parhau i ddarparu cymorth parhaus a byddant yn gweithio gyda menywod i asesu eu hanghenion yn unigol. Mae bwydo ar y fron yn parhau i fod yn faes blaenoriaeth allweddol ac mae cymorth wedi parhau mewn gwahanol ffyrdd yn ystod y pandemig. Roeddwn yn falch o weld bod y data bwydo ar y fron a gyhoeddwyd ddiwedd mis Tachwedd yn dangos bod cyfraddau bwydo ar y fron ar gyfer y chwarter wedi cynyddu ar enedigaeth, 10 diwrnod, chwe wythnos a chwe mis oed. Mae gwasanaethau ymwelwyr iechyd yn parhau i ddarparu rhaglen gymorth gyffredinol drwy raglen Plant Iach Cymru. Gwnaethom gyhoeddi canllawiau penodol i bob bwrdd iechyd ym mis Mawrth mewn ymateb i'r amgylchiadau digynsail hyn. Roedd y canllawiau ar y ddarpariaeth yn cynghori gostyngiad dros dro yn nifer y cysylltiadau. Ym mis Awst, cawsant eu diweddaru, gyda'r disgwyliad y bydd pob bwrdd iechyd yn cynnig yr ystod lawn o gysylltiadau Plant Iach Cymru yn ddieithriad. Ar anterth y don gyntaf, roedd angen i rai byrddau iechyd adleoli ymwelwyr iechyd â sgiliau arbenigol i ardaloedd acíwt. Rydym wedi cael sicrwydd bod yr ymwelwyr iechyd hyn bellach wedi dychwelyd i'w rolau, a disgwyliwn i fyrddau iechyd gynllunio'r gweithlu i barhau i fodloni gofynion rhaglen Plant Iach Cymru. Yn ystod y cyfyngiadau lleol mwy diweddar a'r cyfnod atal byr, parhaodd y gwasanaethau ymwelwyr iechyd i gefnogi teuluoedd a chynyddu cysylltiadau â hwy. Maent yn dal i weithio'n agos gyda theuluoedd ac yn darparu cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Ond os nad yw cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb yn ymarferol - ac mae nifer o deuluoedd wedi dymuno peidio â chael cyswllt wyneb yn wyneb - maent yn gallu cynnig cyswllt rhithwir gan ddefnyddio Attend Anywhere i drefnu apwyntiadau sy'n addas i'r rhieni. Drwy gydol y pandemig, dyma un o'r pwyntiau y mae'r Aelodau wedi'i godi droeon. Mae fy swyddogion, dan arweiniad y brif nyrs, wedi parhau i gyfarfod yn rheolaidd ag arweinwyr gwasanaethau mamolaeth ac ymwelwyr iechyd er mwyn iddynt fod yn ymwybodol o bethau ac i roi sicrwydd ynglŷn â darparu gwasanaethau. Mae hynny wedi rhoi cyfle i rannu dysg a dull 'unwaith i Gymru' o ddod o hyd i atebion. Felly, rydym yn dal i anelu ar gael arweinyddiaeth broffesiynol uniongyrchol a rhannu dysg a phrofiad ledled y wlad. Mae Dechrau'n Deg yn parhau i gael ei ddarparu, ac rwy'n hynod falch, fel cyn Weinidog a oedd yn gyfrifol am Dechrau'n Deg. Cadarnhaodd y canllawiau a gyhoeddwyd gennym ar 21 Hydref y dylid darparu'r ystod lawn o raglen Plant Iach Cymru a chyd-destun estynedig Dechrau'n Deg. Ceir enghreifftiau gwych o blant a theuluoedd yn cael eu cefnogi mewn ffyrdd arloesol, gan gynnwys cymorth ar-lein, cyrsiau rhyngweithiol i rieni a phecynnau adnoddau plant a theuluoedd. Un o'r datblygiadau arloesol allweddol yn ystod y pandemig hwn fu'r defnydd o dechnoleg rithwir. Gwyddom nad yw rhai byrddau iechyd wedi cael yr offer i ddefnyddio pob rhaglen, ond mae ein swyddogion yn parhau i weithio'n agos gyda byrddau iechyd i nodi eu gofynion fel y gallant gefnogi menywod a'u teuluoedd yn iawn. Rwy'n cydnabod ei bod yn ddigon posibl y bydd rhieni yn teimlo'n ynysig oddi wrth deuluoedd a ffrindiau ar hyn o bryd, a gallai hynny gael effaith negyddol ar iechyd meddwl amenedigol. Rydym yn parhau i fod yn ymrwymedig i wella gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol, nid yn unig yn dilyn y buddsoddiad rydym wedi'i wneud yn gyson ers 2015, ond ein hymrwymiad parhaus, gan gynnwys yn ystod y pandemig hwn. Roedd yr arian a ddarparwyd gennym ar gyfer gwella gwasanaethau yn ystod y pandemig, a'r arian ychwanegol rydym wedi'i ddarparu, yn unol â'r blaenoriaethau yn ein cynllun cyflawni 'Law yn Llaw at Iechyd Meddwl', yn cynnwys gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol yn benodol. Byddwn yn parhau i fonitro'r dystiolaeth sydd ar gael i ddeall effaith gynyddol COVID-19 ar iechyd meddwl. Bydd hyn yn cynnwys arolygon poblogaeth yn ogystal â gwybodaeth a ddarperir gan ein GIG. Rydym hefyd yn gweithio'n agos gyda'n harweinydd clinigol cenedlaethol ar gyfer iechyd meddwl amenedigol i ddeall yr effaith ac i gytuno sut y mae angen i ni ymateb iddi. Mae'n hanfodol bwysig, serch hynny, fod teuluoedd yn gwybod bod gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl amenedigol ar gael o hyd, ac na ddylent osgoi gofyn am ofal iechyd angenrheidiol. Mae ein timau iechyd meddwl amenedigol cymunedol ledled Cymru yn parhau i ddangos arloesedd ac ymroddiad, ac maent wedi symud i amrywiaeth o wahanol ffyrdd o gefnogi teuluoedd lle bo hynny'n bosibl. Rwy'n deall pa mor bwysig y gall cymorth gan gymheiriaid fod i rieni newydd, a bod grwpiau rhieni, babanod a phlant bach yn gallu helpu i leihau ynysigrwydd, a chefnogi iechyd meddwl a lles emosiynol rhieni. Mae'r rheoliadau coronafeirws presennol yn cadarnhau y gellir cynnal y sesiynau hyn. Maent yn ddarostyngedig i'r un gofynion sy'n berthnasol i weithgareddau sy'n cael eu trefnu ar gyfer datblygiad neu lesiant plant. Mae'r canllawiau wedi'u cyhoeddi ac maent ar gael ar wefan Llywodraeth Cymru. Fel y nododd Lynne Neagle, mae COVID-19 wedi, ac yn dal i gael effaith negyddol ar fywydau ein teuluoedd mwyaf difreintiedig ac agored i niwed, yn enwedig yn y blynyddoedd cynnar, lle mae rhai gwasanaethau wedi'u rhewi neu eu lleihau oherwydd y pandemig. Sefydlwyd y gronfa datblygiad plant i ddarparu cymorth ychwanegol i blant a theuluoedd sydd wedi cael eu heffeithio fwyaf gan y cyfyngiadau symud, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â phryderon ynglŷn ag oedi datblygiadol mewn meysydd allweddol megis lleferydd, iaith, cyfathrebu, sgiliau echddygol a datblygiad personol a chymdeithasol. Rwy'n cydnabod bod yn rhaid inni barhau i ddatblygu cynnig cynhwysfawr ar gyfer y blynyddoedd cynnar, symleiddio'r dirwedd bresennol, a darparu system blynyddoedd cynnar wirioneddol integredig. Rhaid inni wneud hynny drwy ystyried y dystiolaeth sy'n dod i'r amlwg ar effaith COVID-19 ar blant, a gweithio gyda phartneriaid ym maes iechyd a gofal cymdeithasol i sicrhau bod plant a theuluoedd yn parhau i gael cymorth dros y cyfnod eithriadol rydym yn parhau i fyw drwyddo. Gwyddom nad ydym mewn sefyllfa berffaith yn awr, ac mae llawer mwy inni ei ddysgu o brofiadau bywyd rhieni. Felly, nid wyf yn bychanu unrhyw un o'r profiadau y mae Aelodau wedi tynnu sylw atynt yn y ddadl hon; mae'n rhaid inni barhau i ddysgu, datblygu a gwella gyda'n gilydd. Diolch, Lywydd.