English: Can I thank Plaid for tabling this important debate today? When the health committee formed last year, as lots of committees do, it sent out a consultation to relevant stakeholders, and that was one overwhelming response that came back, the need to focus on women's health issues, and, as a result, all committee members agreed that this would be a priority for the health committee in this Senedd. So, can I thank Plaid Cymru for bringing forward the debate? And we will be supporting, as Welsh Conservatives, the Plaid motion as it's laid today as well. As part of our work as a committee, we asked the Women's Health Wales Coalition to come and speak to us, to give us their perspectives in a public evidence session back in March, so I'm going to outline some of the issues that they raised. And from that, we also took up some of the issues with the Minister, but the evidence that we took on that day will help us to undertake some of our other work as well, across the rest of this term. What the coalition did tell us is that women are more likely to experience poorer health than men, and often symptoms go misdiagnosed or untreated. They said that women experience delays in diagnosis and care as well. A report published back in December 2019 told all four UK nations that we need a women's healthcare plan, and in Scotland, in fact, they're leading the way, in fairness to Scotland. Their plan came forward in August 2021. The UK Government for England, their plan is currently out for consultation, so, of course, we're concerned that Wales is not left behind in this regard. One of the issues that the coalition raised with us is the lack of data. One possible reason for this could be the under-representation of women on trials, often an issue that will lead to that lack of information, that lack of data. Access to specialist services was another issue raised with us. The existing models of healthcare provision in Wales have historically not worked for women because they're being centred or not tailored to specific needs - an issue that the coalition specifically raised with us. Those requiring different specialists that they can find are not adequately being joined up, and the lack of collaboration as well between health boards in developing specialist services and making them universally available. Information and communication is another issue that was raised strongly with us, as well. Of course, the example there was the recent miscommunication about the cervical screening programme. That's highlighted the importance of clear and accurate communications. Mental health was, of course, another issue raised with us as a committee by the coalition. A report by the UK women's mental health taskforce found that women are more likely to experience common mental health conditions such as anxiety and depression than men, and they say that this, especially in young women, particularly in younger groups of women, is mainly because their anxiety builds up about their conditions not being identified correctly. Education and training was another issue raised. What the coalition highlighted to us there was the priority need for improved training for healthcare professionals. Again, they suggested areas of improvement, including improved medical training specifically on women's health to be prioritised in foundation doctors' training, to address unconscious bias and to raise awareness as well. And then the last point I'd raise is preventative health. I'm sure we all agree with that and the Minister will agree with that as well. But the coalition suggested that, in many cases, alcohol consumption, smoking, et cetera, were quite common mechanisms for dealing with issues in life, including chronic illness as well. What they said is that without better understanding of what is driving girls and women to engage in these behaviours, it would be very difficult to design services to meet those particular needs. So, I hope - . Thanks very much. My time's run out, I notice, but thanks to Plaid for bringing forward this debate today, and I look forward to the rest of the contributions from Members.
Welsh: A gaf fi ddiolch i Blaid Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl bwysig hon heddiw? Pan ffurfiwyd y pwyllgor iechyd y llynedd, fel y mae llawer o bwyllgorau'n ei wneud, anfonodd ymgynghoriad at randdeiliaid perthnasol, a'r ymateb mwyaf a gafwyd oedd yr angen i ganolbwyntio ar faterion iechyd menywod, ac o ganlyniad, cytunodd holl aelodau'r pwyllgor y byddai hyn yn flaenoriaeth i'r pwyllgor iechyd yn y Senedd hon. Felly, a gaf fi ddiolch i Blaid Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl? Ac fel Ceidwadwyr Cymreig, byddwn yn cefnogi cynnig Plaid Cymru fel y'i cyflwynwyd heddiw hefyd. Fel rhan o'n gwaith fel pwyllgor, gwnaethom ofyn i Glymblaid Iechyd Menywod Cymru ddod i siarad â ni, i roi eu safbwyntiau i ni mewn sesiwn dystiolaeth gyhoeddus yn ôl ym mis Mawrth, felly rwyf am amlinellu rhai o'r materion a godwyd ganddynt. Ac o hynny hefyd, tynnwyd sylw'r Gweinidog at rai o'r materion, ond bydd y dystiolaeth a gawsom ar y diwrnod hwnnw yn ein helpu i wneud rhywfaint o'n gwaith arall hefyd drwy gydol gweddill y tymor hwn. Yr hyn a ddywedodd y glymblaid wrthym yw bod menywod yn fwy tebygol o brofi iechyd gwaeth na dynion, ac y gwneir diagnosis anghywir o symptomau'n aml neu ni chânt eu trin. Roeddent yn dweud hefyd fod menywod yn wynebu oedi cyn cael diagnosis a gofal. Dywedodd adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd yn ôl ym mis Rhagfyr 2019 wrth bob un o bedair gwlad y DU fod angen cynllun gofal iechyd menywod arnom, ac yn yr Alban, maent yn arwain y ffordd, er tegwch i'r Alban. Cyflwynwyd eu cynllun ym mis Awst 2021. Mae cynllun Llywodraeth y DU ar gyfer Lloegr yn destun ymgynghoriad ar hyn o bryd, felly rydym yn awyddus i sicrhau na chaiff Cymru ei gadael ar ôl yn hyn o beth wrth gwrs. Un o'r materion a nododd y glymblaid yw prinder data. Un rheswm posibl am hyn yw'r ffaith nad yw menywod wedi'u cynrychioli'n ddigonol mewn treialon, sy'n aml yn broblem a fydd yn arwain at y diffyg gwybodaeth, at y prinder data. Roedd mynediad at wasanaethau arbenigol yn fater arall a nodwyd. Yn hanesyddol, nid yw'r modelau darparu gofal iechyd presennol yng Nghymru wedi gweithio i fenywod gan eu bod wedi'u canoli neu heb eu teilwra i anghenion penodol - mater a nododd y glymblaid yn benodol. Nid yw'r modelau sydd angen arbenigwyr gwahanol y gallant ddod o hyd iddynt yn cael eu cydgysylltu'n effeithiol, a'r diffyg cydweithredu hefyd rhwng byrddau iechyd wrth ddatblygu gwasanaethau arbenigol a sicrhau eu bod ar gael i bawb. Mae gwybodaeth a chyfathrebu'n fater arall a nodwyd yn bendant hefyd. Wrth gwrs, yr enghraifft yno oedd y camgyfathrebu diweddar ynghylch y rhaglen sgrinio serfigol. Mae hynny wedi amlygu pwysigrwydd cyfathrebu clir a chywir. Roedd iechyd meddwl, wrth gwrs, yn fater arall a gafodd ei ddwyn i'n sylw fel pwyllgor gan y glymblaid. Canfu adroddiad gan dasglu iechyd meddwl menywod y DU fod menywod yn fwy tebygol o gael cyflyrau iechyd meddwl cyffredin fel gorbryder ac iselder na dynion, a dywedant fod hyn, yn enwedig ymhlith menywod ifanc, ac mewn grwpiau iau o fenywod yn benodol, yn deillio'n bennaf o'u gorbryder cynyddol nad ydynt yn gwybod yn iawn pa gyflwr sydd arnynt. Roedd addysg a hyfforddiant yn fater arall a godwyd. Tynnodd y glymblaid ein sylw at yr angen blaenoriaethol am well hyfforddiant i weithwyr gofal iechyd proffesiynol. Unwaith eto, gwnaethant awgrymu meysydd i'w gwella, gan gynnwys blaenoriaethu gwell hyfforddiant meddygol ar iechyd menywod yn benodol mewn hyfforddiant sylfaenol i feddygon, er mwyn mynd i'r afael â rhagfarn ddiarwybod ac i godi ymwybyddiaeth hefyd. A'r pwynt olaf yr hoffwn ei godi yw iechyd ataliol. Rwy'n siŵr fod pob un ohonom yn cytuno â hynny ac y bydd y Gweinidog yn cytuno â hynny hefyd. Ond awgrymodd y glymblaid, mewn sawl achos, fod yfed alcohol, ysmygu, ac ati, yn ddulliau eithaf cyffredin o ymdopi â phroblemau mewn bywyd, gan gynnwys salwch cronig. Heb ddealltwriaeth well o'r hyn sy'n ysgogi'r ymddygiad hwn ymhlith merched a menywod, roeddent yn dweud y byddai'n anodd iawn cynllunio gwasanaethau i ddiwallu'r anghenion penodol hynny. Felly, rwy'n gobeithio - . Diolch yn fawr iawn. Nodaf fod fy amser wedi dod i ben, ond diolch i Blaid Cymru am gyflwyno'r ddadl hon heddiw, ac edrychaf ymlaen at weddill y cyfraniadau gan yr Aelodau.