English: As was referenced by Rhun ap Iorwerth, we do welcome the fact that the Welsh Government has increased the number of nursing student places in Wales, with the exception of 2019-20, where the number remained static. It is very much welcome. But, unfortunately, the exodus of nurses leaving the NHS shows no sign of slowing down, and clearly seems to be increasing, as many nurses are leaving the profession earlier in their careers. In fact, when I recently met with the RCN, I heard directly from staff that students are even taking the decision not to seek work with the NHS because of what they've witnessed and experienced during placements, and the stress they have been under because of what they consider to be unsafe staffing levels. Experiences of the pandemic only reinforced what was already known about the NHS and the nursing workforce here in Wales. It is a workforce suffering from staff shortages, low pay and low morale, and yet it is incredibly needed and valued. But the reality is that nurses are operating in an environment deprived of investment and resources, which is why it should be of no surprise that the biggest threat to the workforce is its sustainability, with far more nurses leaving the NHS than can be matched by newly-qualified nurses or internationally-recruited nurses. Research has shown that, where there are fewer nurses, patients are 26 per cent more likely to die, and this rises to 29 per cent following complicated hospital stays. Health boards acknowledge that nursing retention is an issue, and in many reports, discussed at countless meetings, they frequently highlight the absence of a national strategy in terms of retention. We need a national solution to a national problem, yet it appears that there is no incentive or performance management scrutiny from the Welsh Government in terms of the issue of staff retention. There is clearly a staffing crisis, and the Welsh Government must take action to tackle the issue of retention if we are to see improvements. As has already been referenced, there are various strategies to address the high vacancy rates, such as the all-Wales national approach, and there are effective procurement initiatives and support for international nurses in place. However, in terms of both retention and recruitment, we already know what would make a difference to nurses, because they have told us, and that is uplifting nurses' pay and making sure staffing levels are safe. We know that, with the coming winter pressures as well as the cost-of-living crisis, the deeply concerning situation within NHS Wales will only worsen. And the current risk posed to patients because of a shortage in nursing staff and a struggling, exhausted workforce will increase. We believe that our nurses and the public deserve appropriate and sufficient care. The only way to attract and retain nursing staff is to reward them, and to reward them well for their skills and commitment, and this must start with an above-inflation pay rise. This isn't my solution nor Plaid Cymru's - it's what nurses have told us needs to happen. This is something I have been told when I've met with them in hospitals, and heard directly from them about the very real challenges they are facing, and why some people feel they have no option but to leave a profession that they really, truly care about. During the pandemic, we showed our appreciation for the NHS by standing on our doorsteps and clapping, but saying 'diolch' is no longer enough, and actions do speak louder than words, and I would ask all Members of the Senedd to support our motion and support our nurses today.
Welsh: Fel y nododd Rhun ap Iorwerth, rydym yn croesawu'r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi cynyddu nifer y lleoedd i fyfyrwyr nyrsio yng Nghymru, ac eithrio 2019-20, pan arhosodd y nifer yn statig. Mae croeso mawr i hynny. Ond yn anffodus, nid yw'r ecsodus o nyrsys sy'n gadael y GIG yn dangos unrhyw arwydd o arafu, ac mae'n amlwg i'w weld fel pe bai'n cynyddu, gan fod llawer o nyrsys yn gadael y proffesiwn yn gynharach yn eu gyrfaoedd. Mewn gwirionedd, pan gyfarfûm â'r Coleg Nyrsio Brenhinol yn ddiweddar, clywais yn uniongyrchol gan staff fod myfyrwyr hyd yn oed yn penderfynu peidio â cheisio am waith gyda'r GIG oherwydd yr hyn y maent wedi'i weld a'i brofi yn ystod lleoliadau gwaith, a'r straen sydd wedi bod arnynt oherwydd yr hyn y maent yn ei ystyried yn lefelau staffio anniogel. Dim ond atgyfnerthu profiadau a oedd eisoes yn hysbys mewn perthynas â'r GIG a'r gweithlu nyrsio yma yng Nghymru a wnaeth y pandemig. Mae'n weithlu sy'n dioddef oherwydd prinder staff, cyflogau isel a morâl isel, ac eto mae ei angen a chaiff ei werthfawrogi'n fawr. Ond y gwir amdani yw bod nyrsys yn gweithredu mewn amgylchedd sy'n cael ei amddifadu o fuddsoddiad ac adnoddau, a dyna pam na ddylai fod yn syndod mai'r bygythiad mwyaf i'r gweithlu yw ei gynaliadwyedd, gyda llawer mwy o nyrsys yn gadael y GIG nag a geir o nyrsys newydd gymhwyso neu nyrsys wedi'u recriwtio'n rhyngwladol. Mae ymchwil wedi dangos, lle mae llai o nyrsys, fod cleifion 26 y cant yn fwy tebygol o farw, ac mae hyn yn codi i 29 y cant yn dilyn arosiadau cymhleth mewn ysbyty. Mae byrddau iechyd yn cydnabod bod cadw nyrsys yn broblem, ac mewn sawl adroddiad, a drafodwyd mewn cyfarfodydd dirifedi, maent yn aml yn tynnu sylw at ddiffyg strategaeth genedlaethol ar gadw staff nyrsio. Mae angen ateb cenedlaethol i broblem genedlaethol, ond eto mae'n ymddangos nad oes unrhyw graffu ar gymhelliant na rheoli perfformiad gan Lywodraeth Cymru mewn perthynas â chadw staff. Mae yna argyfwng staffio amlwg, ac mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu i fynd i'r afael â mater cadw staff os ydym am weld gwelliannau. Fel y nodwyd eisoes, ceir amryw o strategaethau i fynd i'r afael â'r cyfraddau uchel o swyddi gwag, megis y dull cenedlaethol Cymru gyfan, a cheir mentrau caffael effeithiol a chefnogaeth i nyrsys rhyngwladol. Fodd bynnag, o ran cadw a recriwtio staff, rydym eisoes yn gwybod beth fyddai'n gwneud gwahaniaeth i nyrsys, oherwydd eu bod wedi dweud wrthym, sef codi cyflogau nyrsys a sicrhau bod lefelau staffio'n ddiogel. Gyda phwysau'r gaeaf ar ei ffordd yn ogystal â'r argyfwng costau byw, fe wyddom mai dim ond gwaethygu a wnaiff y sefyllfa hynod bryderus yn GIG Cymru. A bydd y risg bresennol i gleifion oherwydd prinder staff nyrsio a gweithlu sy'n ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi ac sydd wedi ymlâdd yn cynyddu. Credwn fod ein nyrsys a'r cyhoedd yn haeddu gofal priodol a digonol. Yr unig ffordd i ddenu a chadw staff nyrsio yw eu gwobrwyo, a'u gwobrwyo'n dda am eu sgiliau a'u hymrwymiad, ac mae'n rhaid i hyn ddechrau gyda chodiad cyflog uwch na chwyddiant. Nid fy ateb i na Phlaid Cymru yw hwn - dyma beth y mae nyrsys wedi dweud wrthym fod angen iddo ddigwydd. Mae hyn yn rhywbeth a ddywedwyd wrthyf wrth gyfarfod â hwy mewn ysbytai, a chlywed yn uniongyrchol ganddynt am yr heriau go iawn y maent yn eu hwynebu, a pham fod rhai pobl yn teimlo nad oes ganddynt opsiwn ond gadael proffesiwn y maent yn malio'n wirioneddol amdano. Yn ystod y pandemig, fe wnaethom ddangos ein gwerthfawrogiad o'r GIG drwy sefyll ar garreg y drws a chlapio, ond nid yw dweud 'diolch' yn ddigon mwyach, ac mae gweithredoedd yn dweud mwy na geiriau, a hoffwn ofyn i bob Aelod o'r Senedd gefnogi ein cynnig a chefnogi ein nyrsys heddiw.