English: There is a little that I as a Member or individual can add to this debate, so if I may, Llywydd, I wish to take this opportunity to share the story of my constituent, Robert Leyland. Robert, known to his family and friends as Bob, was one of many who, sadly, died during the pandemic, not due to COVID, but due to a host of failures within the governance of our health service. Bob's wife of 23 years, Jacqueline, first wrote to me some weeks ago, describing the heartbreaking sequence of events that led to her husband's death. She gave me permission to share Bob's story with you today. Bob was the bravest, strongest, most resilient person she had ever known. A community volunteer, Bob leaves behind not only Jacqueline, but his two daughters also. Like so many, however, he was let down by the very system that was meant to care for him. In the months that led up to his death, Bob experienced a whole host of respiratory problems. Yet he was only granted one - just one - telephone consultation with a respiratory consultant. A face-to-face appointment scheduled for April of this year was cancelled, with another telephone appointment arranged. Yet he never received that call, with no explanation why. As Bob's condition continued to rapidly deteriorate, it was his wife who fought for him to be admitted to hospital. Bob had lost four stone in weight, he was left unable to walk, and needed an oxygen supply in order to breathe. Six days later, he died. His primary cause of death was stated as pulmonary fibrosis. Yet, as his wife points out, he had not been examined by a respiratory consultant. Perhaps if Bob had been examined by a specialist, then he may have received an efficient and effective treatment plan, his wife would not be widowed and his children would still have a father. Sadly, Bob's story is like so many others. The decisions that led to his death were not made by the dedicated staff who worked around the clock to care for him; they were decisions made by the Welsh Government and their officials, and there must be accountability for these decisions. That's why a dedicated Welsh public inquiry, where the Welsh Government can be held to account for their decisions, both good and bad, is so important. As with every Government throughout the pandemic, difficult decisions were made, some mistakenly, and consequently lives were lost. So, I really do plead, for Bob, for his widow Jacqueline and their family, and for the many families across Wales who lost loved ones, that they are given the opportunity that a Welsh COVID inquiry would afford them to share their testimony and to get the answers they deserve. I will end by quoting Jacqueline directly from her letter: 'It is only right and fair that the plight of the people who sadly lost their lives during the pandemic, due to systemic failings, is highlighted and that justice is sought. I wish you well in your campaign for a much-needed public inquiry.' I urge Members to support the motion.
Welsh: Ychydig iawn y gallaf fi fel Aelod neu unigolyn ei ychwanegu at y ddadl hon, felly os caf, Lywydd, hoffwn achub ar y cyfle i rannu stori fy etholwr, Robert Leyland. Roedd Robert, neu Bob i'w deulu a'i ffrindiau, yn un o lawer a fu farw yn ystod y pandemig, nid oherwydd COVID, ond oherwydd llu o fethiannau yn ymwneud â llywodraethiant ein gwasanaeth iechyd. Ysgrifennodd Jacqueline, gwraig Bob ers 23 mlynedd, ataf gyntaf rai wythnosau yn ôl, gan ddisgrifio'r gyfres dorcalonnus o ddigwyddiadau a arweiniodd at farwolaeth ei gŵr. Rhoddodd ganiatâd imi rannu stori Bob gyda chi heddiw. Bob oedd yr unigolyn dewraf, cryfaf, mwyaf gwydn iddi ei adnabod. Yn wirfoddolwr cymunedol, mae Bob yn gadael nid yn unig Jacqueline, ond ei ddwy ferch hefyd. Fel cymaint o bobl, fodd bynnag, cafodd gam gan yr union system a oedd i fod i ofalu amdano. Yn y misoedd cyn ei farwolaeth, dioddefodd Bob lu o broblemau anadlol. Fodd bynnag, un ymgynghoriad ffôn yn unig - un yn unig - a gafodd gyda meddyg ymgynghorol anadlol. Canslwyd apwyntiad wyneb yn wyneb a oedd wedi'i drefnu ar gyfer mis Ebrill eleni, a threfnwyd apwyntiad ffôn arall. Serch hynny, ni dderbyniodd yr alwad honno, heb unrhyw esboniad pam. Wrth i gyflwr Bob barhau i ddirywio'n gyflym, ei wraig a frwydrodd iddo gael ei dderbyn i'r ysbyty. Roedd Bob wedi colli pedair stôn o bwysau, nid oedd yn gallu cerdded, ac roedd angen cyflenwad ocsigen arno i anadlu. Chwe diwrnod yn ddiweddarach, bu farw. Nodwyd mai prif achos ei farwolaeth oedd ffeibrosis yr ysgyfaint. Fodd bynnag, fel y dywed ei wraig, ni chafodd ei archwilio gan feddyg ymgynghorol anadlol. Pe bai Bob wedi cael ei archwilio gan arbenigwr, efallai y byddai wedi cael cynllun triniaeth effeithlon ac effeithiol, ni fyddai ei wraig yn weddw a byddai gan ei blant dad o hyd. Yn anffodus, mae stori Bob yn debyg i stori cynifer o bobl eraill. Ni wnaed y penderfyniadau a arweiniodd at ei farwolaeth gan y staff ymroddedig a fu'n gweithio o amgylch y cloc i ofalu amdano; roeddent yn benderfyniadau a wnaed gan Lywodraeth Cymru a'i swyddogion, ac mae'n rhaid cael atebolrwydd am y penderfyniadau hyn. Dyna pam ei bod mor bwysig cael ymchwiliad cyhoeddus penodol i Gymru, lle gellir dwyn Llywodraeth Cymru i gyfrif am ei phenderfyniadau, yn rhai da a rhai gwael. Fel gyda phob Llywodraeth drwy gydol y pandemig, gwnaed penderfyniadau anodd, yn gyfeiliornus weithiau, ac o ganlyniad, fe gollwyd bywydau. Felly, rwy'n apelio, ar ran Bob, ar ran ei weddw, Jacqueline, a'u teulu, ac ar ran y nifer o deuluoedd ledled Cymru sydd wedi colli anwyliaid, eu bod yn cael y cyfle y byddai ymchwiliad COVID ar gyfer Cymru yn ei roi iddynt i rannu eu tystiolaeth ac i gael yr atebion y maent yn eu haeddu. Rwyf am orffen drwy ddyfynnu Jacqueline yn uniongyrchol o'i llythyr: 'Nid yw ond yn iawn ac yn deg tynnu sylw at hanes trist y bobl a gollodd eu bywydau yn ystod y pandemig oherwydd methiannau systemig, a'n bod yn cael cyfiawnder. Rwy'n dymuno'n dda i chi gyda'ch ymgyrch dros ymchwiliad cyhoeddus mawr ei angen.' Rwy'n annog yr Aelodau i gefnogi'r cynnig.