Bridgend MS Sarah Murphyyspeaksspeaks about equalual access to heathcare e

THE reaction to Public Heatlh Wales’ changes to cervical screening revealed one of the many anxieties over equal access to healthcare.

I spoke about this in the health inequalities debate, detailing constituents’ experiences around difficulties of treatment for menopause, access to birth control and specific health conditions like polycystic-ovary syndrome and endometriosis; such issues often go underrepresented, and there is a population among our community often suffering in silence.

The same can be said of the experiences of maternity and neonatal care for parents, where there is no doubt that ongoing implications of Covid19 have caused implications to services. Constituents have spoken about loneliness from both maternal and paternal perspectives, the disappointment of not reaching typical expectations, and the intense anxiety around birthing during a global pandemic.

The Welsh Government has announced a national Maternity and Neonatal Safety Support Programme supported by £1.15million in funding. For Bridgend, this means appointing a local Maternity and Neonatal Champion to our health board, to work collaboratively with the Chief Nursing Officer for Wales, improving safety, experience and outcomes for parents and babies. The health minister, Eluned Morgan has said that the Programme will address key improvements and priorities and look to consider national challenges, including the impact on services from the pandemic.

But we must consider that appointing local champions reflects something much more fundamental. Rather, this change is about restructuring the system so that those who experience services are the driving force for decision making and changes for improvement. I trust that those undergoing or have undergone services are equipped with the experience to make healthcare services more positive for our community. As the Member of Senedd for Bridgend, I intend to push for this same approach to all areas of healthcare, ensuring that we create a more equal system for all.