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WHEN I was contacted recently by a constituent about the uncertain future of the Wales Fertility Institute in Neath Port Talbot Hospital, I knew that the outcome could be farreaching.

As my constituent pointed out, fertility treatment doesn't only help individuals and couples, it creates extended families – grandmothers and grandfathers, aunts and uncles, brothers and sisters. It gives hope to those who have reached the end of the road, it creates new life, which is priceless.

So when I heard that staff had been told by Swansea Bay Health Board, which manages the institute, that it was not currently sustainable, I immediately wrote to the Welsh Government, with my fellow regional Plaid MS Luke Fletcher.

We understood that three options had been put forward – decommissioning, reduction of provision or outsourcing. We also understood that this affected the Cardiff clinic too, which is the only other location in Wales where you can receive fertility treatment on the NHS.

There's not an option that doesn't impact staff or patients, so our first question to the Welsh Government was: what assessment had been made on the impact to them?

We also asked whether there was a fourth option for the Welsh Government to support the Wales Fertility Institute to continue its service.

This was not an unreasonable request since, at the point of setting up the NHS clinic in Neath Port Talbot Hospital, the Welsh Government said how it was committed to reducing the use of the private sector within the health service in Wales and increasing capacity in the NHS.

This is such an important yet emotive topic. It is not only a concern for patients, but for the

NHS provision and expertise we currently have in Wales.

What I've asked for is reassurance from the Welsh Government that this service will remain in Wales, given its previous assurances that it was committed to keeping this service within the NHS.

This is something which is within its power to do.