WALES’ first-ever dedicated women’s health minister has promised a major overhaul of endometriosis and abortion services. 

Addressing Senedd colleagues on July 7, Blaenau Gwent Caerffili Rhymni MS Delyth Jewell vowed to tackle the “invisibility” of women’s pain in the healthcare system

Ms Jewell, who was appointed deputy minister for social care, mental health, and women’s health in May, said these areas have lacked “sufficient attention” for too long.

The Plaid Cymru MS said she would champion carers, and said she would work to ensure more carers receive the real living wage and “parity of esteem”,

She said: “Why is it that social care receives less prominence in debate than the NHS? Why shouldn’t care workers hold the same space in our psyche as nurses and doctors?”

Speaking on the importance of mental health care, Ms Jewell highlighted the need for “a fundamental change” in how services are delivered, moving towards “open-access, same-day mental health support”.

The deputy minister revealed she had met with Professor Ann John, national adviser for suicide prevention and self-harm, and pledged to provide a written statement setting out the government’s priorities – with a focus on male suicide.

Ms Jewell also said: “For too long, women’s health has been treated as an afterthought” – and pledged to tackle women’s pain in healthcare.

“How many women have been told, ‘this might hurt’, and have been afraid to speak up and say that they are in pain?” Ms Jewell asked.

“Women’s voices should be heard. Their pain should not simply be endured. I am determined to change this.”

Ms Jewell continued: “We will be refreshing elements of the NHS Wales women’s health plan, with action this year focused on improving endometriosis and abortion services.

“I will want to hear from women directly. We’ll be commissioning work to gather women’s feedback, and we’re also carefully considering the women’s health hub model to improve consistency.”

Ms Jewell confirmed plans to host a ministerial summit on the matter on July 16, and pledged to help those struggling to get appointments, families waiting too long for diagnoses, and women who have not been believed.

She said: “I want to bring hope, to bring change, and, most of all, to be a voice for those who have not been heard. I promise I am listening.”

James Evans, Reform’s shadow minister for health and prevention, congratulated Ms Jewell on her appointment but reminded her that “warm words […] need to be matched by delivery, deadlines and accountability”.

Mr Evans quizzed his opposite number on her plans for a national care service, something Ms Jewell pledged would be created this Senedd term alongside a new national care academy.

But Mr Evans said he has “long opposed” its creation, describing it as an “unnecessary additional level of bureaucracy and a drain on vital public money”.

He added: “A national care academy, fair pay and conditions, better support for unpaid carers – there’s something we all want – and those significant commitments that you’ve made also need to be matched by funding.”

Mr Evans called for a “practical timetable” on this, asking when the national care academy will be online, and how the Welsh Government will ensure the national care service does not become “another layer of bureaucracy”. 

In response, Ms Jewell said: “We want to make sure that what we have for people is greater than the sum of those parts, that actually there is parity of esteem for people in the workforce.

“[…] It’s bizarre, isn’t it, that there’s never been a founding moment for the care service in the way that we’ve had with the NHS. We celebrated the NHS’s birthday a few days ago; when I was talking about the same space in our psyche, we should be celebrating this work.

“Most people will come into contact with the NHS and with other areas of public service throughout the course of our lives.”

Ms Jewell spoke of the importance of increasing the status of the sector and said: “Most people only come into contact with the care service when something has either gone wrong with them or someone else they love.”

Answering Mr Evans’ questions on timescale, Ms Jewell admitted a lot of the work will take the course of the Senedd term but that some elements, such as the academy, she wants to bring forward “far earlier”.

Mr Evans also pressed Ms Jewell on her plans for suicide prevention, and welcomed the focus on male suicide.

He said: “One of the biggest groups that does suffer from suicide is young white men, and young men in general. They are the people who suffer the most and they do need to be supported.”

Mr Evans called for a dedicated men’s health plan, adding that it should not be limited solely to suicide prevention but also other issues such as cardiovascular disease and fathers struggling with newborns.

In response, Ms Jewell said: “I am prepared to engage with you and other members on this as a concept, because, of course, you’re right that certain health issues are either only apparent in men, or have a disproportionate effect on men.

“And there’s lots of work, including what I’ve said about male suicide. The upcoming cancer plan will look at improving rates of diagnosis in areas like prostate cancer. Whether we need to bring that together in one men’s health plan, I am open to the idea – let’s have further conversations.”

Labour’s spokesperson for public and preventative health, Jayne Bryant, told the Siambr that “for far too long, women’s voices and experiences in the healthcare system have not been given their due weight.”

Ms Bryant, of Casnewydd Islwyn, drew attention to the work of the previous Labour government to support women’s health – from “free period products, to menopause support, to creating women’s health hubs in every health board.”

She told the Senedd it was “disappointing” to see “no dedicated action” for women’s health in Plaid Cymru’s pledges for the first 100 days in government. 

She called for the deputy minister to share the government’s plans to address endometriosis – a condition which affects one in ten women in Wales.

Ms Bryant told the Siambr that “advances are being made in diagnosis” and Wales must make sure it’s ready to adapt.

She said: “Rapid endometriosis tests have just been given the go-ahead by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, which will help to significantly reduce the time it takes for women to be told whether they have the condition.

“One test, I believe, provides that result in 45 minutes. Currently, getting a diagnosis can take years. So, when does the minister expect women in Wales to be able to access those new tests?”

Ms Jewell paid tribute to the work done by Labour’s Sarah Murphy and Eluned Morgan on women’s health in the last Senedd term.

She said: “It should not be normal for women to have to go for so many appointments before they get the symptom diagnosis that they deserve.

“So, I want to look at this in terms of how it is working in hubs, how it’s working in primary care, all the way through to tertiary services as well. It’s going to be a focus of the women’s health plan.”

Conservative spokesperson for health and social care, Natasha Asghar, questioned the deputy minister on endometriosis and polyendocrine metabolic ovarian syndrome (PMOS), formerly known as polycystic ovary syndrome.

Ms Asghar told colleagues that NICE published draft guidelines on PMOS last week which recommended “faster diagnosis and an annual review of women and girls aged ten and over to include symptoms and signs of PMOS.”

She called on Ms Jewell to consider annual reviews of the condition alongside the training of doctors and health professionals across Wales to ensure they can spot the signs of PMOS. 

Ms Jewell acknowledged the draft guidance but noted the final recommendations won’t be available until December.

Ms Asghar, of Casnewydd Islwyn, also highlighted the importance of quality education on menstrual health and menopause.

She said: “All too often, women and girls cope with endometriosis and PMOS because they believe that heavy and painful periods are a normal part of their menstrual journey.”

Ms Asghar said she had asked the previous education minister about “ensuring universal menstrual health education within the curriculum”, and asked Ms Jewell how she will ensure “quality menstrual health education” is available Wales-wide.

She also said she has raised “consistent concerns” about the delivery of advice and support for menopause alongside menstrual health.

Ms Asghar noted that Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has launched a menopause hub in Ely, and asked about their Wales-wide rollout.

In response, Ms Jewell said she is “willing and eager” to work cross-party to ensure the message gets out to women and to “empower them to use their voice”.

THE WELSH language is “one of our biggest success stories as a small nation on the world stage”, according to the minister responsible for the language.

Education and Welsh language minister Anna Brychan told the Senedd on 7 July that “language does not live solely through policy, but through people and through use.”

Sharing how the language has influenced her life, Ms Brychan said: “My personal story is a bilingual one. My mother learned Welsh as an adult. Today, Welsh and English intertwine in my family at home in Grangetown, and several other languages can be heard around us, and that’s a good thing.”

Concluding her speech, Ms Brychan said: “This is our opportunity to ensure that our two languages drive our future – in the community, digitally, in education and in the economy, and with the Welsh language contributing to making a welcoming, confident bilingual and multilingual country for us all.”

Reform’s deputy leader in Wales, Helen Jenner, described her parents’ decision to send her to a Welsh-medium school as one of “the most precious gifts” they could have given her.

Ms Jenner shared the story of her grandfather, Silgwyn Weston, who didn’t speak any English until he was around eight years old.

She told the Siambr how having received advice from his sister, who attended university in London, her grandfather decided the best way to provide opportunities to his children was for them to speak English at home, meaning her mother did not have the chance to speak Welsh.

She said: “There was something very special between myself and my grandfather. We were the only two members of the family who could hold a natural conversation in Welsh.

“Silgwyn Weston was a very proud Welshman and in his final years, there was one constant – his hearing was somehow always better if the conversation was about rugby or if someone spoke Welsh to him.”

Reform’s deputy leader agreed with Ms Brychan that language sits at “the heart” of Welsh culture, but criticised the government’s plan to use legislation and targets to secure the language’s future.

She said: “We can’t force people to love a language. We can’t legislate for enthusiasm. We can’t create Welsh-speaking communities through targets alone. The Welsh language flourishes when people choose to use it at home, in the workplace, in the pub, on the rugby pitch and on the street.”

Ms Jenner also welcomed the minister’s commitment to strengthening the Welsh language in digital and AI, adding that if Welsh is not available in these technologies there is a risk of it being “left behind”.

She asked how the government will measure an increase in the daily use of the language and what practical steps will be taken to help learners use Welsh once they have left school.

Responding, Ms Brychan said: “People shouldn’t have to look for opportunities to use the Welsh language.”

She noted importance of including Welsh outside of education, in areas such as “technology, workplaces, sport, culture, planning, research, and leadership in our communities”.

Also sharing his experiences with the Welsh Language, Labour’s Huw Thomas told the Siambr that he himself “couldn’t speak a word of English” until he was around 7.

Discussing the Welsh Government’s target of a million Welsh speakers by 2050, former Cardiff Council leader Mr Thomas called for further details on how the Welsh language will be pushed through childcare and the education system.

He asked Ms Brychan how many Welsh-medium childcare settings will need to be developed to reach the target of free childcare from nine-months-old and how the Welsh Government plans to ensure Welsh-speaking staff will be available to meet demand.

Ms Brychan acknowledged the challenges in terms of developing the necessary workforce, but said there’s “a plan in place” to address this.

The Labour spokesperson for the Welsh language then noted the importance of Welsh in technology and the workforce.

He urged the minister to work with trade unions to promote the Twf Charter, which was developed to promote Welsh in the workplace.

Mr Thomas also questioned what measures the government will be taking to introduce more Welsh-medium apprenticeships.

Ms Brychan revealed she has numerous upcoming meetings on technology, and said the Welsh language is at the forefront of her discussions with such companies.

She also said she’s “always” willing to speak to unions to get their views and expertise.

Conservative Paul Davies voiced his and his party’s support for the Welsh Government’s target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050, but questioned Ms Brychan on Welsh-medium education and socialising through the Welsh language.

Mr Davies highlighted that currently only 21% of children are in Welsh-medium schools, according to the latest schools survey.

He suggested that work could be done in terms of learner travel to help reduce barriers to Welsh language education.

The Conservative spokesperson called on Ms Brychan to reveal whether she will review the Learner Travel (Wales) Measure 2008 to see if more “can be done” to allow children access to Welsh-medium education. However, Ms Brychan did not mention learner travel in her response.

Mr Davies also spoke of the importance of socialising in Welsh in cultural settings, referring to events such as Tafwyl, which took place in Cardiff last month.

He said: “These events and many other community events are held by organisations like the mentrau iaith and others, of course, that do so much in our communities with little resource.”

Mr Davies called on the Welsh Government to consider how it can support community organisations “more effectively” in the future.

Ms Brychan replied: “In terms of socialising through the medium of Welsh, that takes me back to the point that I was making that we need to create the environment where people don’t have to look for opportunities to use the Welsh language.

“As you mentioned, the opportunities provided through the mentrau iaith are key to ensure that those opportunities are available.”

Ken Skates says Plaid has failed to back previous calls for more support for children with additional learning needs now it is in government

WELSH LABOUR interim leader Ken Skates has accused Plaid Cymru of “not following through” on its previous promises to support children and young people with additional learning needs.

Mr Skates challenged Plaid during this week’s First Minister’s Questions, claiming the party had “made a virtue” of its support for pupils with additional learning needs while in opposition, but had failed to deliver now it has responsibility in government.

The row follows the publication of Plaid Cymru’s first supplementary budget. Welsh Labour says no specific additional funding has been allocated to support children with additional learning needs in Welsh schools.

Welsh Labour claims that extra funding for Special Educational Needs and Disability in England, announced by the UK Labour Government, has resulted in £340m in consequentials for Wales. The party says that money should be used to strengthen ALN provision.

All 22 Welsh local authorities, along with teaching unions, have also raised concerns about the growing pressure on schools and councils as they try to meet rising demand for additional learning needs support.

During the Senedd exchange, Mr Skates referred to previous Plaid Cymru statements, including a 2024 social media post which said: “Wales can do better than this — under Plaid Cymru, the pupils who need support, will receive it.”

He also pointed to earlier interventions by Plaid figures, including Cefin Campbell, who had argued that more financial support was needed for pupils with additional learning needs.

Mr Skates said: “Over 40,000 pupils in Wales have additional learning needs. These are the pupils Plaid Cymru have previously said need support.

“While in opposition, Plaid Cymru insisted that they would provide for pupils with additional learning needs. Now they have the power and the resource to make those decisions, they are making a choice not to.”

Welsh Labour also highlighted work carried out in 2023 by Heledd Fychan MS, now Plaid Cymru’s Chief Whip and Minister for Culture and Sport, who published a report calling for greater support for neurodivergent children, young people and their families.

Mr Skates added: “Plaid Cymru have made promises to families in need and are now shying away from their responsibility to them.

“We want to support a government that is doing the best it can for families in Wales, but this funding is our red line. Welsh Labour will continue to hold this government to account until they do the right thing for children in Wales.”

Plaid Cymru has previously argued that local authorities need additional support to deal with rising ALN pressures, including the cost of specialist staff, transport and provision for pupils with complex needs.

The Welsh Government has said it continues to support local authorities with the implementation of ALN reform and has pointed to more than £170m invested since 2020, along with capital funding for specialist provision.

The Herald has approached Plaid Cymru and the Welsh Government for comment.