Hefin David MS on important health topics discussed in Senedd
I took this opportunity to talk about diagnosis and provision for Additional Learning Needs, as well as how ALN affects young carers and how we can support them in what they do.
The event was a really valuable chance for Senedd Members, professionals and those affected by child health matters to share what they would like to see taken forward as key priorities by the Welsh Government after the next Senedd election.
On Wednesday, I also held a debate in the Senedd calling for Owain's law, in memory of my constituent Owain James - a young father from Caerphilly.
Owain's wife Ellie has made it her mission to ensure a gold-standard approach to preserving human tissue for future cancer patients, after Owain passed away from a brain tumour last year.
I tabled the cross-party motion after I heard that Owain had 7cm of tissue surgically removed, but only 1cm of this was fresh frozen. This meant that there wasn't enough tissue remaining to make a further personalised vaccine to treat Owain's tumour. Ellie says that had they had more fresh frozen tissue available, more vaccines would have been available, and Owain would be alive today.
The non-binding motion was agreed upon unanimously. However, Owain's law is unlikely to proceed without Welsh ministers' full support, and this is something I will continue to work on, alongside Ellie.
In the meantime, I'd like to take this opportunity to remember Owain for everything he's done in this. Even in his passing, he's contributed to the debate on keeping patients alive for longer.
Hefin David is Senedd Member for Caerphilly.
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