THE NHS is hardly ever out of the national and local news.

The health service faces unprecedented challenges with rising demand, expectation and long term public health challenges.

These are the same challenges every healthcare system in the developed world faces.

We face those challenges in an era of public spending cuts.

The Prime Minister’s renewed attack on our NHS here in Wales is deeply offensive. We know that our NHS can’t stay as it is. We know that we need to make changes to the way we provide care to ensure that we have a health service capable of responding to the needs of the Welsh population now and in the future.

We do not believe that the UK Government’s privatisation agenda in England will deliver improved care. The collapse of privately run Hinchingbrooke Trust comes nine months after the privatised trust was lavished with praise by the Prime Minister.

Much press attention focuses on when the NHS get things wrong. However the majority of constituents who contact me are pleased with the service that they receive. Often they are angry at the negative attacks on NHS Wales. Our health and social care staff do a fantastic job in what are often difficult circumstances. The dedication and continued hard work that they provide day in, day out to people across Wales cannot and should not be underestimated.

Despite all the challenges facing the health service, a huge amount has been achieved over the last year. Recent reports, including those on Stroke, Mental Health and Veterans NHS Wales Services show that there are a lot of things working in the NHS in Wales. Mental health services are in better shape here than they are in England, cancer referrals are quicker in Wales than England, deaths from strokes have been halved, with more people surviving strokes and more than 1,100 veterans have received care from Veterans NHS Wales.

I’ve said before, there has to be a serious, mature debate about the future of our health service. That may not happen in the gun smoke of an election campaign. However we cannot duck forever the serious questions that face us all on the future of the NHS. I am an optimist by nature. My optimism is spurred on by the staff I meet. From physios to midwives, health visitors, nurses, doctors, and all of the admin staff who help to keep our service running there are so many inspiring committed staff. Our NHS is the envy of much of the world and with good reason. We should not take it for granted. We should cherish and support it for all that the NHS has done and will do.