HEALTH was top of the agenda at the second live debate between the leaders of Wales’ six main parties of the Assembly election campaign on Wednesday evening.

Welsh Labour leader and First Minister Carwyn Jones, Alice Hooker-Stroud of the Wales Green Party and Nathan Gill of Ukip Wales, along with Plaid Cymru’s Leanne Wood, Welsh Conservative chief Andrew RT Davies and Kirsty Williams of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, clashed at the debate on Wednesday evening hosted by BBC Wales.

This was the second live debate of the campaign, and came just eight days before polling day on May 5.

Speaking at the debate Mr Jones said he believed the key was to make sure people were given “the right treatment in the right place at the right time."

Asked by moderator Huw Edwards if he was “disappointed” by poor waiting time statistics in Wales, the First Minister conceded “It’s a challenge”.

And Mr Davies blasted the Labour leader for the party’s record on the NHS.

“You can't brush it under the carpet Carwyn,” he said.”You've been in charge for 17 years and you haven't made improvements.”

Asked by an audience member if he would impose the unpopular junior doctor contract which has led to strikes in England, M Davies replied: “No".

Ms Wood described the state of Wales’ NHS as “an absolute scandal”.

“The First Minister is in complete denial about this being a problem,” she said.

Plaid Cymru has said it will set up a single health board covering the whole of Wales, and when Mr Jones asked her where this would be based Ms Wood replied: "What do you mean where would it be based? It's the NHS – it's all over Wales."

One audience member said: "Aneurin Bevan would be hanging his head in shame in the lack of treatment for cancer patients in Wales.”

Ms Williams said: "We need less politics in the Welsh NHS, not more. “People's health is too important.

"It shouldn't come down to who shouts the loudest."

Ms Hooker-Stroud said she believed the key to solving problems in the Welsh NHS was to improve the health of the country overall.

"We need to make sure we have secure employment for people so they don't have anxiety, which leads to mental health problems," she said.

And Nathan Gill – who had to be repeatedly told by Mr Edwards to stop bringing up the European Union referendum – said: "We believe strongly in an NHS which is free at the point of delivery.

“Free for all of us."

The leaders also clashed over the crisis in the steel industry – with one steel worker in the audience pointing out none of them were wearing Save Our Steel badges which had been omnipresent in recent weeks – as well as transport and education.

Short video messages were also played by the Abolish the Welsh Assembly Party, the Welsh Conservatives and the Monster Raving Loony Party – which has pledged not to implement any of its campaign promises.

Read live updates as the debate happened.