As the nights draw in and winter gets closer, we have cause for optimism for how far we have come that needs to be tempered with some caution.

Our vaccination programme has been a genuinely world-leading achievement, with well over 80 per cent of over-16s having received two doses. Our thanks for this must go to our army of NHS staff and everyone who have worked tirelessly to deliver this day in, day out.

We have seen cases of and, very sadly, deaths from the virus rising meaning we must continue to exercise vigilance. Measures such as wearing facial coverings in specific enclosed spaces remain in place, while the Welsh Government will be introducing the use of the NHS Covid Pass for major events and specific venues from next month. The pandemic is not over and we all have our part to play in keeping our communities safe.

The Senedd is back and our response to Covid and our recovery from it has understandably been our primary focus.

I have tabled my Welsh Hearts Bill into the ballot for Members’ bills and was encouraged to see that the Welsh Government have committed an additional £500,000 to support and improve access to community defibrillators.

These are the machines that helped to save my life and can save so many others, but more needs to be done to make sure they are as widely available, maintained and accessible as they need to be.

Sobering figures show less than five per cent of those who suffer a cardiac arrest outside of hospitals in Wales survive and, as one of those who was fortunate enough to have done so, I have a fundamental obligation to do everything that I can to ensure others have that same chance.

I want to see clear requirements for access to and training in the use of both CPR and defibrillators set out in law in the same that we do for other vital health and safety measures.

In 1946, Nye Bevan said that one of the objectives of the NHS Bill he was bringing before Parliament would be to “keep very many people alive who might otherwise be dead.” Nye’s creation has succeeded in this on a grand scale; transforming healthcare across our country and strengthening the social contract that underpins it.

His guiding principles from three quarters of a century ago echo down the years and should be channelled again as we continue to emerge from one of the greatest crises the NHS, our country and the world have faced since then.