Health

Cancer survivor criticises ‘slow progress’ on care reforms

Published

5 months ago

October 17, 2025

A MUM-OF-ONE who can never have the second child she wanted after surviving cervical cancer says women are being let down by “slow progress” on promised health reforms.

Jessica Mason, 43, spoke out amid concerns that 15 of an inquiry’s 26 recommendations to improve gynaecological cancer care in Wales remain undelivered nearly two years on.

The Senedd health committee’s inquiry was inspired by Claire’s campaign – launched by Claire O’Shea, who died aged 42 from gynaecological cancer in May.

Her campaign seeks to change health services in Wales for women living with cancer who are too often dismissed, downplayed, unheard and misdiagnosed.

Ms Mason, from Penarth, was forced into an early menopause and had a hysterectomy to survive her cervical cancer, which was repeatedly misdiagnosed. She felt “fobbed off” every time she went to the GP with symptoms of the life-threatening disease.

Ms Mason warned “slow progress is as consequential as no progress” for women affected by the issues highlighted by Claire’s campaign and the resulting inquiry.

She said: “While we welcome the ongoing commitment to prioritise gynaecological cancers by the Welsh Government – concrete, impactful actions must swiftly follow.

“Claire turned her negative experience of getting her cancer diagnosis into a positive, forceful campaign to ensure no other woman goes through the same thing. We need to see an improvement in gynaecological cancer outcomes but progress does seem slow.”

She made the comments as the health committee held a short follow-up inquiry to scrutinise the Welsh Government’s response to its recommendations.

In its evidence, Tenovus Cancer Care said only three of 26 recommendations have been fully actioned, with seven showing partial progress and 15 remaining undelivered.

Calling for accountability, the charity said: “We collectively have a responsibility to ensure the bravery and honesty of women like Judith Rowlands, Ceri Davis and Claire O’Shea, who shared their stories – and have subsequently died – is not in vain.”

Tenovus warned of huge variation in waiting times across Wales, with the likelihood of receiving timely treatment down to “something between a roll of the dice and a coin toss”.

Target Ovarian Cancer told the committee Wales has some of the worst survival rates for ovarian cancer in Europe while Marie Curie cautioned end-of-life care is at breaking point.

Warning of systemic pressure, the Royal College of GPs said demand for suspected cancer referrals continues to rise faster than diagnostic and treatment capacity.

GPs cited shortages in imaging, ultrasound and pathology services as a critical barrier, with backlogs for hysteroscopy investigations taking up to 12 months even for urgent cases.

Wales’ health secretary Jeremy Miles described progress as a mixed picture as he appeared before the health committee today (October 15).

He said: “If you look at the waiting times for access to treatment, clearly, that is not where it needs to be. There’s been some improvement but… there’s a long way to go.”

Mr Miles added: “Has the overall experience of women with gynaecological cancer improved to where we want to be? The answer to that is clearly not yet.”

Pressed about resources, Mr Miles suggested no additional funding has been specifically allocated to addressing the recommendations of the committee’s report.

On waiting times – with an average of only 32.4% of patients waiting 62 days or less to start treatment against a target of 75%, according to July’s statistics – the health secretary said: “It is absolutely nowhere near the level of performance that I, or any of us, want to see.”

Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing

Sarah Murphy, whose responsibilities include women’s health, described the Unheard report as seminal in drawing attention to gynaecological cancer and giving women a voice.

She pointed to the women’s health plan, a ten-year vision to close the gender health gap. Asked why gynaecological cancer was not included, Ms Murphy said the plan focuses on addressing inequalities, medical gaslighting, and women not being believed.

The mental health minister told the committee: “It’s not a priority in the women’s health plan. There are eight priorities and gynaecological cancer is not one… and the reason for that is that it’s in the cancer pathway and in the cancer improvement plan.”

Sue Tranka, the chief nursing officer for Wales, suggested many of the issues – such as women not being believed about pain – extend wider than gynaecological cancer.

This sense of women being dismissed was a theme of a 2024 Senedd debate on the report. Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor argued that after facing “medical gaslighting” from doctors, the Welsh Government’s response meant women were now being “gaslit twice”.

Health

RCN Wales appoints Nicola Williams as Executive Director

Published

1 day ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NICOLA WILLIAMS will take up the role in April, bringing more than three decades of experience in nursing and senior leadership.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced the appointment of Nicola Williams as its new Executive Director for Wales.

She joins the organisation from Velindre University NHS Trust, where she currently serves as Executive Director for Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Health Care Scientists. With 38 years of experience in nursing and more than six years at executive board level, she is widely recognised across NHS Wales for her work in improving patient outcomes.

A highly experienced strategic leader, Williams has worked across a wide range of clinical and organisational settings. She has led major transformation programmes, strengthened national clinical leadership networks and championed innovation and evidence-based improvements in care. Her work has contributed to changes adopted across Wales and has been recognised with national awards.

Speaking about her appointment, Nicola Williams said: “I feel privileged to be appointed as Executive Director of RCN Wales. I’m a proud nurse, passionate about patient safety and improving care standards.

“Delivering the best care is only possible when nursing staff are supported to work in safe, inclusive environments. I will stand alongside members and their patients.

“Nursing staff are the backbone of health and care. I am determined to support our members across Wales, wherever they work, to meet the challenges ahead and shape the future of our profession.

“I look forward to meeting members across Wales and ensuring our work is informed by their experiences and expertise.”

In her new role, Williams will lead the RCN’s work in Wales and provide strategic leadership across key priority areas spanning the UK.

She succeeds Helen Whyley, who has held the position since February 2019 and will move into a new role as Director of Service Innovation at the RCN.

Health

Decision pending on adult mental health referral pathway

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board will decide next week whether to make changes to the GP referral pathway for routine adult mental health services permanent.

The decision will be taken at a public Board meeting on Thursday (Mar 26).

Board members will consider a proposal to formalise changes already introduced in Ceredigion and, if approved, roll out the revised pathway across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Since March 2025, adults in Ceredigion seeking routine mental health support have been advised by their GP to contact the NHS 111 Wales ‘Press 2’ service, rather than being referred directly to the county’s Community Mental Health Team.

The temporary change was introduced in response to ongoing staffing shortages. Health Board officials say the approach has helped maintain timely access to face-to-face assessments for those who need them, while directing initial contact through a single access point.

The 111 ‘Press 2’ service provides telephone assessments by local wellbeing practitioners, supervised by registered mental health nurses, offering advice, support and onward referrals where required.

At its November 2025 meeting, the Board agreed to extend the temporary pathway until the end of March 2026. A nine-week engagement exercise followed, running from December 8 to February 9, to gather feedback from patients, professionals and stakeholders on the potential long-term impact.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views and experiences.

“I would also like to thank West Wales Action for Mental Health for supporting engagement with patients, including those with lived experience, alongside GPs, primary care teams, mental health staff and third sector partners.

“Our priority is to ensure mental health services remain accessible, fair and sustainable. The temporary changes in Ceredigion have shown some positive benefits, and the feedback we have received from across the three counties will play an important role in shaping the Board’s decision.”

The Board will review all evidence and feedback before making a final decision on the future of the adult mental health referral pathway.

GPs will continue to refer patients with urgent or complex needs directly to community mental health teams where appropriate, and have access to a dedicated NHS 111 professional line for additional clinical advice.

Further details, including the full Board papers, are available here:
https://biphdd.gig.cymru/amdanom-ni/eich-bwrdd-iechyd/cyfarfodydd-y-bwrdd-2026/agenda-a-phapuraur-bwrdd-26-mawrth-2026/

The meeting will be streamed live from 9:30am on Thursday (Mar 26) via:
www.youtube.com/hywelddahealthboard1

Health

Parents urged to check children’s vaccinations after meningitis cases

Published

2 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Local pharmacy reports MenB vaccine shortage amid rising concern

PARENTS and carers across west Wales are being urged to check their children’s vaccination status following recent meningitis cases in the UK.

The warning comes as a local pharmacy has confirmed a shortage of the Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine, highlighting growing pressure on supplies.

Mendus Pharmacy said it currently has no availability of the vaccine due to what it described as a nationwide supply issue.

***Mendus Pharmacy: No availability of the vaccine***

In a statement, the pharmacy said: “We would like to inform our patients that, due to ongoing supply issues, we currently have no availability of the Meningitis B vaccine.

“Unfortunately, this is a nationwide shortage and all stock is currently unavailable.

“We understand this may be particularly concerning given the recent outbreak reported in Kent, and we completely appreciate the importance of timely vaccination.”

The pharmacy confirmed it is operating a waiting list and will contact patients once supplies return.

Health officials say keeping vaccinations up to date remains one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and reduce pressure on NHS services.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, urged parents to act.

She said: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways we can protect children and young people from serious illness.

“Ensuring your child is fully vaccinated not only safeguards their health but also helps prevent the spread of infections within our communities.

“I strongly encourage all parents and carers to check their child’s vaccination status. If you are concerned that your child may have missed routine vaccinations, please speak to your GP.”

Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can lead to meningitis or septicaemia. While many people recover, some are left with long-term physical, neurological or psychological complications. Around one in ten cases can be fatal.

Although the disease can affect anyone, babies, young children, teenagers and young adults are at greatest risk.

In Wales, vaccines protecting against meningococcal strains A, B, C, W and Y are offered as part of the NHS immunisation programme. Infants receive the MenB vaccine, while teenagers are offered the MenACWY vaccine.

Latest figures from the Health Board show that uptake among 16-year-olds for the MenACWY vaccine stands at 76.4%, meaning a significant number of young people remain unprotected as they approach adulthood.

For younger children, uptake of the MenB vaccine is higher but still below the recommended 95% target. Around 92.8% of infants are vaccinated by their first birthday, rising slightly to 91.8% by their second.

Health officials say these figures reflect strong engagement from families and primary care teams but stress that continued vigilance is needed.

Families are being advised to check their child’s vaccination record with their GP or by contacting the Health Board directly. Parents should also ensure babies receive their scheduled MenB doses and that teenagers receive their MenACWY and 3-in-1 booster vaccines, which are currently being delivered in schools.

Parents are also urged to remain alert to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and to seek urgent medical advice if they have concerns.

Further information on symptoms is available via NHS 111 Wales.