OLDER people in Wales are still paying a heavy price for cold, damp homes and fuel poverty, the Older People’s Commissioner has warned.

Rhian Bowen-Davies was responding to the publication of Public Health Wales’ first annual surveillance reports into the impact of cold weather on mortality and illness in Wales.

She said the reports were an important step forward in understanding how cold weather affects health and wellbeing, but warned that the figures revealed a deeply concerning reality for many older people.

The Commissioner said cold weather continued to have a “profound impact” on older people’s health, independence and quality of life, with poor housing, fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis making the situation worse.

She said: “Addressing these issues must remain a national priority, including taking sustained action to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes across Wales, ensuring that older people can live in warmth and safety.”

Ms Bowen-Davies said consistent data would be vital to track trends and measure whether interventions were working.

But she also called for stronger financial support for older people facing hardship, warning that too many were still being forced to choose between “heating and eating”.

She is continuing to urge the Welsh Government to introduce a dedicated Resilience Fund for older people in severe financial difficulty who are not eligible for Pension Credit or other support.

She added that while public attention may currently be focused on record-breaking temperatures, the report was a reminder that action was needed now to tackle the “unacceptable costs” of cold homes and fuel poverty.

RESIDENTS across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire are being invited to help shape a new regional Learning Disability Strategy.

Views sought on five-year plan

The strategy, covering 2026 to 2031, will set out the future direction of services and support for neurodivergent people and people with a learning disability across west Wales.

Over the past two years, Ceredigion County Council, Pembrokeshire County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board have been working with people with lived experience to help shape the proposals.

At present, each county has its own Learning Disability Strategy. The new plan would bring these together into one regional approach, aimed at making services more consistent and joined-up across the three counties.

The draft recommendations have been developed and reviewed by the Regional Improving Lives Partnership, which includes the three county councils, Hywel Dda University Health Board, The Dream Team, Carmarthenshire People First, Pembrokeshire People First, the West Wales Regional Partnership, and projects funded through the Regional Integration Fund.

Cllr Alun Williams, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member for Through Age Wellbeing, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that people with a learning disability and neurodivergent people are at the heart of shaping services that affect them.

“We encourage everyone to take part and share their views to help us develop a strategy that truly meets the needs of communities across West Wales.”

The consultation is open until Sunday, July 5.

Residents can complete the West Wales Learning Disability Strategy Survey online, or request a paper copy from a Ceredigion library or leisure centre. Paper copies can also be requested by calling 01437 764551 or emailing [email protected].

Completed questionnaires should be returned to Norman Industries, Units 1-2, Snowdrop Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1JB.

WITHYBUSH HOSPITAL’S Emergency Department has won national recognition for work to cut waste, reduce emissions and save money.

The department, based at Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, has been awarded Bronze accreditation by the Royal College of Emergency Medicine as part of its Green ED programme.

The scheme recognises emergency departments which introduce practical changes to reduce their environmental impact while maintaining safe patient care.

At Withybush, the work was led by a small team made up of consultant Dr Vicki Hughes, resident doctor Dr Lizzie Caisley, ED secretary Janet Bird, and ED clinical fellow Dr Oyewale Osundeyi.

Their changes included replacing plastic medicine pots with paper alternatives, reducing unnecessary cannulas, improving waste segregation, and reviewing computer screen brightness and older equipment to identify where energy savings could be made.

Dr Osundeyi led a project to increase recycling and reduce waste sent for incineration.

He said: “Trying to reduce waste comes with a lot of challenges, because you are trying to change people’s habits and trying to make sure people understand the importance, but we were lucky to get a lot of people involved from the estates team to the nursing departments who helped us achieve this.”

The department also targeted unnecessary coagulation testing in admission bloods, a project led by Dr Caisley.

The change is expected to save around £30,000 a year, as well as cutting carbon emissions.

Dr Caisley said: “By reviewing our routine practices, I was able to identify simple changes that benefit both patients and the environment. It shows how quality improvement work can deliver meaningful financial and environmental savings.”

ED secretary Janet Bird supported the work by gathering information, co-ordinating meetings and helping to put sustainability plans into action.

She said she also created a Green ED information board and presented the programme at resident doctor induction sessions to raise awareness of the changes already introduced.

Dr Hughes said: “A group of individuals, cutting across resident doctors, nurses, administrative staff, and myself as a senior consultant, all got involved in this work.

“There were many different elements to achieving this bronze award. The next step is making sure the team is supported to build on it.”

Withybush was one of eleven emergency departments across England and Wales recognised through the programme.

Together, those departments are estimated to have achieved £216,000 in cost savings and 131,502kg of CO2e savings through more sustainable working practices.

Dr Ian Higginson, President of the Royal College of Emergency Medicine, said: “On behalf of the College – a massive congratulations to the team at Withybush General Hospital who have been awarded a Bronze accreditation through our GreenED programme.

“This accomplishment has been driven by a dedicated, innovative team, who have reduced emissions, as well as waste and saved costs – all to tackle the climate crisis.

“A healthier planet means healthier patients, and we have a duty to act to protect both.

“As a College, we are proud to support Emergency Departments across the UK, and beyond, in playing their part to become more environmentally friendly.”