THE WELSH LABOUR GOVERNMENT says it is investing an extra £3m in bereavement services across Wales to help ensure those going through difficult times can access the support they need, when they need it.

The Bereavement Support Grant supports people experiencing a loss, with specialist forms of support available for those experiencing more complex forms of grief.

The three-year additional funding continues to help organisations currently benefiting from the Welsh Labour Government’s existing bereavement care offer across Wales.

This includes Cardiff and Vale University Health Board, the first health board in Wales to provide a psychology-led bereavement service for those who experience the death of a baby, either in pregnancy or up to 28 days following the birth of their baby.

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, said: “I am proud that we as a Welsh Labour Government can continue to provide these important services  to ensure that people have the right support they need, when they need it.

“Wales is a compassionate nation and providing additional funding for the Bereavement Support Grant will help these services continue, with the goal of everyone in Wales having equitable access to high-quality bereavement care and support.”

Community event set for Sunday, February 23

SAUNDERSFOOT Runners are set to host a charity run/jog/walk in aid of the James Criddle Foundation. The event will take place on Sunday, February 23, starting at 10:00am from Wiseman’s Bridge Inn.

The route is traffic-free, making it safe for participants of all ages, including those bringing dogs—although owners are asked to keep their pets on a lead. The event will last no longer than an hour, and hot drinks will be available for purchase at the Inn afterwards.

The initiative was originally launched by Sarah Don at her running club in Fareham, Hampshire, as a way to collect donations for the local food bank. Inspired by the impact of the event, Sarah and her club planned to make it an annual tradition. However, the onset of COVID-19 and personal challenges delayed its expansion. In 2023, Sarah took the initiative to create a Facebook page, encouraging running groups across the UK and beyond to support their local food banks, turning the event into a national and international movement.

Saundersfoot Runners answered the call in 2023 and have since been organising their own Food Bank Run in support of the James Criddle Foundation. The Foundation operates a food bank from Tenby AFC clubhouse in the Clickets, Tenby.

Supporting local communities

“The Food Bank Run has been a huge support to the Foundation,” said Rachael Criddle, one of the founders. “We are grateful to everyone who takes part, to Saundersfoot Runners for organising such a positive and uplifting event, and to Wiseman’s Bridge Inn for generously allowing us to use their premises.”

The event is free to enter, but participants are encouraged to bring a bag of food donations. Items in high demand include dried food such as pasta and rice, tinned goods including beans, soup, meat, fish, fruit, and vegetables, as well as tinned pies, sausages, and jars or packets of cook-in sauces. Toiletries such as toothpaste, shampoo, and shower gel are also welcomed. A full list of needed items can be found on the Saundersfoot Runners Events page.

Organisers are hoping for a strong turnout to support this vital cause.

Useful links:
Food Bank Run Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/foodbankrun
Further information: https://runr.co.uk/pages/foodbankrun
James Criddle Foundation Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100086158195382
Saundersfoot Runners Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/groups/saundersfootrunners

A new digital service aimed at making it easier to find an NHS dentist is being rolled out across Wales.

The Dental Access Portal provides a central platform for people to register their interest in NHS dentistry and for health boards to allocate places for routine NHS dental treatment. The system aims to provide a clearer picture of demand for NHS dental services and eliminate the need for people to call multiple dental surgeries in search of an NHS dentist.

New service launched

To apply through the Dental Access Portal, individuals must:

• Be aged 16 or over (parents or guardians can apply for under-16s)
• Not have received routine dental treatment on the NHS in the last four years
• Live at an address in Wales for more than six months of the year or be registered with a Welsh GP practice

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles welcomed the launch, stating: “Access to NHS dentistry is not where we or the public want it to be.

“This new service will help people who may not have seen a dentist for some time get access to routine NHS appointments.

“Since the trial began in Powys, thousands of people have already been added to the list and will be allocated an NHS dentist as appointments become available.”

Positive feedback from trial

Warren Tolley, dental director at Powys Teaching Health Board, which was the first to trial the new portal, described the experience as “extremely positive.”

“The interface is very user-friendly, allowing people to quickly enter their details, and the admin function has made allocating people to a dental practice quick and easy,” he said.

The new Dental Access Portal will be run by Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW). Sam Hall, director of primary care, community and mental health digital services at DHCW, said: “The development of the Dental Access Portal means we now have a national platform that can provide a clearer picture of demand for routine NHS Wales dental services.

“Allowing people to enrol themselves or those they care for using one online system simplifies and makes fairer the process of registering an interest with an NHS dentist for everyone in Wales.”

Greater efficiency for health boards

Jeremy Miles added: “Capturing this information in one place will have enormous benefits; it will provide health boards with a clear understanding of need in their area and enable them to manage the allocation of people to dental practices as capacity allows.

“For the public, it will remove the need to contact multiple practices, providing an equitable and fairer system of access for all.”

How to access NHS dental care

Anyone already registered with an NHS dental practice should contact their dentist directly for routine or emergency appointments.

For those without an NHS dentist:

• Urgent dental treatment: Visit the NHS 111 Wales website for more information.
• Routine dental treatment: Apply for a place online via the Dental Access Portal. Eligible applicants will be contacted when an appointment becomes available.