News

Mixed reaction to cancer treatment times

Published

8 years ago

March 8, 2016

Very pleased: Vaughan Gething AM

THE LATEST cancer treatment figures for Wales were released last week (Feb17) and have been described as, variously, an improvement and a ‘worrying deterioration.’

The new figures published show that the Welsh NHS met the 98% target for treating cancer patients within 31 days in December 2015, with 98.9% of people starting treatment within the target time – the best performance recorded since October 2013.

Meanwhile, 86.2% of people started treatment within 62 days of being referred with urgent suspected cancer by their GP – this includes all diagnostic tests and consultations with experts. This is an improvement on November’s figure of 84.3% and is the best performance since July 2015.

However, in December 2014, 87.7% of patients referred by the Urgent Suspected Cancer (USC) route were treated within 62 days.

The improvements to cancer waiting times come after Deputy Health Minister Vaughan Gething asked each of Wales’ health boards to produce 100-day plans to improve cancer services in October 2015. In October only 81% of patients were treated within the 62 day period.

Welcoming the improvement, Vaughan Gething said: “Over the last year, more than 16,000 people in Wales have been treated for cancer in the Welsh NHS. More than 14,700 were treated within target time – 9,000 within the 31-day target.

“I’m very pleased the NHS met the 31-day target in December 2015. I expect health boards to ensure this performance continues in the months ahead and improve performance for people on the 62-day pathway.”

However, the performance of the Welsh NHS was criticised by Conservative Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar, who claimed that only 83.37% of patients referred through the USC route in the last quarter of 2015 were treated within 62 days.

Mr Millar said: “Today’s figures highlight a worrying deterioration in urgent cancer waiting times in Wales, against a target which hasn’t been met since 2008.

“Ultimately, Welsh communities have every right to question whether performance is ever going to reach an acceptable standard under Labour.

“Delays between diagnosis and treatment create huge added worry for patients and their families and can often result in poorer outcomes.

“Labour’s record-breaking NHS budget cuts have hit frontline services hard and it is patients and their families who feel the consequences first hand.

“Welsh Conservatives would provide the investment our NHS deserves and our £100 million patients’ fund would ensure accountability in frontline cancer services and boosted access to treatment.”

The figure of 83.37% is at odds with the Welsh Government claim of 83.7%. In this case, it appears that the data provided by the Welsh NHS is correct. 1,463 out of 1,747 patients were treated within the 62 day period, which equates to 83.74%.

The target that Mr Millar refers to is 95% of USC referrals being treated within 62 days. While the Welsh NHS has failed to meet this target, it is notable that the comparative target set by the Conservative-controlled NHS in Wales is 85%.

In fact, given some of the rhetoric used by the UK Conservatives to describe the Welsh NHS, including David Cameron’s infamous claim that Offa’s Dyke is ‘the line between life and death’, it is worth comparing the data from the English NHS with its Welsh counterpart.

Over the quarter, 97.5% of Welsh patients diagnosed not through the USC route were treated within 31 days. The figures for the English NHS for October –December 2015 show that 96.8% of patients were treated within the 31 day period.

For GP USC referrals, 83.4% of patients were treated within 62 days. This, compared to the Welsh figure of 83.7% is hardly a ringing endorsement. The English NHS did outperform the Welsh NHS in October, when 81.7% of patients were treated within 62 days compared to 81% in Wales. However in November 89.4% of Welsh patients were treated within 62 days compared to 83.5% in England, and in December, the Welsh figure of 86.2% compares favourably with the English 85.1%.

These figures show two things. Firstly, claims that the NHS is underperforming as a result of Labour leadership are somewhat misleading in this instance. Secondly, delivering performances which are only slightly better than the English NHS is a worthy achievement, but not one on which much political capital can be made for Welsh Labour. The only parties really able to campaign on the basis of NHS improvements are those which have not recently been in a position to disprove this by actually holding a position of power in the UK recently – Plaid Cymru, UKIP and the Greens.

StatsWales has said that due to the relatively small numbers in the monthly statistic ‘care should be taken when interpreting percentages.’ However, this has not stopped every political party, including the Welsh Labour Government, from using the figures as they are released each month to show either a reasonable performance (Labour) or a disaster in the making (everyone else).

However, in the case of cancer treatment waiting times, it appears that the recent OECD findings, which show there is little difference between NHS service in any of the Home Nations, is borne out, with the Welsh figures following similar fluctuations to those in England, but consistently performing at a slightly higher level.

Crime

Welsh constabulary areas record another increase in shoplifting

Published

2 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RETAIL trade union Usdaw is deeply concerned by today’s police recorded crime statistics showing that in 2023 there were significant increases in shoplifting across all constabulary areas in Wales. In the whole of England and Wales there has been a persistent upward trend since the pandemic, which continued with a 37% increase and has now risen to the highest level in 20 years.

The Office for National Statistics released figures showing a 39% increase in shoplifting incidents across Wales and by constabulary area as follows:

Dyfed-Powys +11%
Gwent +47%
North Wales +23%
South Wales +51%

Usdaw’s 2023 annual survey of over 5,500 shopworkers found that 60% had suffered incidents of violence, threats and abuse that were triggered by shoplifting and armed robbery.

Paddy Lillis, Usdaw General Secretary says: “Shoplifting is not a victimless crime, theft from shops has long been a major flashpoint for violence and abuse against shopworkers. Having to deal with repeated and persistent shoplifters can cause issues beyond the theft itself like anxiety, fear and in some cases physical harm to retail workers. This 39% increase in shoplifting across Wales is further evidence that we are facing an epidemic of retail crime, which is hugely concerning.

“Our members have reported that they are often faced with hardened career criminals in the stores and we know that retail workers are much more likely to be abused by those who are stealing to sell goods on. Our latest survey results show that 7 in 10 retail workers suffered abuse from customers, with far too many experiencing threats and violence. 60% of respondents said theft from shops and armed robbery were triggers for these incidents.

“The scale of assaults, abuse and threats towards shopworkers and extent of the retail crime epidemic has been a disgrace for many years. This has been made worse by police cuts and a failure to legislate to protect retail staff. Usdaw has long called for action that includes a standalone offence for assaulting a shopworker and that has been vehemently opposed by this Government and their Conservative MPs on many occasions.

“Recently the Government performed a long overdue U-turn after many years of sustained campaigning by Usdaw and others. Our members have had to wait too long for their voices to be heard and common sense to prevail. We will have to see the detail of what Ministers are proposing and we are clear that it must be at least what we won in Scotland three years ago. It also cannot fall short of Labour’s commitments to 13,000 more uniformed officers, patrols on high streets, banning repeat offenders and ending the perverse £200 threshold for prosecuting shoplifters.

“The dither and delay by this Government on this issue over many years, has led to thousands of shopworkers needlessly suffering physical and mental injury. Today’s stats should ensure that their promise to legislate is done speedily. We hope that whatever the Government is proposing will be substantial and effective in giving shopworkers, key workers in every community, the respect that they have long deserved and regrettably too often do not receive.”

Business

Paramount’s key role in transformation of McArthurGlen Designer Outlet

Published

30 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

FAST-growing Welsh company Paramount is relishing the challenge of creating an “irresistible dining destination” after winning the contract to play a key role in the multi-million transformation of the McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend.

The Cardiff-based design, build, fit-out and refurbishment specialist will spearhead the re-development project of the shopping centre after being handed responsibility for revamping its popular food court over the summer.

In the coming months, the development will see the Food Court transformed into three modern, and bright restaurants, welcoming new food and beverage brands to the centre and creating more than 100 new job opportunities for the local community.

Paramount’s Construction Director, Paul Thomas, said: “The team behind the scenes at McArthurGlen Designer Outlet Bridgend have fantastic plans for the future and we’re delighted to have been entrusted with the mission to help turn their exciting vision into a reality.

“Paramount prides itself on creating places where people want to be, and my team are relishing the opportunity to help create what will be an irresistible dining destination. It’s certain to be a complex project, but we have the expertise and local knowledge to deliver outstanding results in close collaboration with our project partners.”

The owners of the shopping centre, which has been attracting local people and visitors for more than 25 years, have promised a “substantial investment to redevelop the Food Court area and replace it with new and exciting restaurants”.

Now the Paramount team is ready to lay the groundwork by removing some existing structures around the Food Court and will then introduce a series of new features as part of the overall facelift. These include new glazed entrance doors within glazed curtain walling shopfront, render and a new entrance lobby with new stairs and lifts.

The work to completely develop the Food Court in the shopping centre starts this week, and is expected to be completed in late autumn. As a result, customer favourites including Nando’s, McDonald’s and Chopsticks will be closed while work is under way.

Patrick Finney, Head of European Construction, McArthurGlen Group, said: “After celebrating our 25th anniversary last year, we’re extremely pleased to welcome Paramount on board in this important step of revitalising the Food Court area.

“These are exciting times for everyone at one of South Wales’ best-loved retail complexes and we know Paramount will work closely with us to create a truly special place for diners and shoppers of all ages.”

Paramount, whose turnover reached £45 million in 2023, employs 60 people who own a majority shareholding of the business – 51 per cent – following completion of an Employee Ownership Trust (EOT) scheme in 2021, a deal which marked a major milestone for Paramount after a period of sustained growth.

The company is well known across Wales and England where it has created high-quality inspirational space for a number of leading companies. These include the multi-million-pound redevelopment of Hodge House and Fusion Point One in central Cardiff, and the fit out of Par 59 bars in South Wales and South West.

Over the next few months, Paramount’s construction team will also be completing on a multi-million-pound social housing development in Porthcawl, Mid-Glamorgan with Valleys to Coast.

Crime

All three school stabbing victims discharged from hospital, police confirm

Published

43 mins ago

April 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

POLICE remain at Ysgol Dyffryn Amman today, following an incident yesterday in which three people were injured, Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed on Thursday (Apr 25)

Officers will be at the school throughout the day as the CID-led investigation progresses.

A teenage girl remains in custody after being arrested on suspicion of attempted murder.

Two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds, which were not life-threatening. All three victims have now been discharged from hospital, having been treated for knife injuries.

Carmarthenshire Superintendent Ross Evans said: “As can be expected with an incident as serious as this, there will continue to be a police presence at the school throughout the day today.

“Officers at the scene will be looking for evidence to assist the investigation, while other specialist teams will analyse any information submitted through our dedicated web page.

“We understand the level of concern in the community as people try to process the incident. We urge anyone affected by yesterday’s events to seek support, and not to share any videos, photos or information that might cause further distress to pupils or parents at the school.

“We continue to work with Carmarthenshire County Council and other agencies as they provide support to those affected by yesterday’s events.”

Speaking on Wednesday evening, Superintendent Ross Evans said:“Dyfed-Powys Police continue to investigate the serious incident that took place at Amman Valley School in Carmarthenshire this morning.

“We received a call just after 11.20am advising us people were injured following an incident at the school.

“Emergency services immediately attended, and the school was locked down for the safety of everyone on the premises.

“Two teachers and a teenage pupil were taken to hospital with stab wounds. Their injuries are not life threatening.

“A teenage girl has been arrested on suspicion of attempted murder and currently remains in police custody.

“A knife has been recovered as evidence.

“I am aware that there is footage of the incident currently circulating on social media and would ask that this is removed to preserve the integrity of the ongoing investigation, and to avoid further distress to those involved.

“I would also ask that people do not speculate while there is a police investigation ongoing, and to refer to official channels for factual updates.

“Local people will see more police in the area over the coming days as the investigation continues.

“I would like to reassure parents and the public that the incident has concluded, and pupils have now left the school.

“We are working with the school and other agencies to ensure appropriate support is available to all those involved.

“This was a very distressing incident, and our thoughts are with the victims, their family and everyone impacted by what has happened.

“We have set up a dedicated portal, and anyone with information that could help us with our investigation is asked to report it through this link to help police manage the volume of information coming in to us.

“Lastly, I would like to thank the whole community for their support and patience while police, emergency services, Carmarthenshire County Council and the school work through this distressing incident today and over the coming days.”

Anyone with information that could help officers with their investigation is asked to report it to Dyfed-Powys Police by calling 101.

Images: BBC News Hub