News

Tories promise service return to Withybush

Published

9 years ago

April 28, 2016

SENIOR members of the Welsh Conservative Party visited Withybush Hospital on Tuesday (Apr 12) to pledge a return of services to the hospital if elected in May.

The leader of the party, Andrew RT Davies, and local Assembly candidates Angela Burns and Paul Davies met with the local media to discuss health care in west Wales.

Ms Burns emphasised how important health care was in the area, saying that all respondents so far to a survey she had commissioned specified provision of health services as a major issue.

Andrew RT Davies said that investment in the service, to allow commissioners to commission services, would improve the health care service locally, and pledged £800m of investment in the Welsh NHS over the fifth assembly.

When asked if his party had any plans to privatise NHS services, as is happening in England, Andrew RT Davies came straight to the point:

“There will be no privatisation and health will be free at point of need,” he insisted. What the Welsh Conservatives want to do is commit to lowering waiting times and reopen minor injury units to take the pressure off A&Es.”

Mr Davies also pledged to reopen the special baby care unit at Withybush – the closing of which attracted a lot of strong feeling locally.

The reasons given for the closure were finance, ability to train staff, and failure to attract staff. If you get the finance right you can put the training in place. If you put the training in place you can attract medics to come here and develop skills, so it all boils down to the commitment you are prepared to make about finance.

Mr Davies dismissed talks of cuts in other areas, including adult social care: “There will be no cutbacks in social care, because health and social care go hand-inglove,” he added, pointing out that cuts would lead to bed blockage.

Mr Davies also claimed that the average hospital stay in Wales was 6.7 days, while in England it was 4.6

“If we can shave two days off the average stay in hospital, that is saving about £1,000 per bed.”

When asked whether the Welsh Conservatives disagreed with a report from the Royal College of Paediatric Services and Child Health, which suggested that there was ‘no clinical sense’ in returning 24 hour paediatric services to Withybush, Mr Davies said he disagreed with the way in which the report was undertaken.

When asked how they would address long-standing issues in attracting staff, Andrew RT Davies said that finance was key, in that doctors would be offered secure long-term contracts and would have the resources in place to back up their skills and the training necessary to improve.

“What has happened in the last five years is we have had £1b illio n taken out of the health service and that has led to cuts.

“What we need in our politicians is strong leadership and commitment – and we are offering that on both counts.”

He pledged that no cuts to the health budget would be made over the assembly term, and promised the delivery of a rural health care plan.

Ms Burns also pointed out that, without Withybush Hospital, the region would be unable to attract GPs – a concern that has previously been raised by doctors’ surgeries in the county.

When asked whether controversial plans mooted in Westminster to introduce a minimum £35,000 salary requirement for non-EU migrants would affect the ability of health boards to fill job vacancies, Mr Davies said: “The ability to attract staff from outside the EU is key to all health services in the UK,” and suggested it was down to devolved governments to put the right packages in place.

He also claimed that there would be exemptions for health workers to make up shortfalls.

“But what we are aspiring to do is train of our own doctors, our own nurses and our own professional staff to manage and develop our own health service here in “Wales,” he added.

“But in the short term it should be within the gift of any health board to attract staff and we will work with our colleagues in Westminster to make sure that happens.”

Given that the Conservative Government in England has replaced nursing bursaries with a loan system, we asked if the Welsh Conservatives would follow suit. Mr Davies emphatically denied that this would be the case.

When asked how important this election was for Wales, Mr Davies said that it was ‘vital’.

“In 2021, people in Wales will be looking back at a missed opportunity,” he added. “We can’t afford another five years of Carwyn’s crisis.”

Mr Davies was somewhat more reticent when asked whether he would enter a coalition with UKIP to get Labour out of power in Wales: “408,000 people in Wales voted Welsh Conservative in 2015, and 401,000 voted for Carwyn Jones in 2011″

He said, neatly dodging the question : “So more people voted Welsh Conservative in the last 12 months and we have to make sure they turn up at this election.”

The polls in the run-up to the election, which show a gain for Plaid Cymru and a slight falling-away of Conservative support were disputed by Mr Davies, who reminded us that in the general Election, the Tories were polled at 14 points behind Labour in the Gower, which they ended up winning. “What I am seeing on the doorstep, and what all candidates across Wales are seeing, is a positive response for the Conservatives,” he claimed.

Ms Burns, currently predicted to lose her seat to Plaid Cymru, pointed out that ‘her death had been predicted twice before, ‘but I’ve managed to evade it!’ She claimed that when doorstepping in the Labour and Plaid Cymru heartlands ‘people had been positive about the story I have to bring.’

Health

New Chief Medical Officer for Wales appointed

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PROFESSOR Isabel Oliver has been named the new Chief Medical Officer for Wales, bringing a wealth of experience to the role.

Prof. Oliver joins the Welsh Government from her position as Director General of Science and Research and Chief Scientific Officer at the UK Health Security Agency (UKHSA). She will provide clinical leadership and offer independent professional advice to the Welsh Government on health and public health matters. Her role includes tackling health inequalities and leading efforts to improve healthcare quality and patient outcomes across Wales.

Having started her career in acute hospital medicine in the West Midlands and South West England, Prof. Oliver transitioned to public health. She previously served as Director of the National Infection Service at Public Health England (PHE) and is co-director of the National Institute for Health Research’s Health Protection Research Unit on Behavioural Science and Evaluation at the University of Bristol. She is also an honorary professor at University College London.

Cabinet Secretary’s Welcome
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, praised the appointment, saying:
“Professor Oliver brings a wealth of experience to Wales after working at a senior level in public health in the UK, and I look forward to working with her.
“I’m delighted she has joined us as we work to improve health and wellbeing, and I’d like to offer her a warm welcome to Wales.”

Excited for the Challenge
Prof. Oliver expressed her enthusiasm for the role, stating:
“It is an honour to be appointed as the Chief Medical Officer for Wales, and I am very excited to work with the dedicated health professionals and communities across Wales to create a healthier Wales and safeguard our NHS.

“Today, we face challenges from our ageing population, inequalities, and global factors such as climate change. For someone like me, with a great passion for health and wellbeing, Wales offers unique opportunities to secure major improvements in public health and health services, thanks to innovative policies and effective collaboration between sectors. It will be my privilege to serve the people of Wales to secure healthy, resilient, and prosperous communities.”

Prof. Oliver, a keen runner like her predecessor, is set to participate in the Newport Marathon later this year. She succeeds Sir Dr. Frank Atherton, who steps down at the end of January.

Contact Details:
William Davies
0300 0258 788
[email protected]

Let me know if further tweaks are needed!

Crime

Three men jailed for £620,000 cannabis production at former Llandysul school

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THREE men have been sentenced for producing cannabis worth up to £620,000 at a former school building in Llandysul.

Njazi Gjana, 27, and Ervin Gjana, 24, were each sentenced to two years and six months in prison, while Armeld Troski, 29, received a three-year and four-month prison sentence.

The operation followed a warrant executed by Dyfed-Powys Police on Friday, November 15, 2024, after reports from the public about suspicious activity at the site. Upon entry, officers discovered a large-scale and sophisticated cannabis cultivation setup spanning three floors. The building had been heavily modified to accommodate the illegal operation.

***Llandysul school burned down after the cannabis grow was discovered (Pic: Herald)***

Arrests made after pursuit

During their search of the property, officers heard movement downstairs and arrested two individuals, Njazi and Armeld, on-site. A third man, later identified as Ervin Gjana, escaped by climbing over a wire fence and fleeing into nearby fields. However, police used a drone and conducted a physical search, eventually locating Gjana on a roadside. He was soaking wet and scratched from brambles when arrested on suspicion of cultivating cannabis.

All three men were charged with producing a Class B drug and pleaded guilty at Swansea Crown Court on Friday, December 20, 2024.

***The police took photos after the grow was discovered (Pic: DPP)***

Police praise public for vigilance

Detective Constable Ben Nicholls said: “I’d like to thank the Llandysul community for their vigilance and proactivity in reporting suspicious activity to police.

“The information we receive from members of the community helps us build the picture of illegal activity that allows us to execute warrants such as this to ensure our area remains hostile to those who deal drugs.

“Monday’s sentencing serves as a reminder of our dedication to removing and preventing harmful substances damaging our communities, and we thank the public for the crucial role they play in this work.”

Signs of cannabis cultivation

Police encourage the public to report any concerns or suspicions about cannabis cultivation. Indicators include:

A distinctive aroma coming from a property and noises from ventilation fans.
Blacked-out windows to avoid detection.
People and vehicles arriving at odd hours.
Bright lights on continuously in seemingly vacant properties.
Excessive condensation on windows.
Unusual wiring or bypassed electricity meters.
‘Garden’ rubbish, such as plant pots, fertiliser, and chemicals.

Any information, no matter how small, could assist in tackling drug-related crime. Reports can be made via:

🖥️ | Online contact
📧 | [email protected]
💬 | Social media direct messages
📞 | Non-emergency: 101

For the deaf, hard of hearing, or speech impaired: text 07811 311 908.

For updates on local policing, appeals, and events, follow Lampeter, Aberaeron, and Llandysul Police on Facebook.

Community

Drop in sessions to help reshape Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service

Published

3 hours ago

January 24, 2025

Tom Sinclair

MID and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) is pleased to announce the launch of a series of community drop-in sessions designed to gather feedback from residents and stakeholders. This initiative aims to identify issues and challenges that may impact the delivery of the Community Risk Management Plan 2040 (CRMP 2040).

The CRMP 2040 outlines the Service’s commitment to addressing risks, threats, and challenges faced by communities. These drop-in sessions provide an opportunity for residents to help shape the future of fire and rescue services in Mid and West Wales, ensuring safety and well-being remain a priority.

Shaping the future together

Deputy Chief Fire Officer Iwan Cray said: “We believe the best way to serve our communities is by involving them in the planning process. These drop-in sessions are an opportunity for us to listen, learn, and collaborate with the people we serve.”

The drop-in sessions, details of which are available on the MAWWFRS website, offer a platform for open dialogue. Residents can share their insights, concerns, and suggestions, contributing to the development of a modern Fire and Rescue Service tailored to their needs.

A data-driven approach

The CRMP 2040 adopts a data-driven approach, focusing on prevention, protection, and response to reduce emergencies’ impact and enhance public safety. By tailoring services to community needs, MAWWFRS is committed to building safer and more resilient communities.

Get involved

Community members are encouraged to attend these sessions and provide their feedback. To thank participants, MAWWFRS is offering a chance to win a £100 Amazon voucher. To enter, simply attend a session and complete the survey.

For more information about the plan or the upcoming drop-in sessions, visit the MAWWFRS website or contact the team at [email protected].

About MAWWFRS

Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service is dedicated to protecting and serving the communities of Mid and West Wales. Through prevention, protection, and response, the Service works tirelessly to ensure the safety and well-being of all residents and visitors.