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Health

FFIT Cymru stars shed 10 stone in seven weeks in major transformation

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THE LEADERS of the FFIT Cymru health series have achieved stunning results as they successfully lost over 10 stone in weight and transformed their health in seven weeks.

After following FFIT Cymru’s special food and exercise plans, the five leaders have made significant progress in terms of fitness, nutrition and overall health, including completing the FFIT Cymru Parkrun 5K challenge after six weeks of the journey.

The leaders were guided by the series’ three experts, trainee dietitian and former Great British Bake off star, Beca Lyne-Pirkis, fitness instructor Rae Carpenter and psychologist Dr Ioan Rees.

Dr Ioan said: “They did brilliantly. It’s a different mental challenge for everyone – there are ups and there are downs, both of which are equally important on the journey. I think we’ve seen progress in all five and what they’ve done is discover their own ability to improve.”

Bethan Davies, aged 39, from Merthyr Tydfil

Bethan works as a Language Charter Officer and lives with her partner Ian and their 11 year old daughter, Nel. Bethan challenged herself to lose weight before she turned 40 next January and she is well on the way to achieving her aim. Through eating healthily, having the opportunity to dance with one of her Strictly heroes, Amy Dowden, and completing the Parkrun FFIT Cymru 5k Challenge, she has achieved fantastic results, losing 34 inches of her body – nearly three feet – and two stone and six pounds in weight.

Bethan said: “I’ve learned how to live a healthy life, what to eat and how to keep fit. I’ve learned how to love myself again and just to live, I feel like I’ve started living life properly now. It’s been a great experience. I didn’t expect it to change my life so much but it has transformed every aspect really, from my health, my fitness, my happiness and my confidence, and we’re closer as a family…it’s been priceless.”

Wendy Thomas, aged 58, Aberystwyth

Having suffered with long covid during the previous lockdown, Wendy wanted to rediscover her enjoyment of exercise. And she has certainly done that, clocking the most number of steps over the seven weeks – a staggering 770,326 in total. Over that time, she has lost two stone and one pound, and lost 29 inches off her body.

Wendy said: “When I started, I never thought I would be where I am now. It has been such an amazing experience, which has been difficult  at times, but I never thought the plan would have worked as it did. I’m so proud and I can’t believe what I’ve achieved in this short time. FFIT Cymru has saved me. I wasn’t living my life before, but now I am and I want to carry on this way.”

Twm Jones, aged 59, Llanerchymedd, Anglesey

Twm is a grandfather to three grand-daughters and is a former player for Bethesda Rugby Club. After his FFIT Cymru experience, he enjoys getting up early to go running and cycling and has lost the most weight of any leader, two stone and 11 lbs over the three weeks, and also managing to completing 652,008 steps over that period.

Twm said: “Hopefully it has changed me in every way. Visually, there is a difference in how I look but I feel it has changed me internally too. I’ve learned to be a lot more disciplined with what I eat and especially with training. I never thought I could run one 5k let alone more than a dozen over the last three weeks, which in itself, is a big highlight for me. “

Ruth Roberts, aged 40, Abercynon

Ruth lives with her fiancé Alex and has been a member of the CDF Runners running club committee for many years, but now she has the confidence to run with the club too and has signed up to take part in the Cardiff Half Marathon in October. She has lost a stone and six pounds in weight and 23 inches off her body in the process.

Ruth said: “This has changed my life. To think back to how I thought of myself at first, I don’t think like that now. I have just turned around completely. I can do it now, I know I can do it. Ruth is back. I love myself now. I’ve lost weight and I’m much healthier now and I feel like I can do anything.”

Gafyn Owen, aged 48, Ty Croes, Anglesey

Working as a chef in a busy pub, Gafyn used to regularly eat fast food takeaways after his long shifts. But now, he has completely changed his mindset and left behind his old bad habits. Gafyn lost a stone and 13 pounds over the seven week period, which equates to over 12 kilograms.

He added: “I’ve stopped smoking and eating fast food, so I’ve saved myself nearly £1500 just in that time. I’ve bought a bike with that and I’m still about £600 better off in my pocket. I feel a lot better now and my mind is in the right place.”

FFIT Cymru will be back at the end of the year to see how the five leaders have continued their transformation over the next six months. Watch the entire series on demand on S4C Clic or BBC iPlayer. For more details on the food and fitness plans, visit www.s4c.cymru/ffitcymru, or follow @ffitcymru on social media.

Health

Over 1500 patients in Wales blocked from leaving hospital

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THE First Minister Eluned Morgan has been pressured on her government’s failure to clear hospital beds in Wales, leading to delays for people seeking urgent medical care.

According to a report from BBC Wales, there are currently 1,600 patients across Wales waiting to be discharged from hospital compared to England where there are currently 12,000.

However, when comparing population sizes, it’s revealed that Wales is performing worse than its closest neighbour, with 0.05% of the population of Wales stuck in hospital beds compared to 0.02% in England.

The Welsh Labour government have been criticised for their failure to clear out backlogs in the system,

The Liberal Democrats have now called on the Welsh Government to provide urgent social care funding to local authorities to help alleviate pressures on the NHS in Wales.

Speaking in the Siambr on Tuesday, The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS described how over twenty years of Welsh Labour government in Wales had let to a “desperate situation in our NHS, with services nearing breaking point.

Welsh Labours refusal to change their approach and fix a system clogged up by mismanagement is directly responsible for the current situation faced by thousands of patients.

Delays in discharging patients from hospitals are placing huge pressures on both staff and those awaiting care, but there is a way out of this mess and the answer lies in social care.

I have been told by numerous professionals working in healthcare that the first step towards fixing our NHS is made by providing local authorities with the funding to fix social care services within their respected areas.

By dedicating adequate investment into our social care services, we can make life easier for patients discharged from hospital while also lifting the strain on health services throughout Wales.”

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Education

Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates

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RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.

Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.

The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”

He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.

Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.

He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”

Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.

The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.

Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.

Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.

“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.

Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.

She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”

The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.

Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.

“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.

“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”

In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.

Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.

Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.

She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”

Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.

She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”

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Health

Fundraising events raise over £4,000 for ICU

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VICKI COLES and Sophie Moncrieff have raised a fantastic £4,140 for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Withybush Hospital in memory of Henry Coles, Vicki’s husband.

Vicki and Sophie, with the help of their family and friends, organised a number of charity events, a charity wax, a raffle and charity night at The Bull Inn in Prendergast.

Henry sadly passed away in March 2024 and Vicki wanted to raise money to say thank you for the amazing support he received at the ICU.

Vicki said: “The care Henry received, and the support given to us by the ITU staff, was amazing and we can’t thank them enough.

“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped at this very difficult time. We look forward to doing another fundraiser for Henry’s birthday next year.”

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer said: “Thank you to Vicki and your family and friends for raising an amazing amount for the ICU at Withybush, it is a lovely tribute to Henry. We hope you take comfort in knowing the funds will make a big difference to the patients, families, and staff at the ICU at Withybush Hospital.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

For more details about the NHS charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Pictured above: Vicki Coles and Sophie Moncrieff with staff from the unit

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