Health
New way to access mental health and wellbeing support launched in Hywel Dda
A SINGLE point of contact for well-being and mental health for people living in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire launches today (Monday 20 June).
Hywel Dda University Health Board is the first health board in Wales to launch a dedicated mental health advice service, offering support for all age groups through the established 111 call line. From today people will be able to access the service by phoning 111 and selecting option 2 where they will be put through to a mental health practitioner.
The service will be accessible 7 days a week from 9.00am through to 11.30pm, with plans in place to move to a 24/7 operating hours later in the year.
Deputy Minister for Mental Health, Lynne Neagle, said: “This new service will improve access for urgent mental health support and todays launch at Hywel Dda marks the start of the all Wales roll-out.
“We have provided £6m in government funding to support health boards to implement this key service which will be accessed via 111 and press 2 for mental health. Our aim is for 24/7 coverage across all of Wales by the end of the year.”
Andrew Carruthers, Director of Operations for Hywel Dda University Health Board: “When we began the Transforming Mental Health journey we had a clear ambition to move away from a traditional service model to redesigning services for the benefit of local people.
“The development of a single point of access has remained a priority for the health board and provides a foundation for future mental health services which are patient centred, responsive, and accessible.
“I’m incredibly proud that we are the first health board in Wales to go live with this service. It’s truly been a team effort and I’d like to thank everyone involved.”
Liz Carroll, Director Mental Health & Learning Disabilities, Hywel Dda University Health Board commented: “We really welcome the opportunity to be the first health board in Wales to go live with the Mental Health 111 service.
“We are pleased to say that we have had a really enthusiastic response from our staff and our key stakeholders in the development of this.
“This service will enable our population to access a single point of contact that can be used by those who want to seek information from themselves or loved ones in relation to mental health concerns or queries.
“Importantly those are operating the service will have the ability to assist in directing individuals to those services that best meet their requirements providing timely access.”
Superintendent Ross Evans, Dyfed-Powys Police lead for Mental Health added: “We welcome this new service and acknowledge the work of Hywel Dda UHB, Welsh Government and key stakeholders in achieving this milestone.
“All of our control room staff have received additional mental health training in readiness and we will continue to work closely with health colleagues who are delivering the service.
“Our collective focus continues to be on ensuring swift access to the best and most appropriate services.”
This service forms part of the National Six Goals for Urgent and Emergency Care Programme aimed at “right care in the right place first time” principle, and has been designed from looking at best practice models in Scotland and England as well as learning from key local stakeholders including service users, staff, West Wales Action for Mental Health and the Community Health Council.
The need for a single point of contact was highlighted as part of the health board’s public consultation on Transforming Mental Health Services in 2017.
For news and updates from Hywel Dda University Health Board, visit: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/news/press-releases/
Health
Pembrokeshire residents suffer severe health decline ‘due to landfill gases’
A PEMBROKESHIRE couple, Mr Richard and Revd Patricia Rogers of Crud yr Awel, are experiencing severe health issues attributed to emissions from the Withyhedge Landfill, resulting in drastic lifestyle changes and severe symptoms.
Revd Rogers, who has managed asthma since childhood, reported a significant deterioration in her condition following exposure to landfill gases. Despite having controlled her asthma with minimal medication for years, she now requires intensive treatment including increased doses of Symbicort and Salbutamol Sulfate inhalers, alongside courses of steroids and antibiotics. Her symptoms have escalated to include extreme breathlessness, a hacking cough, frequent nosebleeds, continual headaches, and vertigo, culminating in a severe impact on her ability to perform daily tasks and care for her disabled daughter.
The couple’s health is closely monitored through their doctor’s surgery, and they attend the asthma clinic regularly. However, feeling powerless to directly change the situation, they have taken a stand by cancelling their council tax payments, a decision they plan to maintain until the landfill issue is resolved.
Revd Rogers has also prepared a letter to the Coroner, outlining the severity of her health issues as potentially life-threatening due to the landfill’s impact. This dramatic step underlines the gravity of their situation and their desperation for a resolution.
The Rogers’ story is not just a personal tragedy but a stark example of the broader environmental and health challenges faced by the community surrounding the Withyhedge Landfill.
They are calling for punitive measures against those responsible, including compensation for the financial impacts of their ordeal.
Their story has surfaced on the same day we reported that Natural Resources Wales is taking further enforcement action against the firm running the site.
NRW has issued site operators Resources Management UK Ltd (RML) with a further Regulation 36 Enforcement Notice which requires the operator to deliver a series of actions by specified deadlines to address ongoing smells from the landfill.
You can read more about the Enforcement Notice on the NRW website.
Outgoing Council Leader, Cllr David Simpson, said in a statement this week: “The smell from Withyhedge is having a major impact on residents and visitors. This situation has gone on too long and it is unacceptable.
“We now need to see RML act on the demands of the Notice and within the deadlines.
“The Council fully backs NRW’s stance that nothing is off the table in terms of further enforcement, including suspending the site’s environmental permit if appropriate, and we remain committed to working with NRW to ensure a long term solution to these issues.”
Health
Paul Davies responds to St David’s Surgery news
LOCAL Senedd Member Paul Davies has reacted to the news that St David’s surgery in North Pembrokeshire has decided to resign its General Medical Services Contract. It’s understood that for registered patients, care will continue to be provided until the end of October 2024 and patients are being advised to remain registered with the Practice while longer-term plans are developed. Patients will be invited to share their views as to how these services can continue to be delivered after the end of October.
Mr Davies said, “This is a very worrying announcement and patients in the local area will be understandably anxious about what this means for the future.”
“It’s vital that GP services can continue to be delivered in the area in the future and so Hywel Dda University Health Board must be open with patients of the Practice about their plans and address the community’s concerns. Every effort must be made to ensure that patients are able to access services in the long term.”
“I will of course, be raising this with the Welsh Government and urging the Health Minister to do everything in her power to support the Health Board and help ensure patients can access these vital services.”
Health
Doctors to enter pay negotiations with the Welsh Government
BMA CYMRU Wales has suspended forthcoming industrial action for Consultants and SAS doctors following a constructive meeting with the Welsh government to resolve its pay disputes.
As a result of sustained pressure, including three rounds of industrial action by junior doctors in Wales, the Welsh Government has made a significant proposal to form the basis of talks to end the pay disputes with all secondary care doctors including Consultants, SAS and Junior doctors.
Since the meeting last week, the committees representing doctors from all three branches of practice have voted to enter pay negotiations based on this proposal.
The planned 48-hour strike by Consultants and SAS doctors due to take place from 16 April will now be suspended.
Junior doctors have paused plans to announce more strike dates whilst they enter negotiations with the Welsh Government.
The Welsh junior doctors committee, Welsh SAS committee and Welsh consultants committee will now each engage in pay negotiations, with the aim of reaching deals which can be taken separately to their respective members.
Dr Oba Babs Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey co-chairs of the BMA’s Welsh Junior doctors Committee said:
“This is a significant step forward. It is sad that we had to take industrial action to get here, but we are proud of members for demonstrating their resolve in pursuit of a fair deal for the profession.
“Whilst we are optimistic and hope to quickly resolve our dispute, we remain steadfast in achieving pay restoration. Until we reach a deal, nothing is off the table.
“We will continue to work hard to reach an offer that is credible to put to members who will ultimately have the final say.”
Dr Stephen Kelly, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ Consultants committee said:
“The Welsh Government’s recent efforts to reach an end to the pay dispute are encouraging and so we have called off our planned strike for now whilst we allow time and space for negotiations to take place.
“We’re hopeful that we can reach a deal that sufficiently addresses years of erosion to our pay to help retain senior doctors in Wales but remain ready to strike if we’re not able to do so during negotiations.”
Dr Ali Nazir, chair of BMA Cymru Wales’ SAS doctor committee said:
“As a committee, we felt that this latest development goes someway to understanding the strength of feeling of our members. We will work hard to reach a settlement that sufficiently meets the expectation of our colleagues who have faced real terms pay cuts of up to a third since 2008/9.”
In August last year, the BMA’s committees representing secondary care doctors in Wales voted to enter into separate trade disputes with the Welsh Government after being offered another below inflation pay uplift of just 5% for the 23/24 financial year. SAS doctors on some contracts were offered as little as 1.5%. This was the lowest pay offer any government in the UK offered and less than the DDRB, the pay review body for doctors and dentists, recommended last year.
As part of their disputes, SAS doctors, consultants and junior doctors carried out successful ballots for industrial action. Since then, junior doctors have taken part in 10 days of industrial action since January this year.
-
News6 days ago
Police issue update on the search for Luke, missing from Pembroke Dock
-
News15 hours ago
Police and air ambulances at ‘serious incident’ at West Wales school
-
Sport6 days ago
Herbrandston Clinch Promotion to Division One
-
News5 days ago
20mph U-turn: Some roads will return to 30mph following public outcry
-
Community5 days ago
Miracle pup finds her forever home after heart-wrenching journey
-
Community2 days ago
County Hall to offer space for community banking
-
Crime3 days ago
Brian Davis: Wanted on suspicion of commercial burglary
-
Business7 days ago
Scheme to upgrade Dinas Cross holiday park withdrawn