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Health

Hywel Dda ‘misled public’ over consultation finding says campaign group

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Campaigners say that the Save Withybush campaign will now take a ‘march forward’ as evidence shows that Hywel Dda has misinterpreted the findings of its own consultation in 2018 and has misled the public over its data.

Following a full debate about the Save Withybush A&E petition in the Senedd last week, the petitions committee has requested further evidence from the camapign for their next meeting on monday July 11th.

A new campaign named ‘Our NHS – Born in Wales’ was recently launched by the People’s Assembly Wales and their volunteer researchers are supporting the Save Withybush campaign. The researchers have scrutinised the Health Board’s report on the 2018 consultation regarding proposed new hospital plans and believe that Hywel Dda has misled the public over its findings.

They have produced and submitted a further evidence paper to the Senedd petitions committee which they say shows “Hywel Dda have ignored the concerns of residents, ignored the data which showed an overwhelming rejection of the proposed new hospital plans and have ploughed ahead with changes. This is in spite of clear evidence which showed that the majority of people who would be most affected by the proposed changes were not in support of any of the proposed changes”.

Campaigners added: “Our further evidence paper is a damning indictment of Hywel Dda’s actions to date. Not only have they misled the public over the findings of their 2018 consultation, they have completely ignored the concerns of thousands of residents and have bulldozed ahead with their proposals knowing full-well that they are acting against the wishes of a significant cross section of the public. We believe that it is now only a matter of time until the Health Board will be forced to go back, fully involve residents in addressing the concerns raised and engage properly in co-production as they are duty bound to do under the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act 2015.

They did not ask the right questions in their consultation, and the questions they did ask were heavily weighted in order to steer the data towards their preferred outcomes. This was not co-production and the Health Board now have no other option but to go back and ask different questions in a completely different way, based on the data they have recorded so far.”

“As campaigners we believe that the Health Board is now fully exposed on this issue and we will be pursuing this through every avenue with our latest findings marking a “turning of the tide” for the campaign. Pointing out that the Withybush issue is now under much greater scrutiny at Welsh Government level following the debate.

“The Health Board often cites ‘recruitment issues’ as one of the reasons for their proposed changes and removal of services at Withybush. However our argument, as evidenced in our paper, is that given the level of uncertainty that has surrounded health services within the hospital for so long, the Health Board has actually created the very recruitment issues which they are using to justify changes. This was cited in their own 2018 report ‘our Big NHS changes’ where staff focus groups actually said:

‘people won’t come to work here because there has been so much uncertainty around the hospital over recent years’ (p.10)

They have essentially run down the hospital and are now trying to use that as an excuse to remove the A&E”

“This has become a ‘war of attrition’ over Withybush, in which the Health Board has demoralised the public, wearing them down over time by pressing ahead with changes whilst ignoring our concerns. It’s understandable that some Pembrokeshire residents, including County Councillors have given up hope for Withybush. However, as a campaign and armed with new evidence, we feel that we can finally put the health board on notice. This is far from over or a ‘done deal’ as they repeatedly assert. Notably, in her speech in the Senedd last week Eluned Morgan used the word ‘if’ several times in regards to a new hospital. This shows that the Welsh Government may already be positioning itself to abandon these dangerous plans if we keep up the pressure as a campaign and as a county.

With model motions in support of the Save Withybush campaign going to Town & Community Councils, trade union branches as well as a motion going through County Council, we believe we can reinvigorate people’s hope for the survival of Withybush and inject fresh impetus for action to save our hospital. But we re-issue our call for action to everyone to step up and save the hospital.

With this week marking the 74th birthday of the NHS we encourage all in Pembrokeshire and beyond to demand decent, safe, and localised services, and importantly, to demand services which are provided based on health need, as was intended when the NHS was founded back in 1948.

Health

Phone calls to reduce GP visits for 42% of patients this winter

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NEW research from the Royal Voluntary Service has shown that a simple phone call could significantly impact well-being, reducing GP visits by 42% among patients who receive regular telephone support.

The charity urges those feeling isolated this winter, particularly the elderly, to use telephone support services as a way to improve health and free up GP appointments, potentially reducing waiting times. It is estimated that if people experiencing loneliness in later life reduced their GP visits by just one appointment a year, this could free up 588,000 appointments annually.

As winter approaches, the Royal Voluntary Service reports that isolation can sharply increase, especially for adults over 75, with nearly half (47%) of people in this age group feeling lonelier in the colder months. Among those who live alone, one in six say they feel forgotten during winter, and 20% report having no one to turn to for emotional support.

In addition to loneliness, older generations face several winter worries, including increased heating costs, cited by 55% of respondents, and reduced ability to go out, which 29% said they dreaded as winter sets in.

To address these challenges, Royal Voluntary Service has launched the Stay Safe, Warm and Well campaign in partnership with Yakult. The campaign provides a guide for practical and emotional winter preparation, encouraging sign-ups for telephone support services and offering access to the Virtual Village Hall online community for events and activities. Practical advice on money-saving and energy-saving tips is also available through the guide.

Royal Voluntary Service Ambassador Elaine Paige, who has herself made support calls for the charity, described the positive impact these calls can have. “A warm, friendly phone call can transform someone’s day. Some conversations leave you smiling long after the call ends—something we could all use, especially in winter. For those facing the season alone, there are amazing people ready to remind you that you’re not alone,” she said.

The charity’s support services match volunteers with individuals across the UK for friendly chats, reducing isolation and boosting mental health. Catherine Johnstone CBE, Chief Executive of Royal Voluntary Service, said: “The feedback that conversations with volunteers are helping people to visit their GP less is testament to the value of connection.”

Yakult Marketing Manager Reshma Patel added: “Our research with Royal Voluntary Service shows that one in four adults over 75 feel they’d benefit from practical and emotional support over winter. We are committed to helping people access the Stay Safe, Warm and Well guide to support their overall well-being.”

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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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