Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Health

Hywel Dda encourages vaccination as flu expected to be a major public health issue this winter

Published

on

HYWEL DDA University Health Board is urging anyone who is eligible for a free flu vaccine to take up the offer.

It comes as Public Health experts have warned that they are expecting a significant flu season this winter for the first time since the pandemic.

There are concerns that it may start earlier this year and affect more people.

In addition, the Covid-19 autumn booster programme is now live and many people including everyone over 50 years old, and those at risk of severe disease are among those being offered a Covid-19 booster to reduce their chances of getting seriously ill with Covid-19.

If you are eligible for an autumn COVID-19 booster, please wait to be invited by either your GP or the health board. Everyone eligible will be offered an appointment by November.

GP practices are also preparing to invite eligible patients for their seasonal flu vaccine and aim to offer an appointment to everyone eligible by December. Again, please do not contact your GP practice at this time, you will be invited when it is your turn.

Cases of flu (also known as influenza) are already being detected in Wales. Public health scientists say that the flu season could be as severe as the 2017/18 flu outbreak, where 16.5 thousand people in Wales were diagnosed with flu by their GP, and 2,500 people were hospitalised. There was also a high level of seasonal excess deaths that year – the worst for around 20 years.

Since March 2020, the Covid-19 lockdowns and international travel restrictions have disrupted the amount of respiratory viruses in circulation, but as our lives are going back to normal, viruses are returning in higher numbers. This year, Australia experienced a flu season which was earlier than usual and saw the highest case levels in five years. It is possible that the UK – and Wales – will experience similar flu activity.

With Covid-19 also in circulation, and added winter pressures on the NHS, it is more important than ever that those who are eligible for a free flu or Covid-19 vaccine get vaccinated to help prevent them becoming seriously unwell and protect the NHS this winter.

Dr Joanne McCarthy, Deputy Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Flu is caused by the influenza virus. It can be a very unpleasant illness and also lead to serious problems, such as bronchitis and pneumonia.

“The pandemic has made us much more aware that vaccination saves lives and reduces hospitalisations. Vaccination may not stop you from catching flu or COVID-19, but it makes it far less likely that you will be severely ill or need hospitalisation.”

Eluned Morgan, Minister for Health and Social Services, said: “We are encouraging everyone to get both their jabs this winter, when flu and COVID will be at their peak, to protect themselves, those around them and the NHS during what will be a busy time for healthcare in Wales.”

To promote the vaccinations, Public Health Wales has launched a campaign encouraging those eligible to ‘power up’ their protection against serious illness this winter by getting the flu and Covid-19 vaccines. The campaign launches on 27 September with digital and social content as well as stakeholder outreach and radio adverts.

Vaccination is particularly important for those who are older, pregnant, or have a health condition and are more vulnerable to complications as a result of the infections. It is also very important that frontline healthcare workers and those who work in care homes or providing care in peoples own homes get their vaccines to help reduce spread.

To help stop flu and other viruses spreading, remember to ‘Catch it, Bin it, Kill it.’

For more information about how to get the vaccines, please visit https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/flu-vaccine-and-covid-19-autumn-booster/.

Health

New ambition for the inclusion and participation of disabled people in Wales

Published

on

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has this week (May 15) launched a consultation on its Disabled People’s Rights Plan, setting out a positive ambition for advancing the rights and opportunities of all disabled people across Wales over the next decade.

Based on the Social Model of Disability and guided by the principles of the UN Convention on the Rights of Disabled People, the consultation outlines both immediate actions and long-term outcomes to create lasting change in how society addresses barriers to inclusion.

The plan is based on the work of the Disability Rights Taskforce, which brought together people with lived experience and expertise. It addresses real challenges faced by disabled people in their everyday lives, with thematic working groups focusing on specific areas.

Following the consultation, an External Advisory Board will provide ongoing expertise and oversight as the plan moves into implementation.

The Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, Jane Hutt, said: “As a government we are committed to ensuring that disabled people can participate in Welsh society on an equitable basis, free from barriers, and to creating an inclusive and accessible environment for all.

“Despite some progress in recent years, disabled people in Wales continue to face significant barriers in everyday life. This 10-year plan represents our commitment to true inclusion and participation.

“The Disability Rights Taskforce’s work has extensively shaped this plan, ensuring it’s grounded in lived experience. Now we need to hear from as many disabled people and organisations as possible to ensure the final plan delivers meaningful change across Wales.”

The 12-week consultation welcomes input from individuals, community groups, businesses and organisations, with particular emphasis on hearing directly from disabled people about their priorities.

The consultation is open until 7 August 2025.

Continue Reading

Health

Health chiefs face questions over eye care digital delays

Published

on

SENEDD Members scrutinised health chiefs about years-long delays to digital transformation of eye care, with some services still relying on paper records and fax machines.

Peter Fox, the newly elected chair of the Senedd’s health committee, pressed witnesses about a lack of digital infrastructure “holding back” improvement in eye care services.

Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) was moved to level three on ministers’ intervention framework in March due to concerns about its ability to effectively deliver major programmes.

Helen Thomas, DHCW’s chief executive, said: “We know there are many opportunities that digital and data services can support… in terms of the challenges eye care services face.

“And we believe there is a way to go in terms of ensuring that they have the full digital infrastructure that is needed.”

David Thomas, director of digital at Cardiff and Vale, said an electronic patient record system has been deployed in all ophthalmology sub-specialties in his health board area.

But, asked about progress on digital stalling elsewhere, Ms Thomas told the committee DHCW hopes to complete a full national rollout after a current contract ends in early 2027.

The digital eye care programme began in January 2020, with £8.5m allocated by ministers.

A press release, published in March 2021, said: “The project, being led by Cardiff and Vale university health board, has already commenced rollout across Wales.”

Sam Hall, director of primary digital services at DHCW, said an electronic referral system was part of the original programme “but hasn’t yet been delivered”.

Labour’s Lesley Griffiths, a former health minister, pointed out that the “OpenEyes” digital patient records project had an agreed deadline to be rolled out by March 2023.

Lesley Griffiths, cabinet secretary for culture and social justice
Labour MS Lesley Griffiths

“But this didn’t happen,” said the Wrexham Senedd member. “So, I wonder if you could explain why it didn’t happen and what the current status is please.”

Mr Thomas pointed to the impact of the pandemic during the meeting on May 14.

Warning of problems getting people “on the same page”, he said: “In hindsight, in terms of lessons learned, the engagement could have worked a lot better with other health boards.”

He said OpenEyes is live in Cardiff and Vale, and one service at Cwm Taf Morgannwg, with plans to roll out the patient record system to all ophthalmology services within ten months.

Mr Thomas told the committee that Welsh Government funding covered capital spending, leaving health boards to meet the everyday costs such as employing more staff.

He explained additional funding has been requested, given wider financial constraints, to cover local implementation costs of around £50,000 for each health board,

“We do now have the buy-in from health boards to proceed,” he said. “But we need to recognise that there was a period where things didn’t progress as they should.”

Emma Cooke, an executive director at Cardiff and Vale, added: “We weren’t demonstrating its value to the rest of Wales… that’s the big thing I think we should have picked up quicker.”

Michael Stechman – clinical director for ophthalmology at Cardiff and Vale, and a consultant general surgeon – warned of a Wales-wide shortage of ophthalmologists.

He also raised concerns about the centralisation of services creating challenges – with major trauma, neurosurgery and vascular surgery all “competing” for theatre space.

Turning to Betsi Cadwaladr university health board, Mr Fox pointed out that about 40,000 patients in the area were waiting for ophthalmology outpatient appointments.

Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr, replied: “It’s probably fair to say the health board has not made as much progress over the past four-five years as other areas.

“It’s something for us to learn from.”

Ms Shillabeer, who was appointed in 2023, outlined a focus on community ophthalmology services to free up capacity for secondary care teams to see the highest-risk patients.

Pressed about underreporting of incidents, the chief executive emphasised the importance of transparency and candour due to potentially “life-changing” levels of patient harm.

Continue Reading

Health

Councillor urges men to get tested following stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis

Published

on

A MILFORD HAVEN councillor diagnosed with incurable prostate cancer is urging men across Pembrokeshire to take action and get tested.

Councillor Guy Woodham, former Mayor of Milford Haven, is backing a major awareness campaign led by Welsh charity Prostate Cymru, which is offering free PSA blood tests as part of a national screening drive. The next testing event will be held at Narberth RFC on Saturday, 1 June.

Cllr Woodham, now 56, was fit, healthy and had no symptoms when his GP suggested a routine check-up.

“My PSA level was slightly raised, which led to more tests,” he said. “I braced myself to be told I might need surgery, but nothing prepared me for the news that it was already stage four and had spread to my bones. I now have incurable, advanced cancer.”

He added: “There’s currently no screening programme, and some GPs are still reluctant to offer the PSA test. But it’s all we’ve got. I had no symptoms, and yet I was already stage four. My message is simple: get tested. It could save your life.”

Prostate Cymru is aiming to test over 3,000 men across Wales amid ongoing concerns that too many men struggle to access free PSA tests through their GP. So far, more than 1,400 men have been tested at events in Kenfig Hill, Cowbridge, Brecon and Swansea — with 90 red alerts issued to men requiring urgent follow-up.

Men aged 50 or over are eligible for a free test, with that threshold reduced to 45 for those with a family history of the disease or for Black men, who are statistically at higher risk.

The Narberth event is being supported by JCP Solicitors, which has named Prostate Cymru its Charity of the Year. CEO Hayley Davies said: “One in eight men will be diagnosed with prostate cancer. Early detection makes all the difference.”

On the day, attendees will be able to speak with a specialist nurse and consultant about the PSA test and the next steps if results are elevated.

A further testing event will take place at Aberystwyth RFC on Sunday, 8 June, with plans to expand the campaign into North Wales later this year.

To register for a test, email [email protected] or visit www.prostatecymru.com.

Continue Reading

News1 day ago

Paddleboarders rescued off Pembrokeshire coast after being blown out to sea

Little and Broad Haven lifeboat crew locate duo near Druidston after emergency 999 call TWO young paddleboarders were rescued off...

Business1 day ago

Skilled labour crisis hits Pembrokeshire’s fishing fleet, warns new national report

Not one Welsh skipper rated crew availability as ‘good’ in Seafish 2024 survey PEMBROKESHIRE’S fishing industry is facing a critical...

News1 day ago

Council’s Deputy Leader doubles down in Welsh language row

THE DEPUTY LEADER of Pembrokeshire County Council has defended the Cabinet from claims it is “anti-Welsh”.Cllr Paul Miller’s remark came...

Business2 days ago

Withyhedge landfill operator seeks to increase waste limit by 50,000 tonnes

Campaigners call for permit reduction instead, warning trust has been “shredded” THE COMPANY behind Pembrokeshire’s controversial Withyhedge landfill site has...

News2 days ago

Sad farewell to Folly Farm’s majestic Lion, Hugo

Folly Farm has announced the heartbreaking loss of one of its most iconic residents, Hugo the African lion, who passed...

Crime3 days ago

Stalker built secret den to spy on ex-partner

Magistrates hear how man’s obsession drove woman from her home A PEMBROKESHIRE man has admitted building a secret observation den...

Farming3 days ago

Lucky escape for cows as livestock trailer overturns on M4

THREE cows had a lucky escape on Monday morning (May 12) after the livestock trailer they were travelling in overturned...

Crime3 days ago

Hope for John Cooper as DNA clears man jailed in 1987

Breakthrough in UK’s longest miscarriage of justice highlights power of new forensic science A MAN jailed for a brutal murder...

Community4 days ago

Trefin celebrates VE Day 80th anniversary in style

THE PICTURESQUE village of Trefin in north Pembrokeshire burst into colour and song last week as residents came together to...

Community4 days ago

Eisteddfod Proclamation Parade to bring colour and celebration to Narberth

A MAJOR cultural celebration will take place in Narberth this Saturday (17 May) as the town hosts the official Proclamation...

Popular This Week