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Crabb attacks cancer drugs policy

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Out of excuses: Welsh Secretary attacks Welsh Labour Government

PEMBROKESHIRE MP, and Secretary of State for Wales, Stephen Crabb, has criticised the Welsh Labour Government for not introducing a Cancer Drugs Fund in Wales, after the UK Labour Party committed to introduce similar funding in England should they win the General Election in May. The UK Government introduced the existing Cancer Drugs Fund in England in 2010. Commenting, Mr Crabb said: “The Welsh Labour Government are all out of excuses for not implementing a Cancer Drugs Fund in Wales.

The CDF has had a truly positive impact on the lives of 66,000 cancer sufferers in England. “That’s why the UK Labour Party have signed up to it and it’s why 97,000 people signed a petition calling for one in Wales, including many people from Pembrokeshire. It is now time for Welsh Labour representatives in our County to call on their colleagues in the Assembly to bring this policy to Wales.

“The Welsh Government received an additional £123m in the Autumn Statement last week. This is enough to pay for a Welsh Cancer Drugs Fund several times over and so there is no excuse for denying people in Pembrokeshire and across Wales these life-saving drugs that are available across the border in England.”

The Herald contacted the Welsh Labour Assembly and received this exclusive response, as a spokesperson said: “We have no plans to introduce a cancer drugs fund in Wales. Even England is now reconsidering if some drugs currently available through its cancer drugs fund should be removed from the list due to rising costs. “A cancer drugs fund undermines the established system for the assessment of medicines for use in the NHS in Wales.

The fund’s own chairman has admitted that it has provided funding for cancer drugs which have ‘no impact on survival’ and ‘uncertainty as to whether quality of life is improved or not’. The spokesperson claimed that the Welsh Labour Assembly spends more per head on cancer than in England and a report in the highly-respected British Journal of Cancer shows Wales has a faster uptake of the drugs most recently launched and recommended by National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), and that satisfaction rates with cancer services in Wales are extremely high and survival rates are rising faster than in other parts of the UK.

The spokesperson added: “We believe patients should receive costeffective and evidence-based treatment and care to meet their clinical needs. To do that, the NHS is guided by recommendations from NICE and the All Wales Medicines Strategy Group, which make decisions based on evidence, input from clinicians, health professionals and patients.”

2 Comments

2 Comments

  1. Tomos

    December 30, 2014 at 10:49 pm

    It’s really scary, the Senedd is full of imbeciles , the Welsh NHS full of over paid senior managers who employ loads of spin doctors to protect their gravy train and to trample on whistle blowers – They think they can fool us with free parking and free prescriptions – I guess the logic is that there are more ppl wanting free parking @ hospitals than there are ppl dying because the budget (which is bigger than Englands budget per patient) is being spent on fripperies rather than the important stuff

  2. ieuan

    December 31, 2014 at 6:31 pm

    If we were funded fairly from Westminster we could do it, I agree we have idiots in charge everywhere, however it has recently been admitted we have been short changed by Westminster for a long long time, time for Mr Crabb to do something about the funding, actual action not just giving it jaw!

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Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

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THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

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Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

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PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

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Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

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ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

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