Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

Health

Support remains available this Christmas and New Year

Published

on

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is reaching out to residents with a message to stay safe this Christmas and into the New Year and remember that there is support available if needed.

Christmas can be tough for some people at the best of times but the difficulties of 2020 could mean this Christmas could be even more challenging.

Following the introduction of Tier 4 restrictions, the Community Hub remains open and available for those who may need support and assistance.

A partnership between Pembrokeshire County Council, Pembrokeshire Association of Voluntary Services, Hywel Dda University Health Board, and Delta Well-being, the Community Hub can help with a variety of support services.

The Hub can help with getting essential shopping, collecting prescriptions, accessing support or just offer a friendly voice on the end of the phone.

And the Community Hub wants people to know that it is ok to ask for help and that there is no query too big or small.

The Community Hub will be open 9am-5pm until Wednesday December 23rd and 9am-4pm on Christmas Eve.

It will re-open 9am-5pm on Tuesday 29th, Wednesday 30th and Thursday 31st December.

The Hub will resume normal 9-5 operating hours on Monday 4th January.

The Community Hub can be contacted on 01437 776301 or [email protected]

You can also visit the website at: https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/coronavirus-covid-19-community-information/community-hub

Jonathan Griffiths, the Council’s Director of Social Care and Housing said: “I’m sure we can all agree that the past nine months has been an incredibly difficult time for everyone.

“While the arrival of a vaccine is great news, we must remember that we are still many months away from all of us being vaccinated.

“Covid-19 is unfortunately spreading across our communities and Pembrokeshire currently has the highest number of cases now than at any point in the first wave.

“Therefore, it is important for me to remind you and your families to continue to closely follow the advice provided by the Welsh Government over the Christmas period.

“The Community Hub has helped local people throughout the last nine months and continues to do so.

“Please get in contact if you need any help – however big or small.”

Tenants are also being reminded that support will continue to available throughout the festive period.

If you become homeless or are threatened with homelessness over the Christmas period you can contact the service in the following way:
• Monday – Friday between 9am & 5pm – Phone the homelessness duty officer on 01437 764551 or email [email protected]
• Friday 5pm – Monday 9am – Phone the Duty Social Worker from the Out of Hours Team on 03003 332222.

If you have an emergency repair or maintenance issue over the Christmas period, please call Duty Officers on 01437 775522.

The Choice Homes advert will run from 23rd December until 4th January 2021.

If you are struggling to cope this Christmas, feeling under pressure or overwhelmed or spending Christmas alone this year, please remember the Samaritans will be available to listen and support 24/7. You can call 116123 for free or email [email protected]

• Details of the restrictions under each Tier level can be found at https://gov.wales/covid-19-alert-levels

• The First Minister’s statement is at https://gov.wales/first-minister-statement-19-december

• Public Health Wales FAQs: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/

Continue Reading

Health

Chairman opens new NHS 111 Wales Service Centre in Haverfordwest

Published

on

IN a ceremonial occasion on Thursday (May 2), Thomas Baden Tudor, Chairman of Pembrokeshire County Council, inaugurated the new NHS 111 Wales service centre at Haverfordwest Ambulance Station. The event was marked by Mr. Tudor cutting the red ribbon, a task he was honoured to perform at the behest of Matthew Jones, Locality Manager of the Pembrokeshire Ambulance Service.

The NHS 111 service, which is accessible round the clock, offers urgent health advice and information about available services, including dental care and general medical guidance. This vital resource also provides support on managing illnesses and conditions and ensures continuity of care when GP offices are closed.

Speaking at the event, Mr. Tudor expressed his pride and privilege in participating in the launch, which underscores the community’s commitment to enhancing healthcare accessibility. The new service centre is expected to play a pivotal role in providing prompt medical advice and support to the residents of Pembrokeshire.

The service is free and can be reached by dialling 111 from any phone, ensuring essential healthcare advice is just a call away.

Continue Reading

Health

Junior doctors secure strike extension in pay negotiations with WG

Published

on

BMA Cymru Wales has confirmed a positive development in its pay negotiations announcing that Junior doctors have secured a three-month extension to their overwhelming strike mandate.

This means that junior doctors in Wales now have the right to enact industrial action over their pay until 17 September 2024 instead of 17 June when the mandate was due to run out.

Recognising the strength of feeling amongst junior doctors and the overwhelming 98% vote by members in favour of industrial action back in December 2023, employers have agreed to honour this extension to allow talks with the Welsh Government to continue.

Co-chairs of the Welsh Junior Doctor Committee Dr Oba Babs-Osibodu and Dr Peter Fahey said of this development:

“We are pleased to be able to secure an extension to our overwhelming strike mandate. Whilst we hope to put an end to our pay dispute through pay negotiations by reaching a credible deal and restoring our pay, it was important to secure more time for our mandate.

“The extension allows us to focus on talks but also provides us with the scope to get organised and enact our legal right to strike should we need to. This is about honouring the emphatic mandate of our members.

“Doctors have experienced real terms pay cut of almost a third since 2008. They voted overwhelmingly to put an end to the devaluing of their service, they know they are not worth a third less than their predecessors and they know the time is now to stick up for the profession and turn the tide of the continued erosion of their pay once and for all”.

The Welsh Government and NHS employers have agreed to the extension as part of ongoing pay negotiations where all parties hope to reach an end to the pay dispute with junior doctors, SAS doctors and Consultants in Wales.

Last month, BMA Cymru Wales announced it was suspending forthcoming industrial action for Consultants and SAS doctors and putting plans on hold to announce more strike dates for junior doctors to allow pay negotiations to take place*.

The decision to enter pay negotiations was based on a significant proposal from the Welsh Government to form the basis of talks to end the pay disputes with all secondary care doctors including Consultants, SAS, and Junior doctors, with the aim of reaching deals which can be taken separately to their respective members.

In August last year, the BMA’s committees representing secondary care doctors in Wales voted to enter 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.

Continue Reading

Community

Plea to save at-risk Anchorage day care centre

Published

on

AN ONLINE plea to save a Pembrokeshire day centre from being closed has been lodged with the county council.

The Anchorage Day Care Centre in Pembroke Dock has been a “safe and happy place” for adults with learning difficulties and additional needs for decades.

In more recent years it has expanded to support elderly dementia sufferers.

But now the centre is expected to close, with services instead being offered elsewhere in the county, including Haverfordwest and Milford Haven.

A series of engagement events have taken place at The Anchorage recently, outlining the reasons and the options in continued service.

One parent, who wished to remain anonymous, said: “The parents and carers are all very upset at the way we have been treated, kept in the dark and then presented with what is a fait accompli to close the Anchorage, while at the same time going through the motions of a ‘consultation’ with us.

“The clients at The Anchorage have friendships with each other and staff going back decades in some cases.

“One young woman who attends ran out of the first meeting sobbing when she was told it was going to close. Another, at the second meeting, tried to address the meeting but was so chocked up at the thought of not seeing her friends anymore she could hardly speak.”

She added: “The Anchorage has been a respite in the day for parents and a safe, happy place for the clients.

“Everyone feels that the county council is not considering the feelings of the clients, most of whom are upset and frightened by change to their routine.”

Another person raising concerns said: “The centre is set to close as early as next month – meaning the sudden retraction of a service which, for many families in the area, is nothing short of a lifeline.

“I’m not sure PCC understand the gravity of the impact that closing the centre will have on the lives of many people, particularly the customers, some of whom may not understand or cope well with such a total upheaval of the familiarity of their daily routine.

“It’s so upsetting that the people who will be most affected by the closure of the centre are as much a part of the Pembrokeshire community as anybody else that the council claims to represent, and yet in this decision, I feel they’re not being seen as such.”

Since then, an online e-petition, on the council’s own website has been launched calling for it to stay open.

It says: “The centre provides day-care support to a number of vulnerable adults with varying levels of disability who are unable to process, and understand, the implications of such a decision.

“Some of those attending the centre have been doing so for over 20 years and continuity is a vital part of their lives. Removing this service will have nothing other than a huge detrimental impact on their health and mental wellbeing.”

The petition has attracted 284 signatures to date.

A Pembrokeshire County Council spokesman said: “Following the engagement sessions held with families and service users regarding the future of the centre on April 10 and 17 at the Anchorage, families said that they would like to maintain the Anchorage Day Centre and explained that they would write to the council in order to ask for the decision to be overturned.

“People who attend the service will be offered alternative care, all service users are currently having their individual care needs assessed by social work teams to fully understand which other services best meet those care needs.”

Continue Reading

News1 day ago

Opportunity to request changes to the 20mph limits in Pembrokeshire

Pembrokeshire County Council is opening up an opportunity for residents to request changes to 20mph limits in their locality. The...

News2 days ago

Council seeking legal advice to address Withyhedge enforcement

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council says it has sought legal advice and is contemplating legal proceedings against Withyhedge Landfill operators RML, in...

News2 days ago

Beautiful, funny and lovely: Family pay tribute to Sian Batchelor

THE family of a woman has paid tribute to a “beautiful, funny, lovely person.” Sian Batchelor, aged 32, was found...

Community2 days ago

Locals’ concern as St Davids scout hut threatened with demolition

THERE is widespread concern over the future of St David’s Scout Hut in Ffynnon Wen, which faces potential closure and...

News3 days ago

Police investigating after woman found dead on beach near Pennar  

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have confirmed they are investigating the death of a woman who was found on a beach near Pennar...

News3 days ago

Police discover body in search for Luke Stephenson, 19

POLICE have confirmed the sad news that they have discovered a body during their search for 19-year-old Luke Stephenson, reported missing from the...

Crime4 days ago

Llandissilio man accused of making hundreds of child abuse images

A 25-YEAR-OLD Llandissilio man has appeared before a District Judge charged with making 258 Category A images of a child....

Community6 days ago

Solemn tributes at Freshwater West for WWII maritime tragedy

IN an emotional gathering at Freshwater West, Pembrokeshire, the public and veterans convened on April 29, to honour the memory...

Community1 week ago

Barley Saturday makes a grand return to Cardigan

ON SATURDAY (Apr 27), the historic town of Cardigan in West Wales is abuzz with excitement as it hosts its...

Community1 week ago

Train disruption expected due to essential works at Clarbeston Road

PASSENGERS are being asked to check before they travel between Carmarthen and Milford Haven/Fishguard Harbour next week when Network Rail...

Popular This Week