Flu jabs to be available for 50s and over

 Earlier this year the Welsh Government committed to the roll-out of Wales’ largest ever influenza vaccination programme to protect people from the risks of flu.

The Welsh Government secured nearly 460,000 additional vaccines for 2020/21 and these are currently being made available to all GP practices and community pharmacies in Wales. 

Those aged 50 and over should now expect to be contacted by their GP practice or can contact their local pharmacy to arrange a vaccination. 

By mid-November more than 750,000 vulnerable people, NHS staff and schoolchildren in Wales had taken up the offer of a free flu vaccine. Of those aged over 65, 70% had also been vaccinated - levels substantially higher than during the same period last year.

The Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said, today:

This winter more and more people in Wales are taking-up the offer of a free flu vaccine. We have made great progress to protect the most vulnerable in our community and a further 460,000 people in Wales will now be able to benefit from the protection the vaccine offers them and our NHS services.

Extending the flu vaccine to everyone aged 50 or over will help prevent more people becoming ill and reduce pressure on the NHS this winter. I would urge anyone who is eligible to follow the example of the huge numbers of people vaccinated already and have the vaccine.

The Chief Medical Officer for Wales, Frank Atherton, said:

Everyone who is eligible for a NHS flu vaccine can be confident about having it to protect themselves and those around them this winter. Rolling-out the vaccine to all over 50s will protect them and others in our communities in every part of Wales and help protect the NHS this winter.

Four UK nations agree new rules for the festive period

A broad set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones during the festive period, in a way that is as safe as possible, have been agreed by the governments of the UK’s four nations.

Speaking after a meeting of the governments, the First Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford said: “This has been a very long and difficult year for everyone. All our lives have been turned upside down by the coronavirus pandemic.

“Everyone has done so much to help control the spread of the virus and to save lives. But that has meant many sacrifices, including not seeing family and close friends. We are all looking forward to Christmas and a chance to spend some time with all those we hold dear.

“Today, I met the First Ministers of Scotland and Northern Ireland and Michael Gove, from the UK Government, and I’m pleased we were able to agree a common four-nation plan for the festive period.”

The text of a joint statement issued by the four UK governments is:

"As 2020 draws to a close, we recognise it has been an incredibly difficult year for us all. We have all had to make significant sacrifices in our everyday lives, and many religious and community groups have already had to change or forgo their customary celebrations to slow the spread of coronavirus and save lives.

"This cannot be a ‘normal’ Christmas. But as we approach the festive period, we have been working closely together to find a way for family and friends to see each other, even if it is for a short time, and recognising that it must be both limited and cautious.

"Even where it is within the rules, meeting with friends and family over Christmas will be a personal judgement for individuals to take, mindful of the risks to themselves and others, particularly those who are vulnerable. 

"We need everyone to think carefully about what they do during this period, balancing some increased social contact with the need to keep the risk of increased transmission of the virus as low as possible. 

"This is particularly important when considering those who are vulnerable, and before deciding to come together over the festive period we urge the consideration of alternative approaches such as the use of technology or meeting outside.

"In this context, the four administrations have reached agreement on a single set of UK-wide measures to help people come together with their loved ones in a way that is as safe as possible.

"Today we have agreed that:

• Travel restrictions across the four administrations and between tiers will be lifted to provide a window for households to come together between the 23rd and 27th of December.
• Up to three households can form an exclusive ‘bubble’ to meet at home during this period. When a bubble is formed it is fixed, and must not be changed or extended further at any point.
• Each Christmas bubble can meet at home, at a place of worship or an outdoor public place, but existing, more restrictive rules on hospitality and meeting in other venues will be maintained throughout this period.

"It is important that everyone respects and abides by the rules of each nation wherever they choose to spend the festive period. Where there are any variations in our approach, these will be communicated by each administration accordingly. Further guidance will be provided in due course.

"The winter holiday period is a time often spent with family and friends, with schools and offices closing and people travelling over the bank holidays. Many have already begun making their plans, and we are today providing clarity to help people make the right choices for them, and enjoy time with those closest to them while staying within the rules to protect us all."

Llyr Gruffydd to fight Clwyd South Senedd seat for Plaid

Plaid Cymru's current Member of the Senedd for North Wales has been chosen to fight to represent the Clwyd South constituency.

Llyr Gruffydd (pictured) has been the North Wales MS for the past nine years and is the party's shadow minister for Energy, the Environment and Rural Affairs.

The Clwyd South constituency has been represented since 2011 by Labour's Ken Skates, who is also the Welsh Government's Minister for Economy, Transport and North Wales.

Mr Gruffydd, a father of four, has been at the forefront of campaigns to defend nurses facing extra unpaid shifts at Betsi Cadwaladr health board, plans to privatise dialysis services and also been a fierce critic of the over-use of management consultants by the NHS.

Mr Gruffydd said: "I'm grateful that the local party membership has chosen me. Clwyd South is a microcosm of Wales - rural communities, towns, urban villages and a very varied economy that is a mix of industry, public services, farming and tourism. It stretches from the border near Whitchurch to Llandrillo near Bala and includes Llangollen and the urban villages of Wrexham.

"This part of Wales desperately needs fresh vision for the coming five years, so that we can recover and succeed despite the full impact of the Covid pandemic and Brexit shambles hitting the local economy and hard-pressed local services.

"These communities have had it hard - Brymbo for example lost a steelworks in 1990 and it's taken decades to recover. Many others have suffered a decade of cuts and austerity only to find that the Tories have belatedly found a magic money tree when it comes to dealing with the Covid-19 pandemic. That's come too late for many self-employed and small businesses that have fallen through the net and also many workers who have sadly lost their jobs as a result of the situation. My priority is to work with my Plaid Cymru colleagues to build a stronger Welsh economy that will offer people fresh hope after so many setbacks and uncertainty."

Mr Gruffydd added: "I'm passionate about ensuring a better future for our children. That means a greener, cleaner future for Wales and the world. The growth in renewable energy - much of it community owned such as Corwen Hydro - points in the right direction and Wales can lead the way on this.

"The environment also impacts our health and well-being - the fires earlier this year at Kronospan and the Hafod tip have both been wake-up calls about ensuring our health is at the heart of our priorities.

"That's why I've also been campaigning with local residents to improve healthcare in the rural South Maelor area around Hanmer, where a cross-party campaign seems to be bearing fruit after years of neglect."

Until recently, Clwyd South had been a Labour stronghold both in Cardiff and Westminster.

But Welsh Conservative Simon Baynes was elected as the area's MP in 2019 bringing to an end 22 years under Labour.

The Senedd Election is due to take place on May 6, 2021.

Health board taken out of special measures

This afternoon, Health Minister Vaughan Gething announced that the Health Board would be de-escalated from Special Measures with immediate effect.  

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Chairman Mark Polin and Acting Chief Executive Gill Harris said in a joint statement:

“We welcome this significant announcement and continued support from Welsh Government.  We are encouraged by the growing confidence in our plans to make strategic longer term improvements while acknowledging that there is much more to do.

“The package of support recently announced by Welsh Government will help us to build on work to develop transformational and sustainable solutions to long term challenges in unscheduled care, diagnostics, planned care and mental health services.

“We are confident that our ambitious plans for the future will improve patient experience and waiting times. These include the establishment of Diagnostic and Treatment Centres and driving forward the business case for a North Wales Medical and Health Science School.

“We are hugely proud that colleagues across the organisation have risen to the challenge of COVID-19 and have displayed positivity, resilience and a commitment to patients in the most difficult of circumstances. We thank them for everything they have done to care for patients and keep our communities safe.

“There is a lot more work ahead but we are confident that with the support of our staff, partners, and public, the much-needed transformation of health services across North Wales will be achieved.”

In a joint statement Welsh Labour elected members said:

“Throughout the Covid-19 pandemic, NHS staff in North Wales have worked heroically to help protect people.

“Today’s welcome news that BCUHB has come out of special measures is recognition of how the health board has managed the pandemic and implemented significant improvements.

“The work of improving health services in North Wales will continue and today’s announcement will provide very welcome assurance to patients and staff that Betsi Cadwaladr is heading in the right direction.”

Hannah Blythyn MS, Lesley Griffiths MS, Ann Jones MS, Eluned Morgan MS, Jack Sargeant MS, Ken Skates MS, Mark Tami MP and Joyce Watson MS

Fundraising campaign gets special car for life-saving Effie

* Effie Cadwallader with a car similar to the dedicated first responder one she is to have. 

A fund-raising campaign to provide a Community First Responder with a dedicated car to attend life-threatening medical emergencies in this area has exceeded its £10,000 target only two months after being launched.

Welsh Ambulance Service volunteer Effie Cadwallader is preparing to take delivery of the rapid response vehicle which will be used to answer calls along the Wrexham-Shropshire border.

Effie began her campaign in September with an online crowd-funding appeal. She has since received a massive boost when the Welsh Lottery fund decided to give her a grant for the whole £10,000.

As a result, the Wrexham Rural CFR group has been able to purchase a Skoda Fabia estate car, meet the first year of annual running costs including tax and insurance, and pay for the car to be emblazoned with high-viz markings to ensure it can be seen easily when responders are out on a 999 alert.

During 15 years of volunteering as an unpaid Community First Responder, Effie has answered more than three thousand calls from her home in St Martin’s, responding to emergencies such as strokes, heart attacks and domestic accidents.

Though still based in St Martin’s, she switched earlier this year from a neighbouring ambulance service to become part of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Wrexham Rural CFR team which covers the border area including Chirk and the Ceiriog Valley, and extending to Llangollen, Overton, Penley, and as far as Bettisfield and the outskirts of Ellesmere.

The move to the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust meant that she had to find a replacement vehicle, because although CFRs are given specialist training and supplied with medical essentials by the ambulance service, the volunteers still have to self-fund the cost of transport, uniforms, kit bags and equipment such as a defibrillator.

More than 100 donors contributed to Effie’s crowd-funding appeal, raising well over £2,000. Other donations were also received from Ellesmere Probus Club, The Keys, St Martins, Stan’s Superstore, and Selattyn Community Group.

The car itself has been generously supplied by the Mitchells Group at Cheshire Oaks, and extra help has been given by Perrys of Gobowen and Ifton Garage.

“I’m enormously grateful to everyone who has made this possible,” said Effie. “I hadn’t expected to reach the target so quickly, let alone exceed it. The Lottery grant was an unexpected bonus and I’m deeply touched by the extremely generous response I’ve had from the community. Many people clearly realise the value of this service.

“The Covid lockdowns in Wales and England have meant a delay in putting the car on the road, but we in the Wrexham Rural team have been responding throughout the pandemic, using our own cars. Hopefully, the new car will be ready soon and it will make such a difference.

“As the first dedicated CFR car in Wales, it will enable a faster and more efficient response to calls because it can be loaded, packed and ready to go with all essential equipment, without having to transfer things from car to car, and running the risk of leaving something vital behind.

“Once the Covid crisis is over, the car will also be used when we are delivering CPR and Defibrillator Awareness courses in communities on both sides of the border once again.”

* More information about Wrexham Rural CFRs can be found at https://www.wrexhamruralcfr.co.uk/

 

Vitara - an unsung hero of the car industry

Suzuki Vitara road test by Steve Rogers

The pandemic has brought untold misery, but lockdown in England has thrown a small crumb of comfort my way.

Test drives normally last a week but as the Suzuki press team delivered a Vitara just before the latest lockdown, and then went into forced hibernation, the SUV is with me for a month and that, to my surprise, has caused me to challenge how I go about reviewing cars.

More often than not my first thought is to look for a negative. Car companies might believe they reach perfection, but they don't, there will always be some niggle or imperfection. 

In the case of Suzuki it is usually quality of materials, their cars were at the budget end and that is where corners were cut. But that has changed dramatically with improvements across the board yet my eyes still homed in on hard, shiny plastic on the door trim and lower down the dashboard so it still dips below many of its rivals. 

Soon after taking to the road I decided the steering was too light, all minor complaints in the scheme of things yet they could be deal breakers in the car selection process.

Move on three weeks and the Vitara's steering is still light and the trim hasn't changed but neither bother me in the slightest. I am used to the steering and take no notice of the trim.

It prompted a discussion with my wife who had no interest in the state of the door trim (neither did her sister) but was rather taken by the broad designer insert along the dashboard which does catch the eye. 

Her beef was with the speedometer which has no 30mph numerical marking and suggested a digital readout in the driver's binnacle. I'm with her all the way on that and would go further - what about a head-up display?

The upshot is we have grown to like Vitara because it ticks most of our boxes, high driving position, so easy for getting in and out, roomy for its size, economical (will come to that later) well off for those nice things we like in cars, and a good fist of safety features. Good value then.

Vitara was knocked down and rebuilt for 2015 just as the shift to SUVs was in overdrive. Rebranding the off-roader after nearly 30 years was a brave move that paid off. Not as cute as a Renault Captur or as funky as a Jeep Renegade or Citroen C3 Aircross, it looks the part and the  new jazzed up grille and light signature have given it more kerb appeal.

It lost some of its ruggedness to fit into the mainstream clan yet still offers all wheel drive which is one up on the majority of its rivals. Just a pity it is only available at the top of the range.

The other bold decision was to ditch diesel and offer two small turbocharged petrol engines, the smallest just one litre that will leave drivers wide eyed with its performance, refinement and economy, but I would still opt for the 1.4 boosterjet with its mild hybrid technology. I know, more baffling jargon so this is it in a nutshell.

A 48-valve lithium-ion battery, integrated starter generator and converter provides power for low voltage elements like lights, audio and air conditioning. Engine emissions are reduced and off the line acceleration is beefed up. Think of it as having a tiny extra turbo charger.

Compared to the old 1.6 litre petrol this engine is heaps quicker, cleaner and more economical. Shading 50mpg on a run is no problem, and so far Vitara has never dropped below 43mpg, so we can tick the economy box.

Suzuki knows its onions when it comes to all wheel drive and this system is on demand so engages only when wheel spin is detected. The nearest this Vitara got to off road was two wheels on a grass verge but knowing Suzuki it will be effective and offers three other modes, sport to help cornering stability, snow, which speaks for itself, and lock should the going get really tough. It also has hill descent control which could be a life saver on a snow or ice covered road.

The safety package includes radar brake support in case you drift off into another world and fail to hit the brake pedal with trouble looming, adaptive cruise control, blind spot alert and cross traffic alert which is a godsend when reversing out of parking spaces.

I see Suzuki as one of the unsung heroes of the car industry and have friends who swear by them. I wouldn't mind a Vitara but it won't pull my caravan because the towing capacity is a meagre 1200kg. That will disappoint a few farmers as well.

Need to know

Vitara SZ5 Allgrip

£26,799 (range starts £21,999)

1.4 Boosterjet; 127bhp

0-62mph 10.2secs; 118mph

45.4mpg combined

140g/km. 1st tax £205 then £205

Insurance group 19

Temporary "pods" to be provided for care homes

Temporary ‘pods’ are being provided to care homes across Wales to better facilitate visits over Christmas and the winter months, the Health Minister has announced today (Monday).

The £3million pilot will cover the procurement, installation and lease of 100 units, with an initial 30 being installed and ready to use before Christmas.

The semi-permanent units will be available for a period of six months, whilst longer-term solutions are sourced and put in place.

This also includes £1million for plans to support providers who prefer to make their own arrangements on a similar basis.

Expanding capacity within care homes, says the Government, will help to better support risk-assessed visiting during the winter months as some care providers have found it difficult to support socially distanced visits due to a lack of internal visiting space.

Visiting restrictions for care homes were eased as wider lockdown restrictions were lifted in the summer, and again following the fire-break. 

Since August, guidance has supported the reintroduction of indoor visits where possible with a designated indoor visitor.

Health Minister Vaughan Gething said: “We all know how difficult recent months have been for people living in care homes and their loved ones, however ensuring the safety of our most vulnerable has always been paramount.

“We recognise both the distress and sadness that has been experienced since March, but also the desire from care homes to facilitate visits before and during Christmas as well as throughout the winter. Having engaged with key stakeholders, we are confident these units are a way to enable meaningful visits to take place.

“The pilot scheme will help us to understand whether visiting pods are an effective and practical way of supporting meaningful visits. We will use this learning to determine whether we should consider commissioning a bespoke Wales-based solution in future if the course of the pandemic means this is required.”

Work starts on 'pocket park' at old tip site

Work has started on the new "pocket park" being built on the former council refuse tip at Wenffrwd off the A539 on the approach road to Llangollen.

David Shiel, area manager for the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty of which the land is part, said: "This first phase will see the development of a small car park and new access road which we would hope to finish by end of February next year.

"We will then develop some trails around the site and hopefully onto the canal.  

"We are also working towards a link back to the Health Centre along part of the old railway line."

He added: "There are some lovely walks around the site with great views along the Dee Valley and up towards the Panorama.

"I think it is going to be a great additional area to explore in the valley." 

Inner Wheel plans Christmas stall on Tuesday Market

Llangollen Inner Wheel is planning to have a Christmas stall at the Tuesday Market on December 1st.

Vice president Eileen Dart said: "Usually at this time of the year we are making plans for our main fund event which is Christmas Cheer held annually in the Town Hall. 

"Along with most other groups we have had to cancel this and most other events for this year. 

"We are however planning to have a Christmas stall on the Tuesday Market on Tuesday, December 1st, weather permitting. If it is wet we will hold it on the following Tuesday."

MP speaks out in support of wedding venues during pandemic

Clwyd South MP Simon Baynes (pictured) spoke out in support of the wedding venue industry in  his constituency during a Westminster Hall debate in Parliament.

Mr Baynes addressed fellow MPs during the Live Events and Weddings: Covid-19 Support debate, stressing the importance of the issue to his constituents and the local economy. 

He spoke about the series of roundtable virtual meetings that he has organised over the last few months with representatives from the Clwyd South wedding venue industry, such as Tracey Owen of Tyn Dwr Hall and others from further afield in Wales. 

These meetings were also regularly attended by UK and Welsh Government Ministers.

Mr Baynes also highlighted the importance of the industry to rural economies such as those in parts of Clwyd South. 

And he stressed that while this is a devolved issue in Wales, it was vitally important to recognise that the wedding venue industry across the UK is facing the same issue.

During his speech, he said: “The limit on numbers for wedding venues, whether that be 15 or 30, is arbitrary and should be related to the size of the venue. 

"The limit is out of kilter with European venues, where the figure is often significantly higher - up to 100. The venues I talked to say that in the majority of cases, 50 guests is an economic number, and that it is difficult to break even with lower numbers.

“With all due respect to everyone in the health industry, weddings are not super spreaders of the virus. All the guests are known to the bride and groom and therefore easier to control in terms of track and trace by the venue. There is also a strong vested interest among the guests—to them, there are no random guests—to look after each other health-wise.

“Plenty of economic support has come forward but, as many have said this afternoon, it is not targeted in the way that it needs to be for wedding venues. 

"One suggestion of a practical solution, given that a lot of venues are suffering from the withdrawal of clients’ deposits - that is now getting to be a very serious problem - would be the underwriting or financial furloughing of those deposits. 

"That would bring stability and a breathing space so that the wedding venues can plan with greater confidence for the future.”

Business Minister, Paul Scully MP, in his closing remarks for the debate, said: "It is pleasing to see the dedication of my hon. Friend the Member for Clwyd South (Simon Baynes) who, as a number of people have done, has brought the industry together, listened to the sector, reflected on its views and been working tirelessly for those sectors that are so hard pressed and unable to open fully, or in some cases at all."

 

Santa launches virtual grotto for good causes

 

* Santa's Grotto is going virtual this year.

Llangollen’s new Town Mayor Austin Cheminais, who works very closely with Santa Claus, has unveiled the latest of his ideas to make Christmas a little brighter this year.

He said: “Santa and I are I’m trying to help make Christmas just as special for the children of Llangollen as it is in other years, in spite of the current pandemic.

“As well as asking residents to decorate their houses and gardens to Light up Llangollen and hoping that we can create a Christmas Scarecrow trail, I’m opening a virtual Santa’s Grotto and am hoping to create video messages for the children who would normally see me in Santa in a local grotto.

“If you’d like a personal Christmas video message contact Santa for details. He now has his own email address at: santa@btinternet.com, or you can call me on 07813 761766 and I’ll pass on the message.

“It will cost £10 with all proceeds going to Wales Air Ambulance.”

The Mayor added: “This time of year Santa usually raises about £1,000 for Wales Air Ambulance and Llangollen Christmas Festival also raises a similar amount.

“I’ve set up a Just Giving account for Wales Air Ambulance and am hoping that the Llangollen Community will help. Anyone who wants to contribute can visit: https://www.justgiving.com/fundraising/VirtualSanta

Friends rally round to help pay for young mum's funeral

* Rachael Taylor died at the age of just 34.

Friends of a young mum rallied round to pay for her funeral when she died suddenly at the age of just 34.

Rachael Taylor lived in Ruabon with her partner Sam and 11-year-old daughter Libby-Mae but was originally from Llangollen and attended Ysgol Bryn Collen and Ysgol Dinas Bran.

When she died a friend started up a Just Giving page in her memory.

So far this has so far raised over £3,300 towards the cost of her funeral, which takes place at Pentre Bychan Crematorium next Friday morning.

The funeral cortege will be leaving Hill Street at 11.15am on November 27 and going over the bridge for those wishing to pay their respects.

The funeral itself will have a limited number of mourners due to social distancing requirements.

* The Just Giving page can be found at:  https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/rachaeltaylor

Roadworks update

Latest roadworks update from one.network is:

Chapel Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 23 November — 25 November   Delays unlikely - Traffic control (give & take)   Works location: LLANGOLLEN BARBER SHOP CHAPEL STREET...   Works description: Boundary box Install 25mm Job in Footway (6mm Bitmac (Tarmac) )...   Responsibility for works: Dee Valley Water   Current status: Advanced planning   Works reference: ZU0028102/000060355957

Action taken on Market Street loading bay

* Workmen at the loading bay outside Jenni's shop in Market Street.

A loading bay placed outside shops in Market Street as part of the town's new social distancing traffic measures earlier this week has been moved by workmen today (Friday).

The package of changes includes widening pavements in Castle Street - removing its on-street parking bays - and  on Abbey Road, reversing the one-way traffic flow in Church Street and making Market Street partially one-way. 

However, people have been unhappy about some of the changes, including Jenni Lloyd who runs Jenni's shop in Market Street.

She started a petition to be handed to Denbighshire County Council which attracted almost 100 signatures in its first couple of hours.

Complaining about the loading bay outside her shop, she said: "The lorries are 5ft from my window and it's fairly constant as the bay is servicing the whole of Castle Street."

A meeting between her, other concerned local people and a county official was held earlier this week and this morning workmen could be seen apparently moving the loading bay.

Jenni Lloyd said: "I am delighted and grateful for all the overwhelming support I have received from so many people this week.

"I feel as though the whole town has been behind me!"

Llangollen County Councillor Graham Timms said: "After discussions with fellow Llangollen county councillor Melvyn Mile and I it has been agreed to move the loading bay to our originally proposed location, which is on the opposite side of Market Street, starting just beyond the shops. The taxi rank will stay where it is." 

Coronavirus cases at Llangollen Fechan being investigated, says county

Denbighshire County Council has this morning issued a statement on a number of coronavirus cases at the Llangollen Fechan Care Home.

It says: "An Incident Management Team (IMT) has been convened, comprising Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

"Co-chair of the IMT, Nicola Stubbins, said: 'We have been working together to investigate a number of cases of Coronavirus in staff and residents at Llangollen Fechan Care Home in Llangollen.

'Over the last three weeks there have sadly been 56 positive cases and 15 deaths with coronavirus amongst residents. In addition 33 staff members have been tested positive for the virus over the same period.

'We would like to assure all concerned that control measures have been put in place working jointly with the care home, including limiting the movement of staff and residents to reduce transmission.

'Our thoughts and condolences are with all affected and we remain committed to working together to address the situation.

'Anyone who meets the definition of a contact will be contacted as a routine part of theTest, Trace and Protect process and provided with additional advice for themselves, their household and other contacts.

'As we move into the next phase of the Coronavirus pandemic we expect to see cases in a variety of settings, and we manage any clusters of Coronavirus appropriately. This can include providing advice around infection prevention and control, and by supporting contact tracing where required.

'We remind the public that they have a vital role in preventing the spread of Coronavirus. They can do this by adhering to Welsh Government regulations currently in place in Wales, and by observing social distancing guidelines – that’s staying two metres away from others – and washing hands regularly.'"

Statement from the home ...

A statement issued on behalf of RobertsHomes  (North Wales)  Limited, which runs the home, says: " The Llangollen Fechan nursing home in Denbighshire has experienced a high level of Covid-19  cases in recent weeks.

"As a result, we are deeply sorry to report 15 residents with coronavirus have died in the Llangollen Fechan. 

"Our deepest sympathies and sincere condolences go out to the families of those deceased residents. We are continuing to support the next of kin who have lost a loved one and also those families whose loved ones remain in our care, during this difficult time. 

"A total of 56 residents and 33 staff have tested positive for Covid-19. As an organisation we are working with the relevant departments of Denbighshire County Council, Public Health Wales and many other organisations to manage and contain the situation and continue to follow the appropriate guidelines. We very much appreciate the support we are being given.

"All the staff at Llangollen Fechan are committed to providing compassionate and high-quality care for all residents in both its EMI and Residential Units. We thank all our staff for their continued support. Our main priority will always be to make sure all of the residents in our homes are as safe as possible.

"We are taking every precaution to ensure prevention measures are in place to contain the outbreak and minimise transmission. 

"We are working closely with our colleagues in public health and other public bodies to monitor the situation and to ensure all necessary action is taken.  

"Regular testing of our residents and staff continues and we continue to advise those who have been in close contact to self-isolate in line with national guidelines." 

Statement from Care Forum Wales

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said: “We would like to extend our condolences to the families of those who have passed away.

“It is a deeply worrying time for everybody concerned and our thoughts are with the residents and staff who have also been affected by the virus.

“This tragic case is a stark and cruel reminder how virulent and dangerous the Covid-19 is.

“Care Forum Wales has recently launched a renewed campaign to shield social care and save lives this winter.

“The key message is how vulnerable the residents of care homes are and how everyone has to work to ensure that these people are protected.

“There are more than 20,000 care home beds Wales compared to 12,000 beds in our hospitals so social care plays an absolutely vital role in supporting the NHS, now more so than ever.

“Right at the outset of the pandemic, Care Forum Wales was ahead of the curve in calling for an efficient and effective testing regime and, while things have improved, we are not there yet.

“If we don’t protect the vulnerable people for whom we provide care and our staff many more people will die as a result. We cannot and must not let that happen.”

Fair minimum wage deal for care staff demanded

* Mario Kreft, chair of Care Forum Wales.

A major campaign has been launched to ensure qualified staff who work in care homes and domiciliary care in Wales are paid a minimum of £20,000 a year.

Mario Kreft MBE, the chair of Care Forum Wales, said they had been condemned to low pay for many years because of the “morally bankrupt” formulas used by local authorities and health boards to calculate the fees for social care.

According to Mr Kreft, the "heroic" response of care workers in saving lives during the coronavirus pandemic had highlighted their true value and it was high time it was recognised by the authorities who commissioned publicly funded social care.

It was, he said, a “national disgrace” that the 2020 Fair Pay campaign was necessary but he hoped it would shame the councils and the health boards into taking action to finally ensure that qualified care workers could be paid properly after a quarter of a century of a mismanaged market which has seen social care being treated as a “Cinderella service”.

As a result, the frontline workforce had been "left behind".

The Welsh Government had shown the way earlier this year when they announced a one-off £500 bonus payment for social care staff.

It was very welcome recognition and now local authorities and health boards should follow suit by updating their funding formulas so that qualified care workers received at least £20,000 a year as a bare minimum.

All those who worked in social care deserved at least the Real Living Wage.

One of Mr Kreft’s fears was that the NHS will effectively poach social care staff to cope with the extra demands caused by the second surge of the virus which was already underway.

Pay rates in the NHS were historically higher than those available in care homes and domiciliary care because their funding in relative terms was a lot more generous.

He is calling for an assurance from the seven health boards in Wales that they will not be recruiting additional staff from care homes and domiciliary care by offering them more money to work for them than they allowed care providers to pay.

Mr Kreft said: “Social care staff have risen magnificently to the immense challenges posed by the Covid-19 pandemic and the public understand better than ever that these people do have important skills and are vital to their communities across Wales.

“They are an army of heroes and should be viewed as a value rather than a cost to society.

“It is high time that when local authorities and health board commission publicly funded social care services that the formulas they use finally recognise their true value and enable providers to pay frontline staff a minimum of £20,000 a year from April 1 next year.

“Existing formulas that use the basic living wage as their benchmark are unacceptable, particularly given what the sector has achieved this year and the support the sector has from the public.

“We know from the first wave of the pandemic that the NHS does not have enough staff  to run the rainbow hospitals in Wales so the only place that they can go and get people with those sorts of skills is the care sector and the care sector is critically endangered. 

“There’s evidence from when the Dragon’s Heart Hospital Cardiff during the first wave that they were offering significantly higher rates of pay than what providers -which were commissioned by local authorities and local health boards - were able to pay. 

“Currently, many of the formulas used to commission publicly funded social care services are predicated on paying at or just above the legal minimum wage to a significant number of people which flies in the face of the traditional Welsh qualities of fairness and equality.

“As a result, we have a system that is self-perpetuating that has created a morally bankrupt vicious circle.

“The evidence that commissioners effectively set rates of pay is irrefutable.

“In normal times, between 60% and 70% of a care home’s income goes straight out in wages while it’s 80% in domiciliary care – but the percentage has been even higher  during the pandemic.

“If we lose skilled social care staff to the NHS then the result of that could be that homes could have to temporarily close down and send their residents to the field hospitals which would be counterproductive for everybody concerned as it would pile even more pressure on the beleaguered health service.

“I am therefore calling for an urgent assurance that the NHS will immediately refrain from recruiting anybody from social care by paying them higher wages. It wouldn’t take long for care home closures to fill hospital beds at the field hospitals

“After all their heroic work during the pandemic, you surely cannot deny that people who work in care homes and those who provide care in people’s own homes deserve a bare minimum of £20,800 a year for a full time equivalent member of staff for a 40 hour seek on £10 an hour .

“Money in care workers’ pockets is spent in their local communities which is a vital part of the foundation economy of Wales.

“The responsibility for making this happen clearly rests with the 22 local authorities and the seven health boards in Wales.

“The tension between a means tested social care service provided by local authorities and the NHS, free at the point of delivery has been exacerbated by unelected health boards without a democratic mandate from the community they serve.

“The social care workers in these very communities are in fact a foundation block of the healthcare system in Wales.

“We have long endured a tapestry of social care services across Wales which were not only underfunded but also promoted inequality. That tapestry has been held together by social care workers and is now threadbare.

“The time for action is now and we must shield social care and save lives this winter and into the future.”

Llangollen Town Council elects a new Mayor

* New Mayor, Cllr Austin Cheminais in his role

as Town Crier.

Llangollen Town Council held its annual meeting on Tuesday. 

The meeting, which usually takes place in May, was much delayed because of Covid-19 and was held online.

During the meeting Councillor Austin Cheminais was unanimously elected and sworn in as Llangollen’s new Mayor, with Councillor Melvyn Mile being elected as Deputy Mayor.

Cllr Cheminais has been the official Town Crier for a number of years and is also closely associated with Santa Claus through his chairmanship of the local Christmas Festival Committee. 

* New Deputy Mayor, Cllr Melvyn Mile.

He thanked outgoing Mayor Cllr Jon Haddy for his hard work on behalf of the Town Council and the residents of Llangollen during his term of office.

Cllr Cheminais thanked fellow members for their support.

He said: "It is a privilege to serve as the Town’s Mayor and I will never lose focus on putting our community first, and will work hard for what we are all incredibly passionate about - Llangollen.”