What a difference a few days make

This gloomy picture lookingis towards Castell Dinas Bran, taken on Wednesday morning as the rain began to fall on the town, comes in stark contrast to the ones brought to you by llanblogger last Friday showing tourists basking on the sun-soaked rocks of the Dee at Riverside Park.

The BBC forecast heavy rain to the southwest will spread across the region through the morning. This should clear northeastwards before the evening, with brighter conditions following behindheavy rain to the southwest will spread across the region through the morning. This should clear northeastwards before the evening, with brighter conditions following behindsays the rain will clear later, with further showers heading our way tomorrow (Thursday).

* Gloomy Wednesday.

                                                                   * Fantastic Friday.
                                   

Tesco "pull out of superstore plan", says report

People opposed to Sainsbury’s opening a new superstore in Llan may be interested in a story in today’s Daily Post, which says Tesco will not now be setting up shop in Llanwrst.

You can see it at: http://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/2012/08/15/tesco-back-out-of-llanrwst-superstore-plans-55578-31624571/

Assembly Member states his case on future of Llan health's facilities

* Clwyd South AM Ken Skates.

llanblogger exclusive

Llan’s proposed multi-million-pound new health centre could be up and running by the end of 2014 or early 2015.

That is the prediction of local Assembly Member Ken Skates in his fullest statement yet on the future of health services in the town, requested yesterday (Monday) by llanblogger.

In the statement the Labour AM for Clwyd South also claims the planned centre would make “better use” of the site of the derelict River Lodge on the A539 approach to the town – the spot currently earmarked for its construction – than a “martial arts centre”

* (see note below)

And Mr Skates says he “shares the concerns” of local people about the possible loss of Llan Cottage Hospital.

The proposal to close the hospital and replace it with a new health facility was revealed in a report from the local Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last month, which has sparked controversy in the town.

Campaign group Llangollen Protest, which opposes the closure of the hospital, organised a public meeting on the issue at the Hand Hotel last Thursday evening, which was attended by over 70 people.

Of those present, a majority of 51 voted for a local referendum to be held on the closure and Llangollen Protest is now pushing that forward.

No-one voted against the referendum call although six abstentions were recorded.

Mr Skates was not invited to the meeting, so was unable to state his position on the issue.

llanblogger therefore asked him to submit a statement, which we publish unedited below: 

Ken Skates AM said:

“The proposed remodelling of healthcare services in Llangollen is a very important issue indeed. The Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board need to get this crucial consultation process right and develop a set of health services that work for both the town and its people

“Plans have been announced for the creation of a brand new health centre for Llangollen and I welcome this. Improving healthcare in Llangollen has been restricted by the limitations of the town’s existing health and social care buildings and these proposals would see the dilapidated River Lodge Hotel converted into a 21st Century facility offering an enhanced range of primary, community, social care and voluntary sector services. Having examined the options, I believe this represents a much more sensible and constructive use of taxpayers money than the alternative proposal to use the site as a Shaolin Martial Arts Centre.

“The prospect of the cottage hospital is understandably an important issue and I share residents’ concerns about the potential loss of services, which is why I have sought clarification from the Health Board on a number of issues. They have confirmed that should a new health centre be given the go-ahead, it would provide the GP services, district nursing, health visiting, midwifery services, learning disability, outpatient and minor injury services that the town needs.

“It would also provide mental health services – which have been absent from the Llangollen area since the Oakleigh facility was closed a number of years ago – and Audiology services, which Llangollen residents currently have to travel to Wrexham Maelor to access. The Health Board has also provided reassurances that plans are in place to ensure a seamless transition from the current cottage hospital site and, subject to the outcome of the consultation exercise, would seek to begin work on the site by the end of 2013 with the new health centre open by the end of 2014/early 2015.

“I can understand the concerns have been expressed about the issues of beds and I have raised this with the Health Board. They have assured me that they are examining the options available to provide care for patients who cannot remain at home but do not need to be in hospital. Should the Health Board move towards commissioning beds in local nursing homes, I will once again push for assurances that, not only will the homes be local to Llangollen, but that the Health Board commits to funding the beds into the future.

“I will continue to lobby the Health Board to ensure that all the services that are currently based in Llangollen remain here and that additional services that will benefit the community are given space in a new health centre. I am having regular meetings with officials at the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to feed back the issues raised with me by local people. The consultation needs to be comprehensive, transparent and robust, taking full account of everyone’s views to ensure we get the right result for people in Llangollen.”

* The group Powys Fadog, which had been the lease-holder, had proposed building a comprehensive community facility in the old River Lodge building. This, it says, would have provided much more than martial arts but would also have encompassed a community and Welsh cultural centre, creating jobs for local people. Powys Fadog, represented Shaolin monk Pol Wong, claims its plan was thwarted by the Welsh Government.

Travelling troupe gets lost in music

* Travelling Troupe on the run. Picture by courtesy of Barrie Potter.

Llangollen Operatic Society Troupe will present their annual Showcase Lost in Music at Llangollen Town Hall on 14^th and 15^th September.

This is the mobile musical group’s third Showcase and they promise it will be even more spectacular than before with a myriad of medleys and numbers, ranging from sublime opera to rousing rock.

Tracey Rawlinson, one of the troupe’s managers said: “Lost in Music is our most challenging programme to date and we are hugely excited about it.

“The troupe has gone from strength to strength over the past year and we have been delighted with the amount we have raised for society funds, not to mention the fun we have had in the process.” 

Tracey added that the troupe’s endeavours were only possible because of the hard work and commitment from Musical Director Elen Mair Roberts and the tireless efforts of the members and all those who support them.

She said: “Some days it feels like a second full time job but the pleasure on the faces of our audiences and the adrenaline rush of performing to a packed venue more than makes up for it.”

The cabaret-style evening, which also features a live band of talented local musicians, is designed to give audiences a taster of what the troupe could add to a function or event.

Cheese platters and wine served at tables will help make for a really relaxing evening. Following the performance, there will be the chance to chat with troupe members and find out more about what the group has to offer.

The Showcase will follow hot on the heels of the troupe’s performance at The Barmouth Arts Festival, where the group has been invited to give an exclusive performance at the town’s Dragon Theatre on Friday 7^th September.

“These are busy times for us”, said Tracey, “but we wouldn’t have it any other way.”  

·         Tickets for Lost in Music are available from Llangollen Tourist Information Centre or Jades Hair & Beauty at £8 per person (£5 for 16 years and under). Alternatively, please e-mail Troupe@llangollen-operatic.co.uk.

Wild Pheasant sold, says report

* The Wild Pheasant Hotel. 

                                                                                   

Llangollen’s prestigious Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa has been sold for around £2.2 million, the Leader is reporting today.

The complex, off the A5, was part of the hotel empire run by businesswoman Stephanie Booth until the group crashed in July last year.

The Wild Pheasant continued to trade during its period in administration and has just been sold by the Manchester office of real estate advisers  Colliers International to investor Asif Siddiqui, says the report.

Despite being in administration, the hotel generated a turnover of £1.4 million in 2011 and made a trading profit of £308,000.

The property combines an original 19^th century hotel with a modern luxury bedroom and spa wing.

It has 46 en suite rooms, a function room which can cater for up to 200 people, the 60-seat Yew Tree Restaurant and the courtyard bar.  

Its sale follows that of other hotels in the former Llangollen Hotels group, including the Bodidris Hall at Llandegla to a private buyer for an undisclosed sum in November last year and the Chain Bridge Hotel in Llan to Surrey businessman Seamus O’Keefe for £500,000 this June.

Elderly missing out on vital services, says WRVS

Report claims confusion

surrounds services

Older people in Wales are missing out on the essential services they need to recover after a stay in hospital because of confusion around what constitutes reablement services, according to a new report by older people’s charity WRVS.
The report, Getting back on your feet: reablement in Wales which examines reablement services available across Wales – those services that help people with poor health live as independently as possible in their own homes – found that there are huge inconsistencies in the services delivered by local authorities and health boards. This is despite the Welsh Government identifying reablement as a vital part of social services reform.
A key finding of the report was that there is a tendency for health boards and local authorities to concentrate on services that focus on improving physical well-being, to the detriment of those which address emotional and social well-being; services which can be just as important when nursing a patient back to full health.
The report calls on the Welsh Government to develop a reablement framework for Wales, outlining what exactly is meant by reablement and what features public bodies should provide. This includes services to tackle isolation and extreme loneliness, which can lead to a severe decline in well-being.
The serious consequences of loneliness and the importance of such services were highlighted by recent WRVS research, Loneliness rife among older men, which identified that Welsh men over the age of 75 who live alone are the loneliest in Britain and as a result of feeling extremely lonely are likely to suffer from depression.
The report also shows that because there is no standard definition of ‘reablement’, there is confusion surrounding which services fall into this category, resulting in the appearance that some local authorities spend ten times more per head of population than others.
Examples of good practice include the local Betsi Cadwaladr health board, which recognises the role of befriending services as part of reablement.
Previous research (Social Services Improvement Agency (2011) Better Support at Lower Cost, Cardiff: Social Services Improvement Agency) has suggested that reablement services such as those provided by WRVS which tackle loneliness and isolation play a vital role in reducing the need for home care and in decreasing hospital admissions. These services see volunteers paying visits to older people, accompanying them on shopping trips and making sure they pick up any prescriptions from the doctor.

"Older people are at their most vulnerable after a stay in hospital and need services that focus on not just their physical well-being, but their social and emotional well-being as well. The Welsh Government is right to identify reablement as a vital part of social care in Wales but they now need to clear up any confusion about what services should be offered by public bodies. Until there is a standard framework for public bodies, older people in Wales will be missing out on essential services which have a real effect on their health and can keep them out of hospital.

Dr Ed Bridges, WRVS Public Affairs Manager for Wales, said: "Through our work with older people, we know that services that focus on emotional and social well-being, such as those that encourage increased social interaction, are hugely beneficial in combating health problems. We’d like to see more services such as befriending, occupational therapy support and home adaptations which mean older people can stay happy, healthy and independent, and out of hospital for longer."

The report makes a number of recommendations, including:

• Setting up a mechanism to measure well-being which looks at not only medical health, but also emotional and social well-being, both crucial to a person’s quality of life.
• Creating a central source of funding for reablement services, whilst still allowing services to be delivered in a flexible way which respond to local need.
• Involving the voluntary sector to ensure a multi-sector approach to providing social support services.

Download a copy of Getting back on your feet: reablement in Wales

Doctors do not support hospital closure plan

* Closure threatened Llan Cottage Hospital

Doctors in Llangollen have declared their “disappointment” and lack of support for the controversial plan to close the local Cottage Hospital.

A representative from the practice was unable to take up the invitation to attend last Thursday’s public meeting about the issue called by the campaign group Llangollen Protest at the Hand Hotel.

At the meeting, on which the platform was occupied by North Wales Assembly Members Llyr Huws Gruffydd  (Plaid Cymru) and Mark Isherwood (Welsh Conservative), 51 of the 70-plus local people present voted in favour of a referendum being held on the closure proposal put forward by the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board last month.

Llangollen protest leader Martin Crumpton has now lodged an official request for the vote to be held.

He also requested a statement on the issue from the doctors.

This has now been sent to him in the name of Dr J R A Davies and partners and it says: “As a Practice, we are very disappointed that the Health Board has plans to close Llangollen Hospital.

“We do not support the closure, having fought for many years to keep the hospital open.

“Whilst being aware of the financial constraints, we would hope that all patient services can be maintained in Llangollen.”

Both AMs who were on the platform said they were against the closure plan.

However, Mr Crumpton said at the meeting Clwyd South Labour AM Ken Skates had not been invited because he was not amongst the opponents of the proposal.