Warning over Llangollen health services

Llangollen will be without adequate health provision for years to come.

That is the warning from North Wales Assembly Member Llyr Gruffydd (pictured below) following the decision last Friday by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to axe the town's Cottage Hospital.

The Plaid Cyrmu member said: “The decision to close Llangollen hospital and downgrade health services in Ruthin will put additional pressures on Wrexham and Glan Clwyd hospitals.

"It will reduce the number of hospital beds in North Wales by more than 10% - that will also mean more bedblocknig in the general hospitals.

“The very real problem of getting to these hospitals, whether you’re a patient or relative, has also been ignored. This is no trivial matter in an area where running a car is a very expensive matter and where public transport is patchy at best.

 

"There is no funding in place for a replacement health centre and I fear Llangollen will be without adequate health provision for years to come."

 

He added: “The decision to move neonatal intensive care services across the border now means there is no Level 3 Special Care Baby Unit north of Carmarthen. I fear this decision is putting lives at risk and it is inexplicable that it should be made in the face of clinical advice and opposition from respected professional bodies such as the RCN and BMA.

 

“The very real experiences of parents with babies that have gone through intensive care at our existing excellent SCBUs has also been ignored. I do not believe we were given the full facts regarding Arrowe Park and therefore the entire consultation process and final decision was skewed.

 

“The same criticism applies to the closure, downgrading and centralisation of community hospitals. GPs and patients alike are rightly sceptical of the promised replacements – where is the money coming from to build new health centres and ensure enhanced home care?

 

“My party, Plaid Cymru, wants to see an improved health service in the North but this decision will lead to a poorer health service for many communities and takes no regard of the very real transport problems many households have.

 

“This decision has been made without key questions being answered about finance and the impact on NHS staff. That’s why I call on the Community Health Council to now stand up for the people of North Wales – they must make a formal objection so that the Health Minister can intervene.

 

"If Lesley Griffiths wants to impose this model on North Wales, she shouldn’t be allowed to hide behind health boards who are not ultimately answerable to the people.”

... and a local campaigner's view:

Mabon ap Gwynfor, spokesman for Keep Llangollen Health Services, said: “The conclusion of this rubber stamping exercise comes as no surprise to us. It’s just another step in our on-going fight to save our health services in Llangollen.

 

"The First Minister, Carwyn Jones, said last week that he will defend the need for safe and sustainable services. These changes are neither safe nor sustainable as they will take basic healthcare such as Minor Injury care further from the patients; block beds at Wrexham Maelor; and force elderly patients to pay for private beds in nursing homes which do not meet the same clinical standards as NHS hospitals. On top of that they are uncosted and are likely to put added pressure on an already stretched Council social services.

“The fight continues. The final decision is likely to rest with the Health Minister, but we need our Community Health Council to support those that they represent and insist that the Minister calls these plans in. The CHC continue to be concerned about the proposals and are asking the same questions as we’ve been asking, which the Health Board have been unable to answer. Ultimately we could have a Judicial Review, which would lay bare the flaws of this whole process.”

Wales leads way in food hygiene legislation

Wales is set to be the first country in the UK to introduce a mandatory scheme requiring food businesses to openly display their hygiene rating.

 

The Food Hygiene Rating (Wales) Bill was passed by the National Assembly for Wales today (January 22), and is now nearing the end of the legislative process.

 

The next stage is for the Bill to go before Her Majesty the Queen for Royal Assent to become an Act.
The Bill will result in consumers being provided with more information about where they eat or buy food. This will help to drive up businesses’ food hygiene standards.

Introduction of a mandatory food hygiene rating scheme is a commitment in the Welsh Government’s Programme for Government and would be the UK’s first compulsory scheme.

Under the scheme, businesses will be rated with a score between 0 and 5 – with 0 meaning urgent improvement is necessary and a 5 rating meaning hygiene standards are very good.

The rating will be based on criteria which will include food handling standards – such as how the food is prepared, cooked, cooled and stored, the condition of the premises and the procedures in place to ensure the production of safe food.

Businesses will be required to display their rating in a prominent position, such as at the entrance to their premises, or face a fine.

Following consultation on the proposals last year, the Bill includes provisions enabling the scheme to be applied to businesses that do not deal directly with consumers but supply food to other businesses.

There is also a new duty on food businesses to verbally inform customers of the food hygiene rating for their establishment if requested and an associated offence if they refuse to do so.

This will allow people with impaired vision or enquiring by telephone to establish the hygiene rating of an establishment before deciding whether to buy from there. .

Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said: "Today, the Food Hygiene Rating Bill cleared one of the final hurdles on its way to becoming an Act.

“Food hygiene is essential for the protection of public health. The rating scheme will help drive up standards and benefit both consumers and businesses.

“The scheme will enable consumers to make a more informed choice about where they choose to eat or shop for food, while good food hygiene means a higher rating which is good for business.”

If the Bill becomes law, it is expected the earliest a mandatory scheme will come into operation will be late 2013 to allow businesses to prepare.

Council "working continuously" to shift the snow

* Council snow shifters battle against the elements.

Denbighshire County Council says its highway crews and some additional contract JCB's have been working almost continuously throughout the weekend to keep the major routes open and yesterday they branched out onto the more minor roads.

Apokesperson said: "The A5104 between Llandegla and Bryneglwys was particularly badly affected and we weren't able to get this open until Sunday morning.

"Agricultural contractors have been drafted in to clear snow from many of the rural roads and these proved effective except where there were deep drifts.

"We have a snow blower on hire and the JCBs are continuing to work on those locations.

"Overnight there has been further substantial snow in some places so this has obviously added to the workload."

Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, Councillor David Smith, said: "It's fair to say that resources have been stretched in this cold snap but I would like to thank our highways crews for working round the clock to keep the network open throughout most of the county.

"Today we have gritters out salting the more minor roads and we are still using agricultural contractors where appropriate.

"These are most effective where snow is over about three inches deep so we are being selective in how we use them. 

"We are also continuing to respond to specific welfare needs.

"In addition we are also salting in the urban areas of Denbigh, Ruthin and Llangollen and this work too will branch out to other communities as and when we can."

* llanblogger would like to know if you are happy with the way the council handled the snow. Send your views to: llanblogger@gmail.com

Supermarkets "dearer for fruit and veg" claim

Keep Llangollen Special chair Mike Edwards is drawing attention to a Channel 4 Dispatches documentary, screened last night (Monday), which concluded that fruit and vegetables in supermarkets are dearer than those sold by independent shops and markets.

The full story is available here: http://www.channel4.com/info/press/news/supermarket-fruit-and-veg-pricier-than-independent-shop-market

Plaid slam "bedroom tax" plans

Thousands of families in north-east Wales will be affected by a new “bedroom tax” being imposed by the UK Government, claims Plaid Cyrmu.

The leader of the Party of Wales has warned of the “catastrophic” impact the bedroom tax will have on the 40,000 people in Wales affected by the changes to housing benefit.

 

According to calculations made by the Welsh Local Government Association, this will see £26.7 million of income being sucked out of the Welsh economy in the next financial year.

 

Leanne Wood AM, the Plaid Cymru Leader, said the changes will have a huge impact on the most vulnerable in society and a knock-on effect on the local businesses they use.

 

The Westminster Coalition Government’s changes to occupancy rules regarding Housing Benefit will see payments reduced by 14% if there's one extra bedroom and 25% if the person has two or more extra bedrooms.

 

Under the scheme, one bedroom is allowed for each adult couple, two children of the same sex under 16, two children aged under 10 and any other child.

 

Ms Wood said: “As things stand, there are a lot of families in Wales struggling to keep their heads above water with the cost of living and daily essentials rising year-on-year while incomes and social security payments remain static or increase very little.

 

“We have seen phenomenal growth in the demand for food banks in Wales which provide emergency food packages to those who cannot afford to feed themselves. This is a significant barometer of how tough life is for a significant proportion of the population. 

 

“The hunger crisis in Wales will only get significantly worse following the benefit changes on the horizon this April. The bedroom tax, affecting 40,000 people in Wales and taking an estimated £26 million from their pockets will be one of the most devastating changes to social security payments.

 

“We also expect to see an increase in homelessness, more people in arrears and further economic decline in those areas where there is a high proportion of people reliant on social security.

 

“Around a fifth of all Welsh households will have seen significant cuts in their income due to direct and deliberate actions of a Westminster government that has no mandate in Wales.

 

“Most of the people affected by the bedroom tax are in employment. It will not just affect those in large houses. Foster parents who keep a spare bedroom for children will be regarded as ‘under-occupying’. 

 

“Parents of children in university who keep their rooms for them will be regarded as ‘under-occupying.’

 

“The bedroom tax will have a catastrophic effect on household budgets that have already been mercilessly squeezed.”

 

Ms Wood added: “Devolution has the potential to offer people in Wales some protection, but only if there is political will to do so. 

 

“Plaid Cymru will be pushing for the Welsh government to develop an alternative social protection plan for Wales. We know worse is to come and we cannot afford to wait. 

 

“A Plaid Cymru government would ensure comprehensive provision of advice services for those affected.

 

“Introduce changes to homelessness legislation that would ensure a preventative approach ends homelessness, similar to the law that the Scottish Government has brought in.

 

“We would view investment in social housing as an opportunity to tackle fuel poverty and create jobs as well as being part of a wider programme of action designed tackle the cycle of decline so many of our communities have faced.”

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s AM for North Wales, added: “In North-east Wales alone more than 3,400 households will be affected by this new bedroom tax. Studies have shown that a great many of those affected have children with disabilities who need special adaptations to their homes. The cost of re-housing these families would be entirely disproportionate.”

Speeding problem raised by town councillors

Police are to be asked to keep an eye on vehicles speeding along Llangollen's two main roads.

At the monthly Town Council meeting on Tuesday night, Cllr James Tobin complained about vehicles speeding along Abbey Road (A539) between the bridge and the former Jenny Jones pub.

Cllr Bob Lube said there was a similar problem on the A5.

Town clerk Gareth Thomas said: "I will ask the police traffic unit can come down here."

West End star Mark appeals to Welsh dancers

 

* West End star Mark Evans.

 

 

* Eilir Owen Griffiths, Musical Director of the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod.

 

West End star Mark Evans is appealing to folk dancers across Wales to represent their country against teams from around the world at Wales’s biggest international cultural festival.

Mark is currently touring the USA in the lead role in the smash-hit musical comedy The Book of Mormon but he took time out of his busy schedule – he is appearing in Seattle at the moment – to urge Welsh dancers to step up to the plate.

That’s because it will be strictly folk dancing as the Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod introduces a major new dance prize to feature alongside its acclaimed Choir of the World event on the final night of competition this July.

Mark, from Llanrhaeadr, in the Vale of Clwyd, said: “Llangollen is a wonderful event with a tremendous heritage and it is a great experience to be a part of, whether singing or dancing.

“I would urge dance troupes from across Wales to hurry to be involved in this year’s International Eisteddfod and be able to showcase their talent to the world.”

The idea for the Saturday night dance finale is the brainchild of Musical Director Eilir Owen Griffiths who wants dance groups from across Wales to pick up the challenge and take on the world at Llangollen this year.

At stake will be the chance to go head to head on the stage with the best in the world for a major new international prize, the Dance Champions International Trophy and £1,000.

Eilir Griffiths said: “The Choir of the World competition is internationally recognised and we want to elevate dance to the same level by giving it a place on the stage on the big night, Saturday, July 13.

“We’re hoping to attract more dance groups from Wales and from across the whole of the UK and Ireland and so we have moved the two major dance competitions to the weekend.

“Dance plays a really important part in the Eisteddfod and brings huge colour, spectacle and atmosphere to the event every year with dancers from all over the world in their different costumes.

“We want it to really light up the weekend and have a real impact not just on the Saturday night but throughout the week and especially the weekend.”

The Eisteddfod’s two major dance competitions will be held at the weekend this year with the Choreographed Dance competition on Friday and the Traditional Dance on Saturday.

The winners of each will then dance off for the judges for the title of Dance Champions on the main stage at the Royal International Pavilion in a spectacular finale to the week’s competitions.

Eilir added: “The Eisteddfod has always boasted that it has the best in folk dancing and choral music from around the world but if it’s the best why isn’t there a best of the best competition for dance?

“For me it’s vitally important that competition in both art forms should culminate in the same way – on the stage on Saturday night.

“We want to reach across the dance community that there is another reason for them to come this year and having them there will bring the field to life and gives the dance groups something to look forward to.

“We regularly have dance groups from Turkey and Kurdistan, from Kenya and Ghana, from Ireland and from Europe and there will be major dance competitions taking place every day at this year’s Eisteddfod.

“It will start with children’s competitions on Wednesday with the cultural showcase on Thursday, the choreographed dance on Friday and the folk dance on Saturday and now with the added climax on Saturday night when we will crown the Dance Champions.”

This year’s dance categories are Cultural Showcase, Children’s Folk Dance Group, Individual Folk Dance under 16’s, Dancing in the Street, Traditional Folk Dance and Choreographed Folk Dance.

The Eisteddfod has also extended the deadline day for entries to the dance competitions to February 1.

As well as the new dance event there will also be a new Children’s Choir of the World competition; with the winning choirs from the Junior Children’s, Senior Children’s and Children’s Folk Choir competitions competing against each other,

There will also be a Conductors Prize for the most inspiring conductor from these competitions as well as a Music Directors Award given by the festival’s Music Director himself, Eilir Owen Griffiths.

Another first, aimed at solo performers, will be the Voice of the Future competition, open to under-35s and with a whopping £2,000 prize while the renowned Choir of the World competition for the Pavarotti Trophy, named for the great Italian tenor who first sang at the Eisteddfod as a boy, will now include the winners from the Youth Choirs competition.

This year’s event is from Tuesday, July 9, to Sunday, July 14, more details, including how to enter, are on the website at www.international-eisteddfod.co.uk and on Facebook at www.facebook.com/llangollen