Campaigners fighting for local health services in North Wales are compiling a dossier of evidence to take to the Older People's Commissioner on the closure of community hospitals and the spread of superbugs.
North Wales Health Alliance has issued an urgent call for evidence from anyone affected by the recent outbreak of C Difficile, a hospital superbug.
The Alliance, which is made of up nine local groups fighting for better healthcare locally, believes the increase in superbugs in general hospitals has been made worse by the closure of community hospitals in the region.
They also want to hear from patients and their families generally affected by the closure of hospitals in their community.
NWHA spokesman Mabon ap Gwynfor said: "The recent superbug outbreak in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is now the subject of an investigation by Public Health Wales. We are also compiling a dossier of evidence for the Older People's Commissioner, who is investigating the closure of community hospitals.
"The superbug outbreak and the way Betsi Cadwaladr's management is dealing with it is just the latest episode in a catalogue of failures. There is a growing sense of crisis about the way NHS bosses are managing our local health services.
"Individual cases of patients unable to leave general hospitals despite being well enough highlight the need for community-based services. Our case is that the promises made to ensure those services were in place before any closures took place have been broken quite cynically by bureaucrats more interested in penny pinching than improving people's health."
He said health professionals were also contacting the alliance with worrying examples that were being investigated. He urged any patient , their families or health workers to contact the North Wales Health Alliance in confidence on northwaleshealthalliance@gmail.com or 07747 792 441.
Monday, June 10, 2013
Local areas benefit from £2.25 million roads programme
Llangollen, Carrog and Rhewl feature in a major investment of over £2.25 million being ploughed into improving roads across Denbighshire over the next 12 months.
The programme of work has been announced following extensive consultation with town and community councils and county councillors.
Of the total £1.15 million is being made available by the Welsh Government through the Local Government Borrowing Initiative for new resurfacing schemes. The remainder, £1.19 million, is being invested by Denbighshire County Council.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “This is a major investment to improve the condition of the county’s roads. People in communities across Denbighshire tell us that they want to see work carried out on our roads and we have listened and have drafted a programme of activities.
"Recent harsh winters have had an impact on the quality of road surfaces and the Council has already made a commitment to improving roads by identifying it as one of the Council's key priorities. This investment, through the Council and the Welsh Government will allow us to build on the tremendous amount of road improvements already carried out across the county.This funding really will make a difference."
Work will take place on the following roads:
Denbighshire County Council Funded Works
The programme of work has been announced following extensive consultation with town and community councils and county councillors.
Of the total £1.15 million is being made available by the Welsh Government through the Local Government Borrowing Initiative for new resurfacing schemes. The remainder, £1.19 million, is being invested by Denbighshire County Council.
Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: “This is a major investment to improve the condition of the county’s roads. People in communities across Denbighshire tell us that they want to see work carried out on our roads and we have listened and have drafted a programme of activities.
"Recent harsh winters have had an impact on the quality of road surfaces and the Council has already made a commitment to improving roads by identifying it as one of the Council's key priorities. This investment, through the Council and the Welsh Government will allow us to build on the tremendous amount of road improvements already carried out across the county.This funding really will make a difference."
Work will take place on the following roads:
Resurfacing
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B5381 Glascoed Road
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B5119 Dyserth Road/Pendyffryn Road Rhyl
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B5428 Nr Pen Cae Du
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Fedw Road, Carrog
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H' Bridge, Rhyl
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Clwyd Street Rhyl
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Winnard Avenue Rhyl
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Fforddisa Prestatyn
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Glasfryn Meliden
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Tan yr Allt Meliden
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Lower Street St Asaph
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Station Road Denbigh
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Myddleton Avenue Denbigh
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Myddleton Park Estate
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Plas Nantglyn
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Bryn y Gwynt Lane, Denbigh
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Saron Hill (Bottom Section)
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London Bridge, Llangwyfan
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Black Lane, Ruthin
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Plas yr Esgob to Llanuchan Church junction
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Gwernant Road, Llangollen
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Derwen Llanerch jct - Llidiart Fawr jct. Pentrecelyn
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Pant Du to Eryrys crossroads
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Meiarth Hall Road, Bryn SM
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Bryn Gwenallt, Gwyddelwern
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Erw Fawr, Llandegla
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Ty'n Llan, Llanferres
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Bodheulog Rd, Corwen
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Rhydglaves, Llandrillo
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Garthiaen Rd, Llandrillo
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Denbighshire County Council Funded Works
Drainage
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Cwttir Lane, St. Asaph
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Caer Hafod to Pennant, Clocaenog
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Nr Sun Inn, Rhewl, Llantysilio
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Bontuchel to Wern Shed, Bontuchel
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Microasphalt
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Carrog Village
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Bryntirion Avenue, Prestatyn
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Seven Sisters Road, Prestatyn
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Highbury Crescent, Prestatyn
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Beach Avenue, Prestatyn
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Highbury Close, Prestatyn
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Linden Drive, Prestatyn
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Gwelfor Park, Dyserth
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Maes Hyfryd/ Maes Glas, Dyserth
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Seymour Drive/ Conwy Avenue, Rhuddlan
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Rhodfa Clwyd, Trefnant
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Rhodfa Gwilym, Trefnant
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Cae Shon, Trefnant
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Hillside, St. Asaph
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Gemig Street, St. Asaph
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Meredith Crescent, Rhyl
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Russell Court, Rhyl
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Stanley Park Avenue, Rhyl
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Bryn Coed Park, Rhyl
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Elm Grove, Rhyl
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Carlisle Avenue, Rhyl
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Knowles Avenue, Rhyl
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Eaton Avenue, Rhyl
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Golden Grove, Rhyl
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Ellis/ Garnett Avenue, Rhyl
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Bull Lane, Denbigh
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Bryn Y Garn Rd/ Ffordd Meifod, Henllan
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Mill Street, Ruthin
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Surface Dressing
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Denbigh to Henllan
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Tyn Llanfair to Glan Hespin x rds, Pentrecelyn
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Marian Bach Road, Cwm
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Marian Cwm Road, Cwm
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Bryn Glas Road, Cwm
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Bwlch to Bondlanfa Road, Cwm
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Bodlonfa to Bryn Glan Road, Cwm
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Plas Mawr Road, Cwm
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Bryn Hedydd Road, Cwm
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Pant Y Dulaith Road, Cwm
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Dyffryn Aur Road, Cwm
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Bodlonfa to A55, Cwm
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Rhyd Farm to B5119, Dyserth
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Marli Hill, Glascoed
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Tan Y Graig Road,
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Accarr Road
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Plas Nantglyn (top of road)
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Llety Road, Gwyddelwern
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Betws GG Village to County Boundary
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Cefn Coch Road, Llanelidan
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Pen Cae, Llanelidan
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Betws GG Village
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Rhewl Wen, Llanelidan
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Rhoslydan to Bryn-rhedyn, Bryneglwys
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North Wales Police launch specialist rape investigation team
From today, North Wales Police will bring together specialist staff from across North Wales to form one team dedicated to investigating rape.
This team will work closely with partners in the Crown Prosecution Service of Wales, Betsi Calwalder Health Board and third sector colleagues to form a cohort of rape specialists to be known as Amethyst Team.
The team will be based throughout north Wales but make use of the SARC building in Old Colwyn to interview, gather evidence and support victims.
It will work closely with partners in the Crown Prosecution Service of Wales, Betsi Calwalder Health Board and third sector colleagues.
Comprising a Detective Inspector, three Detective Sergeants, twelve Detective Constables, six Specially Trained officers and an analyst, Amethyst will also utilise its analytical capability to better understand offences of rape in North Wales and provide a proactive response to preventing rape and safeguarding those vulnerable to rape offences.
Any victim of rape aged under thirteen years and those under eighteen years offended against by family members will be assisted by specialist child abuse investigators within public protection units.
Victims over thirteen years for non-interfamilial offences and all offences where the victim is over eighteen years will be assisted by Amethyst Team staff.
Deputy Chief Constable Gareth Pritchard said: “Over many years we have striven to improve the service we provide victims of serious sexual offences and the Amethyst Team is just part of that on-going holistic approach.
"Improving the well-established relationship we have with our partners in CPS, Health and the Voluntary Sector we are determined to ensure victims receive our full support and guidance through every stage of the Criminal Justice System.
"Our five objectives are in setting up this dedicated team are:to provide a good quality of service to victims, to improve the investigations carried out by specially trained officers and dedicated detectives, to improve the Criminal Justice outcomes,to work smarter and more efficiently with our partners and finally to improve the confidence and trust the community have in the way serious sexual offences are investigated.
“Sexual Offences are under reported and I’d encourage any victims to come forward, you will be taken seriously, your complaint will be investigated professionally and you will receive the support of trained Police Officers, Crown Prosecution Lawyers and dedicated Counsellors from the Health Service all whom are core to the Amethyst Team.”
Police and Crime Commissioner Winston Roddick said: “First and foremost we hope that victims will feel sufficiently confident to make a complaint to the police. They may feel that they are criminals themselves or they may feel afraid to make a complaint, but unless they take that first step of making the complaint against the criminal, then the police cannot begin to solve the problem.”
Horseshoe Pass trip inspires sci-fi novel
A cycling trip up the Horseshoe Pass near Llangollen was the
inspiration for a new science fiction book by a Chester author.
He has post-grad researched and written about climatic change, run computer clubs and was editor of a computer magazine.
Nelder has published a couple of climate books and has short stories used in a variety of literary
magazines.
His first novel, a humour thriller, Escaping Reality, was published in 2005.
Left Luggage is part of a sci-fi trilogy entitled which is published by LL-Publications.
Geoff Nelder’s latest work, ARIA
Left Luggage, tells the story of how astronauts bring back to Earth a case
they find floating in space.
Inside it is a virus which when unknowingly unleashed spreads an
amnesia virus which goes around the world like wildfire bringing the planet to
the edge of disaster.
In the prologue to the book, the author writes: “This novel would
not have been possible without a Dawes Super Galaxy allowing me to cycle up the
Welsh slope of Horseshoe Pass, North Wales, making my heart thump so fast my
brain – freshly oxygenated – buzzed with the original idea in ARIA.”
Originally from the south of England and now living with his wife and
children, Nelder taught IT and geography in the local high school. He has post-grad researched and written about climatic change, run computer clubs and was editor of a computer magazine.
Nelder has published a couple of climate books and has short stories used in a variety of literary
magazines.
His first novel, a humour thriller, Escaping Reality, was published in 2005.
Left Luggage is part of a sci-fi trilogy entitled which is published by LL-Publications.
The bug at the centre of the book he calls Alien
Retrograde Infectious Amnesia.
It causes everyone who
catches it to regress, seemingly slowly at first, but it soon becomes apparent
that years of lives are being lost memory-wise, and fast.
Enter the hero Ryder, who has been on to the
thing from the start and has the brainpower – and contacts – to stay away and
eventually find like-minded uninfected people to try to help him to stay alive
and to come up with a solution to the huge threat to humanity.
Throughout, Ryder tries his best, first of
all persuading uninfected friends and colleagues to barricade themselves in a
remote Welsh valley.
But then as his leadership is tested time and
again even his morals start to slip and the lines between what is right and
wrong according to everything he was taught and believes in start to blur.
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARIA-Left-Luggage-ebook/dp/B008RADGYC#_
http://www.amazon.co.uk/ARIA-Left-Luggage-ebook/dp/B008RADGYC#_
Sunday, June 9, 2013
Patients' Trust plans sponsored walk
Llangollen and District Patients’ Trust has organised a sponsored walk on Saturday, June 22.
Those wishing to take part
are asked to meet at Siamber Wen in Wern Road, Llangollen, for registration
from 9.30am that day, with the walk starting at 10am.
Light refreshments will be available
at Siamber Wen on particpants’ return.
Sponsor forms are available
from Llangollen Health Centre and also from the Glyn Ceiriog and Plas Madoc surgeries.
Dogs on leads are welcome,
say organisers.
All money raised by the event will go to the Patients Trust, which finances “extras” for patients such as comfy chairs for the waiting room to ambulatory blood pressure monitors.
For fu rther information,
contact Llangollen Health Centre on 01978 860625.
New police "Specials" sought
Being a North Wales Police volunteer helps you to improve your skills and gain new experiences – whether it’s on the front line as a Special Constable or Police Support Volunteer.
North Wales Police are supporting this year’s Volunteers’ Week - a national celebration of volunteers and volunteering which takes place from 1st to 7th June each year with the aim of recognising, rewarding and recruiting volunteers.
Volunteers make up an important part of the North Wales Police family by playing a vital role in building important links between the police and local communities.
The role of the Special Constable is to assist and support the regular force in meeting local policing needs. They are an important part of the police service and have a vital role to play in the future of policing.
Special Constables undertake valuable work and form a vital link between the regular force and the local community. Special Constables are volunteers, from all walks of life, who want to do something positive for their communities.
With North Wales Police you would be expected to carry out a variety of tasks. Duties could include assisting regulars on patrol, crime prevention work and community liaison projects. Special Constables have the same powers of arrest as a regular Police Officer.
Police Support Volunteers are members of the community who give their time freely to undertake additional duties and activities to those currently performed by the extended policing family, adding great value to the services we already provide.
Volunteers build important links between the police and communities, providing opportunities for individuals to make a positive contribution to their local area.
We are looking for people aged 16 upwards from a wide range of backgrounds and sections of the community.
To find out more about how to join North Wales Police as a Special Constable or Police Support Volunteer please visit the Recruitment section of our website.
To find out what is happening in Volunteers Week where you live, or about volunteering opportunities available, contact your local volunteer centre via their website.
Saturday, June 8, 2013
Treat Dad to a Bikesafe course
Struggling to find a suitable gift for this year’s Father’s Day?
Why not book a *free Bikesafe workshop which is being held in Porthmadog on Sunday 16th June.
Bikesafe is a police-led motorcycle project that is run by most forces in the UK with the main aim being to reduce the number of bikers being hurt on the roads.
Sponsored by the North Wales Partnerships and Taith, the workshops, which are held at various locations across North Wales including Porthmadog, Rhyl, Broughton and St Asaph, offer practical advice about road safety and educate riders by passing on knowledge and skills to try and help motorcyclists become safer riders.
The Father’s Day workshop is being held at Porthmadog’s Fire Station on Sunday 16th June.
Part of the morning will be spent in the classroom and then there is then an enjoyable practical road element over approximately 60 miles taking you round the roads of North Wales and the Snowdonia National Park.
North Wales Police Bikesafe Co-ordinator, Paul Cheshire MBE said: "Bikesafe is about starting on the right path to development as it "Bridges the Gap". Riders should continue to train throughout their riding years and not just stop once they have passed their bike test.
“You will find at Bikesafe workshops that you are sitting alongside like-minded biking enthusiasts with a wide range of experience, skills and different machines. Whether you are on a commuter bike, scooter or a sports bike, you are equally welcome and will benefit from one of our workshops.”
The BikeSafe workshop explores the main issues facing today’s bikers. It also explores the principles of advanced riding through the on-road element. The BikeSafe Observer will give assessment and feedback which will highlight areas where the rider needs to develop.
Paul Cheshire added: “Whether you passed your bike test six months ago, six years ago or, indeed, twenty-six years ago, you can always improve your level of skill to make your riding not only safer but also more enjoyable.”
In addition North Wales Police will provide a free day’s training of first aid for bikers licensed by Medic Skills from FBoS ( First Bike on Scene – North West NHS). Upon completion you will be issued a Certificate of Approval from the Royal College of Surgeons Edinburgh and a safety pack.
If you would like to participate in a *free Bikesafe workshop please visit the Bikesafe website or contact the booking line via 08444 151206 or email info@bikesafeadmin.co.uk
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