AM slams Welsh Government over its NHS management

The Welsh Labour Government has “catastrophically mismanaged our NHS”, claims the Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales Aled Roberts.

His criticism follows the publication of a report by the Wales Audit Office which reveals scheduled operations were postponed and hospital waiting lists allowed to grow as the Welsh NHS struggled to cut costs in the last year.

Managers balanced the books but need to save £404m this year, the report concludes.

Aled Roberts (pictured left), who is a member of the Welsh Assembly’s Public Accounts Committee, said: “The Welsh Labour Government explicitly warned that it would not bail out Health Boards that lost control of their finances. 

“Yet, the Welsh Labour Government went back on its word and dished out additional funding totalling £92 million.  As the report acknowledges, this inconsistency sends out unhelpful mixed messages.

“The Welsh NHS is under a colossal amount of strain.  The report notes that the NHS is likely to struggle to sustain current levels of service and performance. 

“Wales has the longest ambulance waiting times in any part of mainland UK, cancer waiting times not met since 2008 and A&E targets that have never been met.  To think some of our NHS services could continue to deteriorate further is shocking. "

Mr Roberts slammed: “The truth is the Welsh Labour Government has catastrophically mismanaged our NHS and it is the people of Wales who are paying the price for Labour’s failure. 

“How can we expect Health Boards to be financially prudent when, as the report acknowledges, there are unfunded commitments in the Welsh Labour Government’s manifesto and programme for Government?

“Of course it’s important that Health Boards meet their financial targets.  But this isn’t just about money, it’s people’s lives that we are talking about. The report highlights that NHS bodies reduced activity to help manage financial pressures

“I found it particularly galling last week when the Health Minister congratulated Health Boards on their ‘careful financial management’.  This is despite knowing that Betsi Cadwaladr UHB was only able to do so by allowing waiting lists to grow and cancelling routine operations.

Health Minister Mark Drakeford said the NHS "remains resilient" despite challenging circumstances.

Agenda for tonight's Town Council meeting

LLANGOLLEN TOWN COUNCIL

COUNCIL MEETING 16th JULY 2013

AGENDA
1. Apologies for absence. To receive apologies for absence. 2. Declaration of Interest. To receive any known declarations of interest in items on the agenda. 3. Presentation To receive a presentation form Haf Wyn-Hughes, Workplace Skills Officer on the Essential Skills in the Workplace project, on behalf of the Welsh Government. 4. Mayors Announcements. To receive announcements form the Town Mayor. 5. To receive statements from the public.

6. Minutes of Meeting. To authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the previous meeting of the Council held on the held on the 21st May 2013, as a correct record.

7. Minutes of the Annual Council Meeting.

To authorise the Chairman to sign the minutes of the Annual Council Meeting held on Tuesday 21st May 2013.

8. Planning Committee.


To accept the Minutes of the meeting Planning Committee held on 23rd April 2013, previously circulated.

9. General Purposes Committee


To adopt the Minutes of the meeting of the General Purposes Committee held on 19th February 2013, previously circulated.




10. Financial Matters.
To consider financial matters and make any necessary decisions thereon.

a) Financial Statement

b) Authorised Payments.

c) Donations.
d) Annual Return.
11. Members Reports.



To accept reports arising from Members attendance on outside bodies, and to make any necessary decisions thereon.
12. Notices of Motion.



Cllr S Burrell: That the Town Council compile and produce an amenities directory.

Cllr M Mile: That the Town Council consider on street parking issues in Church Street.


13. County Councillors Report.
To receive reports form County Councillors.
13. Casual Vacancy.
To consider applications for consideration to be co-opted as a Member of the Council
14. Clerk's Reports.
a) Monthly update.

b) Chain bridge project; to confirm acceptance of grant in aid from the Heritage lottery Fund.

c) Standing Orders; to consider the adoption of the National Association of Local Councils / One Voice Wales Model Standing Orders, copy attached.

d) Consultation Document Local Government (Wales) Measure 2011, copy attached..
15. Correspondence
To consider correspondence received and to make any necessary decisions thereon.  

Eating at the yellow Aqueduct is certainly no peril

llanblogger taste test

* The startlingly yellow Aqueduct Inn at Fron.

THE new vivid yellow external paintjob might be a little startling but there’s nothing disturbing about the welcome and the food at the Aqueduct Inn in Fron.

If discerning Llangollen folk would care to travel just a couple of miles up the road to sample Sunday lunch there, they are not likely to be disappointed.

The historic pub in its prime position overlooking the Dee Valley and the World Heritage site was empty for quite a few months but, just as the place where we did our last taste test, the Sun at Rhewl, enterprising new people have now moved in and are doing their best to make a go of  what was once a thriving village boozer.

Despite the canary-like exterior, the interior of the Aqueduct is still reassuringly old world, from its muted, heritage-style painted walls to the old-fashioned tables and chairs.

The guy behind the bar when llanblogger went there recently was extremely welcoming and chatty and offered us something cool to drink as soon as we stepped in looking hot from the sun-baked A5.

There was a couple of interesting-looking real ales and one of them made a very refreshing pint of bitter shandy.

The Sunday lunch menu was hardly vast but featured the essential roasts – good old beef and lamb.

There was a slightly wider choice of starters, including the tasty garlic mushrooms we ordered at £3.95.

We then went for a couple of beef main courses at a very reasonable £5.99.

The beef was succulent and came with all the usual trimmings – mashed and roast potatoes, two veg, a Yorkshire pudding and some very pleasant gravy.

Helpings weren’t lavish but perfectly adequate and left enough room for a couple of desserts.

The last helpings of chocolate cake and cream having been snaffled just before we got around to ordering, it had to be apple pie and ice cream times two for us, at £2.50 apiece.

But that was certainly no imposition as these were delicious, with a nice crust, plenty of apple filling and two scoops of vanilla ice cream to top them off.

Service came with a smile, the landlord called at our table for a chat and we were able to sit in one of the two main rooms and look out over an idyllic canal scene as we enjoyed lunch for a very digestible total of £26 including our shandies.

The Aqueduct is definitely worth driving up the A5 to try. 

Importance of fire drill emphasized after big blaze

A senior fire officer is highlighting the importance of working smoke alarms and having a practiced fire escape plan after a family of seven escaped a serious fire in their New Brighton home last night.
 
Firefighters from Llangollen along with those from Johnstown, Wrexham and Chirk were called to the fire at a rural property in the New Brighton area of Minera, Wrexham at 10.56pm yesterday (Sunday, July 14).

The female occupant, her teenage daughter and her daughter’s partner along with another four of her children were in the property at the time of the fire.

The female occupant was upstairs sleeping and was woken by bangs and crackling coming from downstairs. She went to investigate and alerted the other sleeping occupants as the smoke alarms activated.

Their regular route of escape was blocked and so the daughter’s partner kicked down an alternative door.

All occupants escaped safely and were taken to hospital for precautionary checks before being discharged earlier today.

The cause of the fire is currently being investigated.

Paul Whybro, Head of Risk and Resilience for North Wales Fire and Rescue Service said: “This incident clearly highlights the importance of working smoke alarms and practiced fire escape plans.

“Smoke alarms give an early warning which help you to escape safely and quickly in the event of a fire. Plan your escape route with everyone - always include children and the elderly so that everyone knows how to get out. Also, make sure that you know where door and window keys are kept so that you can escape quickly in the event of an emergency.
 
“Thankfully no one was hurt in this fire which had the potential for a major tragedy. This was a rural property and residents living in rural areas should take extra care with fire safety as it is likely that there will not be a fire station in the immediate area. This will mean that the firefighters will have to take time to travel to the property - so early detection of the fire is especially important. “

North Wales Fire and Rescue Service also offer free home fire safety checks for all residents in North Wales. During a home fire safety check, a member of the Service will visit your home, help formulate a safety escape plan, give tips and guidance on fire safety in the home, and if necessary, install a new smoke alarm free of charge. For a free home fire safety check, please call our 24 hour hotline on 0800 169 1234, visit www.nwales-fireservice.org.uk or e-mail cfs@nwales-fireservice.org.uk

More colourful Llanfest pictures

Guest photographer Barrie Potter has sent us more pictures from yesterday (Sunday's) Llanfest at the eisteddfod. 

Local musical talent on show at Llanfest

 

Our guest photographer Barrie Potter was back on the eisteddfod field today afternoon (Sunday) to picture the array of local musical talent on display during the traditional Llanfest staged in the amphitheatre.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Countdown begins to prestigious cycling event

* Riders in last year's Etape Cymru head up the Horseshoe Pass.

The countdown has begun to welcome one of the UK's most prestigious cycling sportives to North East Wales.

 

The route of Wiggle Etape Cymru 2013, to be held on Sunday, September 8,  starts and finishes at Bangor on Dee Racecourse and passes through communities in Wrexham County Borough before it enters into Denbighshire through the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Beauty.

The route takes in several well-known climbs including the legendary Horseshoe Pass which incorporates a timed King of the Mountains challenge.

This incredible event was voted Sportive of the Year 2012 by readers of Road Cycling UK and has been widely acclaimed for its success by all of the top cycling media outlets.

The event is being staged by Human Race, who are the UK's largest mass participation events company and fully is supported by Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils.

Leader of Denbighshire, Councillor Hugh Evans, said: "Cycling is becoming an ever more popular sport, especially in the wake of the tremendous cycling success at London 2012 and we are extremely keen to capitalise on this renewed interest in the sport.

"Here in Denbighshire we are working hard to establish the county as a centre for cycling excellence. We have the infrastructure to deliver this, with resources such as the Clwydian Range and Dee Valley Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the Cycling Centre at Llandegla right on our very own doorstep.

"This year will be the third year in a row that Denbighshire County Council has been actively involved in assisting event organisers to ensure the safe running of this event and we are confident that it will continue to be a great success."

Nick Rusling, CEO of Human Race said: "We welcome the support of Wrexham and Denbighshire Council in making this year's Etape Cymru the best yet. After the fantastic success of last year's event cyclists are anticipating a great event for 2013 and we look forward to welcoming thousands of cyclists to the region."

For further information, please visit the website: www.humanrace.co.uk