Wales appoints first emergency medicine trainees

THE Welsh Ambulance Service says it has become the first in the UK to recruit pre-hospital emergency medicine trainees to its of frontline staff.

The Trust has appointed childhood friends James Chinery and Gareth Roberts to the role of Pre-Hospital Emergency Medicine (PHEM) doctors, which allows critical care to be provided at the scene of an accident or severe illness.

The pair, who are Speciality Registrars (SpRs) in Anaesthesia, can perform actions outside the remit of a paramedic, such as the administration of advanced pain relief, and surgical procedures such as the insertion of chest drains and surgical airways.

They also have the ability to administer anaesthetic drugs, and sedate a patient if they cannot breathe for themselves.

Middlesborough-born James, who is being seconded from the Royal Army Medical Corps, and who has worked at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Birmingham, said: “Previously, seriously injured or ill patients have been taken to their local hospital, but it has not always been the most appropriate place for them.

“Our knowledge and experience means we can advise where is best for a patient to travel, whether it is a specialist emergency department or stroke unit. It might mean travelling that bit further, but us being on scene means we can start that critical care.”

Newport-born Gareth, who now lives in Cardiff, and who previously worked at the University Hospital of Wales, added: “We’re here to assist the crew already on scene, and work as a team. We’re there if a patient needs that advanced care.”

Their appointment follows the launch of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Clinical Strategy, which aims to provide the right service, in the right place, at the right time.

Richard Lee, Head of Clinical Services at the Welsh Ambulance Service, said: “The new PHEM doctors will work alongside our clinical team leaders and paramedics to ensure patients get the very best care available at the scene and during the transfer to hospital.

“There is clear evidence that victims of major trauma do better when they are treated quickly by a senior clinical decision maker. Patients suffering a heart attack or stroke benefit from treatment at a specialist coronary unit or stroke unit.

“Sometimes this means taking the patients past the local hospital. Our paramedics will sometimes need the skills of the PHEM doctor to facilitate these transfers.

“There is huge potential for pre-hospital care, and the co-ordination of that care to contribute more fully to integrated healthcare provision.”

James and Gareth went to Bassaleg School in Newport together, and began a 12-month contract with the service on Monday, September 2.

Each will work out of a rapid response vehicle or a Wales Air Ambulance - James in the north and Gareth in the south - and will be dispatched to appropriate incidents by the control centre.

Their appointment is a joint venture between the Wales Postgraduate Deanery, which provides their educational supervision, and the Welsh Ambulance Service, which provides their clinical placement.

Police home security tips as nights draw in

As the nights begin to draw in police across Denbighshire are urging householders to help keep burglars at bay by ensuring their homes are kept secure.

 

“Still too many burglaries are happening as a result of people leaving their windows and doors open or unlocked,” said Sergeant Steve Carroll of the Community Safety team, based in St Asaph. “Burglars will exploit any opportunity and it’s important that people remain security conscious.” 

 

“We have had a spate of burglaries recently and insecure properties has been the common theme. Once inside the properties, the offenders have stolen ipads, cash, laptops and other valuables.”

 

The impact of burglary on the householder can be significant and long lasting. North Wales Police are intent on tackling this crime and urge residents to play their part by protecting their homes.

 

“Investigations are continuing into the crimes,” added Sgt Carroll, “however, as well as appealing for information we are urging people to stay a step ahead of a thief by remaining  vigilant and making sure they keep their property secure. Anyone who sees suspicious activity or has information about any burglary should to contact police immediately on 101. ”

 

Follow these police tips to help make your home safer:

 

•  If you know you’re going to be home late from work consider using timer switches which automatically turn on lights and will give the impression that your home is occupied.

•  Do not leave windows and doors open especially of you are going out. Security measures on modern windows allow air to circulate while it keeps the window locked.

•  Always lock your front door from inside - in particular UPVC front doors are often left unlocked when people are in their house.

•  Keep all valuable possessions out of sight of prying eyes.

•  Leaving keys within reach of a window, a glass pane or in the lock could make a thief’s job easier – keep them out of reach and never put car keys or purses on window-sills or in view of a window or door.

•  Always avoid keeping large amounts of cash in your home.

•  Do not leave back doors open or unlocked if you are to be upstairs for any length of time.

•  When leaving your property always remember to lock up properly and set your alarm (if you have one– even if you just pop out for a few minutes.)

•  Tools and ladders should always be locked away – these can be used to break into your home.

•  Don’t hide spare keys under flowerpots or doormats – this is one of the first places a thief is likely to look.

•  Install outdoor lighting – this can deter a burglary by making them fear detection or discovery.

 

Residents are being reminded to remain vigilant and to report any suspicious activity to police. If you see anyone acting suspiciously, call North Wales Police on 999 if it is an emergency or dial 101. Alternatively you can call Crimestoppers with information anonymously on 0800 555 111 .

Cash stolen in town centre

Neighbourhood Watch is alerting its members in the area to an incident yesterday in the town centre.

A warning notice says:

"During the morning of Thursday 12 September a male person was approached by two females of Asian origin in Llangollen town centre.

"They persuaded the male to sign a petition, asking that he verified his details and confirmed his identity using a bank card.

"The male removed his bank card from his wallet to confirm his identity and later found that £30 cash was missing from the wallet.

"It is believed that these two females may have been responsible for the theft of the cash.

"If you have any information about this incident, please call North Wales Police on 101 quoting the reference number P151917."
  

Latest local roadworks

Latest local roadworks notified by Denbighshire County Council are:

A5 Berwyn Road, Llangollen, from September 17-19, temporary traffic lights to allow water works by Dee Valley Water.

St John’s Church, Abbey Road, Llangollen, until September 16, temporary traffic lights to allow renewal of pole by WRB In

stallations Ltd.

AM's concerns over treartment of mentally ill

Cross-border provision for mentally ill patients living in north east Wales is being compromised by Welsh Government diktat to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, claims an AM.   

 

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has taken the matter up with the Health Minister in Cardiff after being contacted by the parents of a mentally ill patient who was denied services in England, despite requiring urgent treatment.  

 

A letter to the parents from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board  states that “The Welsh Government is clear that where possible Welsh residents should be offered services within Wales”.

 

Mr Isherwood is concerned that the arrangement is detrimental to Welsh patients’ health and welfare and has therefore sent a letter to the Health Minister asking what action he will be taking to ensure Welsh mentally ill patients living near the border are not refused treatment in England in the future.  

 

He said: “Withholding immediate treatment for acute mental health conditions for Welsh patients who have been taken to an English hospital by the Emergency Ambulance Service is simply not acceptable and the Health Minister must review the current set up as a matter of urgency.”

 

Mr Isherwood, who last month called for cross border health services to be properly planned and protected after research evidence indicated that the Welsh Government has a hidden policy to repatriate North Wales patients treated in North West England,  added: “Interdependence between North East Wales and North West England is a matter of incontestable fact and cross-border planning and delivery in health services is theref ore essential if we are to deliver patient-centred support and “seamless transition between in-patient and community services” in the only part of the UK with a connected urban area divided by a National Boundary.”

 

Mr Isherwood’s constituents have also expressed concern about follow-up treatment for mentally ill patients in Flintshire, which they say in comparison to services available in Wirral and Cheshire, are still notably lacking in access to psychological therapeutic interventions.

 

"Get on with new health centre" councillor tells planners

* An artist's impression of the new health centre.

 

A councillor sent out a strong message to the planners of a new £5.5 million health centre in Llangollen – get on with it!

Cllr Stuart Davies, one of the town’s representatives on Denbighshire County Council, was attending the latest in a series of five meetings arranged to update stakeholders on the scheme at Llangollen International Pavilion on Wednesday afternoon.

Managers from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which is building the new facility to replace Llangollen Cottage Hospital which they axed last March, were there to brief around 30 people with an interest in the project, including representatives of local health organisations, patients and voluntary groups.

Project manager Ian Howarth invited discussion on issues such as access to the site of the new centre, on land between the River Dee and the A539 currently occupied by the derelict River Lodge, and whether a pharmacy and a dental surgery should be included in it.

Mr Howarth also outlined the timetable for development, which he said would see an outline business case being considered by the health board in November, a full case being produced next March and building work starting next summer with completion during 2015. 

But Cllr Davies declared: “Let’s stop fannying about and get on with it. People want it!”

Mr Howarth replied: “We are all of the same mind, that we need to get on with it.”

Earlier in the two-hour meeting, BCUHB’s estate development Andy Williams said that “an awful lot of work” had been going on into site investigation, working with the local highways department.

He told the audience: “We accept that access to the site isn’t good and over the last two or three months we have been looking at the main issues such as the maintenance of existing footpaths, moving the 30mph zone, which currently starts closer to the town, to the far end of the River Lodge site and extending street lighting in that area.

“We have also been talking to local bus operators about putting bus stops adjacent to the site as buses won’t be able to get right into the site because they are too large.”

Cllr Davies suggested that rather having people walk to the new centre along the busy A539 road, it might be possible to develop a route leading down the steps from the river bridge and through an adjacent car park.

Andy Williams said this would be looked at by the project team.

On the question of including a pharmacy in the new centre, Ian Howarth said there were arguments for and against this.

There were suggestions from the audience that if Rowlands, which currently runs the pharmacy in Regent Street, moved to the health centre the current chemist would be lost as the company might not be prepared to run two shops in the same area.

This, it was said, might lead to people needing frequent repeat prescriptions having to walk to the other side of town.

But  a representative of Rowlands in the audience said it might be possible to set up a prescription delivery service or a system of ordering repeat prescriptions over the phone.

The issue of the whether a two-chair dental surgery should be included in the new centre was then touched on with Mr Howarth pointing out that there were points for and against it. But he said there might be a need for this as Llangollen currently had only one dentists.

However, he suggested further discussion of this would have to wait until the next stakeholder meeting as there was nobody present from the dental service.

At the start of the meeting there was some criticism of BCUHB for the way the cottage hospital was closed and services transferred to the existing health centre in Regent Street.

Cllr Davies said: “It wasn’t advertised enough so people weren’t aware of what was happening.”

He also asked if the minor injuries unit, which had been moved over from the hospital to the health centre to be run by the GPs based there, was still in operation.

Practice manager Tessa Orton Jones said it was but that it was restricted to Llangollen residents and genuine day trippers to the tourist town.

Some concern was voiced from the audience that this excluded children attending local schools who lived outside the town and residents of nearby Corwen.

Cllr Davies told the BCUHB team they had “messed up good style” by removing in-patient beds from the old hospital and making no provision for replacements in the new centre.

This, he said, was already “coming home to roost” with local people in need of beds being sent to  Deeside, Mold and Flint.

Mr Howarth told him: “We’ll make sure we follow that up.”

Cllr Davies then asked him if there would be beds in the new centre to which Mr Howarth replied: “It terms of this development it doesn’t make sense.”

AM pledges support for National Eye Week

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has pledged his support for National Eye Health Week, which takes place between September 16-22.

 

National Eye Health Week brings organisations and health professionals from across the UK together to raise awareness of the importance of good eye health and the need for regular sight tests.

 

Mr Isherwood said: “There are currently nearly 100,000 people in Wales who are living with sight loss and over the next 25 years the number is expected to double. Yet with the appropriate action sight loss can be avoided. It is vital that people are made aware of the importance of good eye health and regular eye tests and I therefore welcome the fact that eye care charities, organisations and health professionals will be coming together next week to promote this.”

 

Ceri Jackson, Chair of the National Eye Health Week steering group in Wales, added: “Fifty per cent of sight loss is avoidable, and the single most important thing that people can do to protect their sight is to go for a test every two years. Many people think that a sight test is just about checking whether your vision needs correcting with glasses or contact lenses, but a sight test is also a vital check of the health of the eyes and includes the detection of eye conditions. Many of these have no early symptoms, but when they are detected early then the right type of treatment could save your sight.

 

“National Eye Health Week is an opportunity for people to come together and raise awareness of the need to be proactive about our eye health in the same way as we would in relation to other health conditions. I’m delighted that Mr Isherwood has pledged his support and hope that as many people as possible can join us during the week in doing their bit to stop people losing their sight unnecessarily.”

 

In addition to sight tests, RNIB recommends four actions to keep your eyes healthy:

 

1 Stop smoking. Smoking can double your risk of developing some eye conditions. In fact, the link is as strong as the link between smoking and lung cancer. Speak to your GP about stopping smoking.

 

2Eat healthily and watch your weight. Eating a diet low in saturated fats but rich in green leafy vegetables such as spinach and broccoli may help protect against eye disease. Oranges, kiwis, nuts, seeds and oily fish may also help. Obesity can increase the risk of diabetes, which in turn could lead to sight loss.

 

3 Keep your eyes covered in the sun. UVA and UVB rays in sunlight can harm your eyes and may increase the risk of cataracts. Wearing sunglasses, glasses or contacts lenses with a built in UV filter will protect your eyes. Only buy sunglasses that have a CE mark or carry British Standard BSEN 1863:1997.

 

4 Safety first. DIY causes thousands of eye related injuries each year. Always wear safety goggles (European Standard BS EN 166) to protect your eyes from flying debris and fine particles. Sports (especially racquet-based sports) also cause lots of eye related injuries each year. Investing in a good pair of protective sports goggles will help prevent serious damage to your eyes.