Work of specialist ambulance team revealed

* Members of the Welsh Ambulance Service’s HART team on a training exercise.

A SPECIALIST team of ambulance staff trained to provide life-saving care at major incidents has dealt with more than 2,300 emergency calls since its creation last year.

The Hazardous Area Response Team (HART) - which is part of the Welsh Ambulance Service - provides clinical care in hostile environments like industrial accidents and natural disasters, as well as chemical, biological, radioactive, nuclear and terrorist incidents.

Of the calls dealt with since its launch, more than 40 involved flooding, a further 40 involved a firearm or other weapon, and more than 140 meant working at height, in a confined space or on tricky terrain.

Staff are deployed to major road traffic collisions, like the one outside Rhws Primary School in June, in which nine people were injured, and large-scale fires, like the one in Clydach Vale in March, which left a former workingmen’s club destroyed.

The team was also involved in the multi-agency search for missing schoolgirl April Jones in Machynlleth last October.

Chris Sims, Welsh Ambulance Service HART manager in Wales, has been reflecting on a challenge-filled first year. He said: “The introduction of HART in Wales is a huge step forward for the Welsh Ambulance Service, and now means we can provide clinical care to patients in difficult environments.

"HART in Wales is part of a UK network of HART teams, whose members are skilled ambulance professionals with additional training.

"Throughout the year we’ve attended a number of challenging incidents where, in partnership with other agencies, our training and equipment has helped to get access to a patient and support our operational crews.”

The Bridgend-based HART complements the existing Special Operations Response Team (SORT), whose members are trained to provide decontamination and mass oxygenation at such incidents.

The specially trained personnel work 24/7 across Wales, and can also called upon to give clinical care to patients outside of a major incident.

Elwyn Price-Morris, chief executive of the Welsh Ambulance Service, added: “The creation of HART marked a significant development in the history of the Welsh Ambulance Service.

“We hope that HART is not in serious action too often, but knowing that they exist here in Wales gives us all some peace of mind that their expertise is available if and when they are needed.”

Concerns raised over Corwen Health Centre

CLWYD South AM Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones have called for assurances from the health board over GP services at Corwen Health Centre.

The Labour politicians say they contacted Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on behalf of their constituents after one GP left the surgery and the other partner tendered her resignation – leaving the practice without a permanent doctor.

 

BCUHB says the vacancy has been advertised nationally, but a replacement is unlikely to be found before the remaining GP, Dr Sue Hesketh, leaves on November 29.

 

The board will manage the surgery from December 1 and use locums in the interim.

 

Assembly Member Mr Skates said: “We know some of our constituents in Corwen are worried about the current situation, and we have contacted the health board on their behalf to relay their concerns.

 

“Betsi Cadwaladr has assured us it will do all it can to minimise disruption during the next few months, and myself and Susan will continue to monitor the situation.”

 

MP Ms Jones added: “As soon as we were made aware of the situation at Corwen Health Centre, Ken and I contacted Betsi Cadwaladr to seek immediate assurances that patient services will not be adversely affected.

 

“We know this upheaval will concern our constituents. We will be in regular contact with the health board until the situation is resolved and will do our best to keep them abreast of developments.”

Appeal for ambulance first responders

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is appealing to the people of Denbighshire and Conwy to make a difference to family, friends or neighbours in distress by becoming a Community First Responder.

The Trust is appealing for volunteers in Denbigh, Llangollen, Abergele and Llanrwst and to give something back to the people in their communities - a fighting chance of survival.

First responders are volunteers who give up their spare time to attend appropriate 999 calls and give first hand emergency care to people in their own community.

All volunteers will be trained by the Welsh Ambulance Service to administer basic first aid, oxygen therapy, cardiopulmonary resuscitation and the use of a defibrillator.

First responders do not replace the normal response of a paramedic in a rapid response vehicle or an emergency ambulance, but support the patient until it arrives.

First responder team manager and trainer, Claire Hurford, said: “Every second counts when you are trying to save someone’s life, and Community First Responder schemes are hugely beneficial in helping the ambulance service provide the best possible pre-hospital care for patients.

“Many of our volunteers have taken experiences that life has thrown at them, such as seeing a loved one suffer a heart attack, and have moulded them into a positive outlook to help family, friends and neighbours.

“You can make a big difference by just carrying out a few simple skills that we can teach you. If you are proud of the community in which you live, becoming a first responder can really help the heart of your village or town keeping beating long into the future.”

Community First Responders play an important role alongside frontline ambulance staff in making sure patients get appropriate help quickly and efficiently, explained Chief Executive at the Welsh Ambulance Service, Elwyn Price-Morris.

“Community First Responders are a key partner in the chain of survival and very much part of the whole Welsh Ambulance Service family,” he added.

Call Claire Hurford on 01248 682028 or visit
http://www.ambulance.wales.nhs.uk/Default.aspx?pageId=96&lan=en
for more information on becoming a Community First Responder.

AM raises issue of low wages in area

Concerned by reports of staff in Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire Councils earning below the living wage, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has questioned the Welsh Government over its action to address the problem.

 

Speaking in the Assembly, Mr Isherwood asked the Minister for Local Government and Government Business what is being done to encourage local authorities to become living wage employers.   

 

He said: “Questioning you on the same subject in the Chamber in May, I asked what action you could take to encourage local authorities to consider how a living wage might be introduced. I referred to evidence at the Trefnu Cymunedol Cymru/Together Creating Communities Public Assembly in Wrexham of staff earning below the minimum wage in Flintshire, Wrexham and Denbighshire.

 

"You replied that the Welsh Government is very happy to encourage employers to become living wage employers, although, as you say, on a voluntary basis. Therefore, Minister, since I asked that question in May, what action have you taken to encourage local authorities to become living wage employers?”

 

The Minister replied: “We can encourage local authorities to do so, but it is up to them. I am sure that you would want to join me in welcoming the proposal to bring the living wage in the public sector under the remit of the workforce partnership council. I think that we can have a much more strategic look at the broader issues with trade unions and public sector employers. It is something that I have put on the agenda for the next council, which will be held on Monday.”

Sarah gets Brussels work experience

* Sarah Tipuric of Ysgol Dinas Bran with Wales MEP Jill Evans.

Sarah Tipuric, a student as Ysgol Dinas Bran, Llangollen, spent a week on work experience at Wales MEP Jill Evans’ office in Brussels.  

Sarah is currently studying for her A-levels and hopes to go on to study German at University.

The work experience was awarded as the first place prize for a Euroscola essay competition.

The essay, entitled ‘If David Cameron holds a referendum on the UK’s membership of the EU, will you vote for or against and why?’ inspired many students from schools in the counties of Denbighshire and Flintshire to enter.
 
Following the Brussels visit, Sarah said: “The work experience gave me a fascinating insight into the workings of the E.U and the role of Wales within the European parliament. During the week I had the opportunity to attend debates and committees on a vast range of issues which I found incredibly interesting and informative.

“The multi-cultural environment of the parliament has further encouraged me to pursue a degree in languages as it has demonstrated the importance and usefulness of multilingualism.”

Jill Evans MEP said: "It was great to have Sarah over in Brussels this week, and I really hope she enjoyed the experience. As she is interested in languages, it was extremely beneficial for her to be in the European Parliament and hear all of the European languages being used.

 “I always encourage young people to take an interest in politics and welcome them to the European Parliament. We need Wales to have a strong voice and they are the voice of the future, our future in Europe.

"I hope Sarah’s interest in European issues continues, and I wish her all the best as she starts her university studies next year.”

AM questions rising health board complaints

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called on the Welsh Government to take action to address the rising levels of complaints against Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and the subsequent cost implications.

 

A recent report revealed that the North Wales Health Board is currently facing legal claims with a potential value of more than £58m.

 

Raising the matter in the Assembly Chamber during this week’s Business Statement, Mr Isherwood asked what the Welsh Government proposes to do to address the increasing number of complaints against health boards in Wales.

 

He said: “I call for a statement in relation to complaints and the charges and rising financial implications of those complaints against health boards in Wales, given the news that Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board could be facing claims costing, potentially, £58 million - a 32% rise - the majority of which relate to clinical negligence.

 

"We understand that this follows Welsh Government regulations for the handling of complaints by NHS bodies introduced in 2011, which followed the abolition by the former Welsh Government of the independent review forming the second stage of the complaints procedure.

 

“We know that there has been a damning in-patient survey at Betsi Cadwaladr, produced by the Picker Institute,  which showed that BCUHB had scores significantly worse than average in areas including patients not receiving any information explaining how to complain, not receiving copies of letters sent between hospital doctors and their GP and not being asked to give their views on quality of case.

 

"And we know that all three hospitals in north Wales, and all three hospitals in Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, Neath Port Talbot, Princess of Wales and Singleton, where the Chief Executive, Paul Roberts, is leading the response to the critical governance report in Betsi, have mortality rates at levels that, in England, would have put them into special measures.

 

"In this context, could we have a statement advising us how the Welsh Government proposes to deal with these rising levels of complaints and the cost implications?”

 

In her reply, the Minister failed to answer Mr Isherwood’s question. 

Local MP welcomes Labour power price freeze plan

Clwyd South MP Susan Elan Jones has given her full support to a Labour Party commitment to freeze gas and electricity bills until 2017.

 

The policy will become law if Labour wins the next general election. 

 

At the Labour Party Conference by Labour leader Ed Miliband unveiled wide-ranging plans to overhaul the energy market and scrap regulatory body Ofgem, replacing it with a watchdog that compels companies to pass on wholesale price reductions to homes and businesses.

 

Ms Jones said: "This is such a sensible proposal that will really help ordinary people.

 

"We all know how much gas and electricity bills have gone up. This has been especially true in the last year after our  so-called 'spring', which saw the worst snow in our area since the 1960s.

 

"The cost of gas and electricity in our country is a scandal. Since David Cameron become Prime Minister, gas and electricity bills have shot up by £300. This just isn't right at a time the energy companies are making such huge profits.  

 

"Gas and electricity are not luxury items. It is high time we had a government who was prepared to tackle how the energy companies treat their customers. If Britain elects a Labour Government in 2015, we will have a government that is committed to doing so."