Council consults on its big plan

Denbighshire is currently consulting on the next BIG Plan (BIG Plan II) to deliver key partnership actions on issues such as older people, vulnerable families, children and young people, rural areas and keeping people safe.

The plan aims to set out the work be council will be doing with its partners over the next few years to help improve the lives of residents.

It is now time to prepare for the next phase of the BIG Plan which cover 2014-2017.  

A council spokesperson said: "We want to know what you think our priorities should be for the BIG Plan II.  

"You can let us know online what you think we should focus on to make a real, positive difference to people living, working and learning in Denbighshire. You can find the short survey at www.denbighshire.gov.uk/current-consultations

"It is essential to make sure that we are tackling the issues that matter the most to you and so we would encourage as many people to take part in this consultation as possible. The closing date for letting us know your views is Thursday 31st October."

Welsh Government launches NHS performance website

A new website giving patients easily accessible information on NHS performance has been launched by the Welsh Government.

 

mylocalhealthservice.wales.gov.uk will provide performance data on a range of health services, including:

• hospital information, such as mortality rates, healthcare infection rates and nurse ratios;
• progress in primary care on preventative measures to address the major health issues facing the population such as heart disease and stroke;
• the results of patient satisfaction surveys; and,
• links to reports and locally-published performance data.

Launching the website, First Minister Carwyn Jones said: “We have made a firm commitment to transparency in the NHS. Gathering together key performance datasets into one place and explaining them clearly is part of our delivery on that commitment.

“The current site is just the start – we will continue to build on this initial information set, with more information provided over the coming months to make My Local Health Service our window on the performance of our local NHS services right across the country.

“Increased transparency is a key driver in improving quality across the NHS as a whole, highlighting both those areas where good practice is in place and those where there is scope for improvement.

“The website is in line with our wider aim of introducing more mechanisms to detect risks or problems before they occur, and publishing more performance data to raise quality of care.”

Labour team seeking prospective Picasos

ASSEMBLY Member Ken Skates and MP Susan Elan Jones are encouraging schoolchildren in Clwyd South to show their artistic side by designing their own Christmas cards.

 

The political duo may have only just returned to Cardiff and Westminster after their summer breaks, but they are already inviting pupils of every infant and primary school in the constituency to get into the festive spirit and enter their annual competition.

 

The winning design, which will be picked by First Minister Carwyn Jones, will become the Labour pair’s official Christmas card and will be sent out to constituents, businesses, schools and voluntary groups in Wrexham and Denbighshire.

 

Last year’s winner was Jack Warburton from Rhosymedre Community Primary School, whose card was chosen out of hundreds of entries.

                                       

Clwyd South AM Mr Skates said: “There were so many fantastic designs last year and we’re hoping to give the First Minister an even more difficult choice this time!

 

“The children in Clwyd South always throw themselves in to this competition and their creativity is encouraged by our dedicated teachers. I’m sure this year will be no different, and I’m looking forward to seeing the entries come flooding in.”

 

MP Ms Jones added: “The competition gives us a good opportunity to engage with young people in Clwyd South, and it’s a fun way for them to learn a little bit about who represents them. The competition closes on Friday, November 1, so the sooner the children get cracking the better!”

 

Prospective Picassos should ask their teachers to send their designs to Mr Skates’ constituency office at Unit 19, The Malthouse, Regent St reet, Llangollen, LL20 8HS.

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.”