North Wales neonatal care review decision overturned

A decision to transfer specialist care for some of sickest and most premature babies in north Wales to England has been overturned by the First Minister, Carwyn Jones.

 

For full story see the BBC News website at http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-24911941

* Responding to the First Minister’s statement on neonatal services in North Wales, Aled Roberts, Welsh Liberal Democrat Assembly Member for North Wales, commented:

 

“I had hoped for a better response from the First Minister today.

 

“The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health’s report into neo-natal services identified models which could provide all levels of neonatal services exclusively in North Wales.  This was their preferred long-term option.  I am disappointed the First Minister will not be taking these proposals forward, instead focussing on short-term solutions.

 

“The fact is that patients in North Wales are now paying the price for a complete lack of investment from the Welsh Labour Government over recent years.  Things should never have been allowed to get this bad.

 

“Bearing in mind the significant failings of the Health Board during this whole process, I have serious concerns about its ability to plan strategically for these new proposed changes.

 

“I am also concerned that managers at Arrowe Park had admitted that, apart from initial contractual discussions, that they had not been invited to engage with the North Wales clinicians or community.  Communication will be key if these major proposals are to become a reality.

 

“The First Minister has said that he expects the Health Board to “act quickly” to assess implications, and the BCUHB has been given until the end of the month to clarify Governance arrangements around the transfer of babies to Arrowe Park. However, given the past history within BCUHB, we need to be told how the First Minister will monitor the situation and what will happen if the clarification isn’t received.  There are still far more questions than answers to the challenges facing neonatal care in North Wales.”

Chamber issues statement on HSBC bank closure

Latest story update ....

 

Llangollen Chamber of Trade & Tourism has issued a statement on the proposed closure of the town's HSBC bank branch.

 

It says: "The chamber is shocked by the proposed closure of the Llangollen branch of HSBC, announced yesterday.

 

"Efforts have been made to contact HSBC for an explanation but so far without result. 

 

"It is a sad irony that the Bank is celebrating 150 years in Llangollen with an exhibition in the branch next week (21st November).

 

"The Chamber will support any action to try and retrieve the service."

 

llanblogger earlier today received the full statement from HSBC about the planned closure of its Llangollen branch early next year, which reads:

'Our branches are a very important way for our customers to bank with us and we have spent over £100 million in recent years upgrading and improving them.  

Llan's HSBC branch.

"However, we need to ensure that our branches are in the right locations for our customers and on occasions this means that we need to close a branch where customer footfall has fallen dramatically or there has been a shift in customer shopping patterns. Our branch in Llangollen is a case in point. Customer usage of the branch has fallen very significantly over the past few years.

"Customer habits are changing - they are now increasingly using branches where they work, or they are using the 24 hour convenience of internet or telephone banking.  Our network has to be 'fit for purpose' and we have to ensure that our branches are located in areas where they are used.

"Decisions like this are never easy, but we are working with the small number of customers who use the branch to help them reorganise their finances ahead of the planned closure on 7th February 2014.

"Our customers also have access to their accounts, to withdraw and pay in cash, at any UK post office and all residents of Llangollen will continue to have access to other banking facilities and several 'fee free' ATMs within the immediate area.

The five members of staff who man the branch will transfer to our other HSBC branches in the area.'

Meanwhile, North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has written the following letter to a senior HSBC executive:

"I note with concern HSBC’s announcement that it will be closing three banks in North Wales, branches at Llangollen, Beaumaris and Conwy, which I understand is the only bank in the town which has a cash machine.

 

"This has caused significant concern for my constituents.

 

"It is reported that HSBC has stated “customer usage had fallen dramatically due to internet banking” but when has internet banking provided the face-to-face service on which good business and real local customer care are based, and when has it provided the services needed by visitors to these major tourist destinations?

 

"I would therefore be grateful if you could give your very serious consideration to re-thinking this decision and provide a response accordingly."

 

Wales Rally GB gets into gear

* Action from last year's Wales Rally GB.

 

Llangollen motorsport enthusiasts have plenty of opportunities to support Wales Rally GB as it visits the area this week.

The qualifying stage for the rally will take place at the One Planet Adventure Mountain Bike Centre in Llandegla on the morning of Thursday, November 14.

Qualifying permits the world's top drivers two runs of the forest stage as free practice commencing at 07:00 before completing their one final timed run (from 10:45) which will determine the order in which they select their starting position for the start of the rally later the same day.

It also enables crews to make any final adjustments to their cars for the competitive forest stages they will encounter over the forthcoming days. The stage will then be opened to the remaining competitors for Shakedown, non-competitive testing, from approximately 11:30.

The car park at Llandegla opens at 8pm on Wednesday , November 13.  The car park is a gravel track with a walk of approximately 200-300m from the head of the car park to the stage along a mostly downhill gravel track and single track footpaths which should take approximately 10-15 minutes. There are no handrails and viewing areas will be signposted from the car park.

The first official stage in Denbighshire takes place on Thursday evening at around 8.30pm.  

To access the car park, follow the B5105 from the Ruthin direction towards Cerrigydrudion, passing through the village of Clawydd Newydd and after two miles the car park is located on the right and opens at 8am.

On Saturday the rally visits Chirk Castle.

Never previously used as a stage on the Rally of Great Britain, Chirk provides a stunning venue for the location of Saturday's RallyFest.

The Chirk Castle RallyFest will feature entertainment including a big screen with live coverage, catering village, live commentary, on-stage and static displays of historic rally cars, a chance to win some great prizes plus a range of other attractions to entertain those of all ages. Visitors can also enjoy live music from The Establishment.

Chirk Castle RallyFest will be open from 11:00 - 17:30.

Directions

Enter only from the main road (A5) two miles north of Chirk and follow signs and marshals' instructions to reach the car park. Do not attempt to enter through Chirk town - all routes from this direction will be subject to road closure orders.

Car Park N Sat Nav coordinates: N52 56.575 W3 05.841

Car Park

Open from 09:00 on Saturday, the car park is located in a grass field with a walk of approximately 500m over undulating grass fields and gravel tracks from the head of the car park to the RallyFest area, taking 10-15 minutes.

Stage Viewing

Chirk Castle will offer spectators a RallyFest area on a flat gravel surface from where spectators can view the stage. There will also be a crossing point over the stage to reach the viewing areas on the steeply sloped grass hillsides and flatter grassed areas (reached by a walk along tarmac roads - rally route - steep in places) directly in front of the castle.

The stage will be used twice in quick succession with the cars passing through at two minute intervals for the WRC cars, with all other competitors after the top 15 passing through at one minute intervals.

Facilities

In addition to the above mentioned facilities, there will be toilets and catering at this location.

Back in Denbighshire, A re-fuelling station has been arranged in Corwen on Sunday, November 17 (approximately 10.30am-1.30pm). This will give spectators the chance to see rally cars drive into the town for their re-fuelling opportunity.  This will take place at the public car park on Green Lane.

The second Clocaenog Stage takes place on Sunday morning, November 17. The car park opens at 8pm on Saturday, November 16.

Tickets will be needed for the Llandegla and Clocaenog events.  To find out more information, visit: www.walesrallygb.com

News of bank closure sparks angry backlash

Shock news earlier today that HSBC plans to close its Llangollen branch next year has brought an angry backlash from a key local campaigner and politicians from all parties.

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special (KLS), stormed: “Costume Jewel in the Crown? Llangollen has now been downgraded by the actions of granting planning to Sainsbury’s and the closure of the Cottage Hospital.

“Big Business now sees us as a soft target – but we’re not.

 

“KLS has already proved it fights hard, and this challenge is no different. We can abandon HSBC just as readily as they can abandon us.

 

“The nearest HSBC will now be over 20 miles away, since it closed its Corwen branch, and Llangollen has a significant proportion of residents can’t use Internet banking.

 

“It is another shameful, heartless act by faceless bankers who only pay lip service to social responsibility.

 

"DEFRA has already received a complaint from KLS, and many more influential people are on the list.

“We call on our councillors at all levels to join and support our campaign, and to sign the online petition: http://www.gopetition.com/petitions/stop-hsbc-closing-its-llangollen-branch-peidiwch-cau-hsbc-llangollen.html”

Mark Isherwood, Conservative Assembly Member for North Wales, said:  “HSBC says that it is closing three of its North Wales branches, including Llangollen, because internet banking has caused customer usage to fall `dramatically’, but since when has internet banking provided the face-to-face service on which good business and real local customer care are based – and since when has it provided the services needed by visitors to these major tourist destinations?

“I will be asking HSBC to rethink this decision.”

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: “It’s just over a year since HSBC closed its Corwen branch and moved customers from there to Llangollen. Now they’re proposing to close the Llangollen branch, despite the large numbers of local businesses that rely on the bank for a service.

“It seems ironic that the bank that prides itself on being ‘the world’s local bank’ is becoming more and more remote from customers in this part of Wales.

“Where do customers from Corwen and Llangollen go now for their banking if they stay with HSBC and what guarantee do they have that that branch is safe?

“This short-term approach to its core customer base seems a very strange way to do business.”

A HSBC spokesperson said: "We need to ensure that our branches are in the right locations for our customers and on occasions this means that we need to close a branch where customer footfall has fallen dramatically or there has been a shift in customer shopping patterns."

Politicians slam shock closure of Llan's HSBC bank

Local elected representatives have condemned HSBC's sudden shock decision to close its Llangollen branch in February 2014.

"HSBC calls itself 'the world's local bank' but this is patently untrue if you live in North Wales," said Susan Elan Jones MP.

"In my constituency alone, Corwen, Cefn Mawr and Rhosllannerchrugog HSBC branches have all closed in the last few years, and now Llangollen will be closing too. I will be writing to the bank to demand a proper explanation of their actions."

Llangollen Mayor, Councillor Bob Lube, said: "I'm extremely disappointed by this terrible news, which will be a big blow to local residents and businesses. I'm very surprised by what the bank is claiming about the economic viability of Llangollen branch in view of the huge number of tourists who visit our town, especially during the summer months."

Meanwhile, local Welsh Assembly Member Ken Skates AM commented: "My constituency office is in Llangollen, and I know how well-used the HSBC branch is. Now that HSBC has made this dreadful decision, I hope that as a minimum it'll keep the cashpoint open and have a serious agreement in place with the local Post Office about paying-in services."

Isherwood calls for independent probe into health board

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for an independent review into the failings of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

 

Speaking in the Welsh Conservatives Debate on The Quality of Care in the Welsh NHS, which called on the Welsh Government to commission an independent review into Welsh hospitals with higher than average mortality rates, Mr Isherwood backed North Wales Community Health Council’s call for an independent review and questioned the suitability of those appointed to lead the response to the critical review of governance at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.   

 

He said: “Eleven NHS trusts in England were put into special measures by the UK Secretary of State for Health after an independent investigation by Professor Keogh found a catalogue of failures of hospitals with high death rates across England.

 

“With only 5% of the population that England has, Wales has nine hospitals, three in North Wales, with equivalent high death rates, but this First Minister and Welsh Government have rejected requests for an independent investigation here.

 

“The North Wales Community Health Council has strongly recommended that the Minister commissions an independent review, perhaps led by Professor Keogh. However, when I wrote to the Minister for Health about the Community Health Council’s concerns, he simply said that it was the responsibility of the health board.

 

“Our health boards fire the bullets loaded for them by this Welsh Government and then take the blame for the consequence s. There must be an independent review into Welsh hospitals with high death rates.”

 

Mr Isherwood added:  “A damning in-patient survey at Betsi Cadwaladr, produced by the Picker Institute Europe, shows that the health board has scored significantly worse, on average, in areas including patients not receiving any information explaining how to complain, not receiving copies of letters sent between hospital doctors, and their GPs not being asked to give their views on the quality of care.

 

“Betsi Cadwaladr states that it has fully accepted the conclusions of the damning review of its governance arrangements by the Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, and apologised for the failings that have occurred. An external support team was established by the Minister for Health to lead the board’s response to the review, led by the Chief Executive of, yes, Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, in conjunction with the acting Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr.

 

"The same Abertawe Bro Morgannwg Health Board, with high death rates, is now under investigation over neglect, and it is the same Betsi Cadwaladr board acting Chief Executive, who was in that role during periods to which the damning Wales Audit Office governance review applies.”

More great pictures from Rachel Morris

Here's the latest in a series of atmospheric pictures from local amateur photographer Rachel Morris that we are bringing you over the coming weeks.

* Church Street.

* Church Shed.

* Church Street.