Plas Madoc could face demolition

The BBC is reporting on its North East Wales news website this evening (Wednesday) that Wrexham's two main leisure centres, including Plas Madoc, could face demolition after councillors voted this afternoon to consider replacing them with a £12m complex near the town centre.

A council's scrutiny committee recommended closure after a report said maintaining them would cost £2m.

See the full story at: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-north-east-wales-25298232

Plaid AM hits out over hospital downgrade plan

A Plaid Cymru politician has responded to revelations earlier today that the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is considering downgrading A&E facilities at one of the three general hospitals it runs in North Wales, which includes Wrexham Maelor.

 

Llyr Gruffydd said: “Talk of removing services from one  of the three A&E departments in North Wales will cause great concern in the community.

 

"Every month, more than 15,000 people attend A&E in Bangor, Bodelwyddan or Wrexham (https://statswales.wales.gov.uk/Catalogue/Health-and-Social-Care/NHS-Hospital-Waiting-Times/Accident-and-Emergency/PerformanceAgainst4HourWaitingTimesTarget-by-MajorHospital)  - to expect people to travel 30 miles or more to the next nearest one is dangerous and unreasonable.

 

“A study by Hallam University found that for every 10km additionally travelled there was an additional 1% mortality among patients with potentially life-threatening conditions (http://www.zen142533.zen.co.uk/SWATcontd/traumacentre_documents/Distance%20and%20Mortality%20in%20emerg%20EMJ2007.pdf).

 

Put simply, centralisation kills and for North Wales it will mean more people dying unnecessarily if they have to travel to another hospital.

 

 “In 2010-11 there was an emergency care review that took account of the region’s rural nature and decided three sites were sufficient. What has changed?

 

"We seem to be on a never-ending process of centralising services without being told what the end game is. Does the Labour government driving through these changes want to see one super-hospital in the north? Or do they want to transfer yet more health services to the Wirral?

 

“We’ve already seen too many health services from the north being moved across the border – is A&E the latest that will go? I will be seeking assurances from both the Health Minister and the health board that this is not the case. Plaid Cymru wants to improve our health service in North Wales and maintain specialist services rather than see it further downgraded.”

 

The North Wales Health Alliance first raised concerns about the possible removal of one A&E department in the north after it was openly discussed at a stakeholder meeting in July 2013.

 

Mabon ap Gwynfor, speaking on behalf of the NWHA, said: “Back in July we were horrified to hear plans being openly discussed to remove one of the three A&E departments.

 

"There was open talk about the possibility of Wrexham closing and patients travelling to the Wirral for A&E care. The health board publicly denied it was on the agenda but just six months later we find the health minister talking about the same removal of service.

 

“Behind closed doors, there  appears to be a master plan to centralise and reduce health services in the north because we’re an inconveniently rural region.

 

 “We’ve seen small community hospitals closed, additional pressure piled on the district general hospitals until they are at breaking point in terms of ambulances queuing up to discharge patients and now there is talk of downgrading them as well. 

 

 “We challenge Betsi Cadwaladr to come clean about their ultimate goal. Do they want just one big super hospital? Do they have a vision for improving our NHS? We would also question what Mark Drakeford’s ambition is for our health services - how much further does he expect us to travel to get treated?”

Operatic's Christmas Cracker goes with a bang

Llangollen Operatic Society’s Christmas Cracker event went with a real seasonal bang at the Town Hall last night (Tuesday).

Along with the complementary mince pies, a packed audience enjoyed every tasty morsel of festive entertainment which was served up, ranging from traditional carols and songs to a clever little playlet with a strong Christmas theme.

First to take the stage were members of the society’s talented travelling troupe who performed a couple of perfectly executed and joyous seasonal numbers.

Next on stage came Chrissie Ashworth with a neat slice of Scouse-flavoured fun in the shape of a passage about a school nativity play that goes hilariously wrong.

Then it was the turn of Helen Belton and Louisa Jones to harmonise over two exceptionally beautiful seasonal songs. 

They were followed by a group of youngsters from the society’s junior stage section, the Young ‘Uns, who presented a selection of Christmassy songs.

A clever reading on the theme of a young person's experience of Christmas was delightfully performed by Carys Stallard.

And a  couple of neat monologues, based on scenarios before and after Christmas, were skilfully delivered by Sue Price and Jeanette Robinson.

The first half of the show was brought neatly to an end by a tuneful trio headed by Chris Simms and including singer Beccy Evans who offered somne up-tempo versions of seasonal standards such as Jingle Bells.

A novel touch came in the second half when some of the society’s best-known performers, augmented by a few relative newcomers, put on a 20-minute play in which a couple of families warring over who has the best Christmas displays in their front gardens finally make peace over a big bowl of punch and some timely carols.

Chris Simms was back at the keyboard to lead a willing audience in yet another selection of carols and a rousing rendition of The Twelve Days of Christmas.

All in all the evening provided the perfect start to the festive season.   

AM dons high heels to highlight violence against women

 

* Mark Isherwood AM wears high heels to highlight the Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event.

 

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood donned a pair of high heels today to help raise awareness of Welsh Women’s Aid’s ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’ event.

 

'Walk a Mile in Her Shoes' is an internationally recognised campaign that asks men the world over to take the challenge of walking one mile in high heeled shoes to help raise awareness of violence against women.

 

There is a wide range of men taking part this year, including a rugby team!

 

Mr Isherwood said: “By wearing the high heels today I think I proved that I am prepared to do anything to help a good cause! I was only in the heels for a very short time and found it difficult to walk in them, so I commend all those men who will be walking a mile, and Women’s Aid for coming up with such a fun way to get the community to talk about something that is often very difficult to discuss: gender relations and sexual  violence.”

 

For more information about the ‘Walk a Mile in Her Shoes’, log on to walkamileinhershoes.org

Denbighshire school meals now officially best in UK

Denbighshire's School Meals service is the best in the UK - and that's official.

The service was chosen as Best Performer in the Education Catering category at the Association of Public Services Excellence (APSE) Awards held in Blackpool last Thursday.

Services from across the UK submitted Data and APSE then short-listed down to Bolton, Cheshire West, Clackmannanshire, East Renfrewshire, Hartlepool and Manchester City Councils before Denbighshire were proclaimed the winners.

Councillor David Smith, Cabinet Lead Member for Environment, said: "We take great pride in our school meals service as it consistently performs well in terms of the healthy, nutritious and balanced meals it offers to our children and young people.

"School meals take up is on the increase, as we have devised menus that are attractive to pupils, as well as giving parents peace of mind that their children are given plenty of choice of meals in schools.

"I would like to congratulate the whole team, from the management to all the catering staff in our schools on winning this prestigious industry award. This really shows the commitment and dedication to improving the service is paying dividends."

County appoints new social services boss

Denbighshire County Council has appointed Nicola Stubbins as its new Director of Social Services.
   
Nicola is currently Head of Service - Adult Safeguarding and Well-being for Blackpool Council and has experience in both adult and children's services.

She will replace Sally Ellis who is retiring from her role as Corporate Director and Statutory Director for Social Services.
   
Councillor Bobby Feeley, Cabinet Lead Member for Health and Well-being and who is also the Older Person's Champion, said: "We are delighted that an officer of Nicola's calibre will be joining us here in Denbighshire. She has a wealth of experience in the social services field and is well placed to continue the tremendous work carried out by Sally and the team over the years.
   
"We would like to formally welcome Nicola to Denbighshire and to thank Sally for her clear commitment, dedication and leadership in our efforts to protect vulnerable people in the county."
   
Nicola said: "I am truly and honestly thrilled to be joining Denbighshire County Council. The post of Director of Social Services is a great responsibility but this is also an exciting opportunity to be part of a successful team".

Lessons must be learned from health board's failings, says AMs report

Health authorities across Wales must learn lessons from failings at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, assembly members have warned.

Some senior managers at the board, the biggest in Wales, have already stepped down after an earlier  critical report.

In its latest report, which has just been published, the powerful assembly's public accounts committee says the new leadership now faces a "huge task".

* The Party of Wales AM Llyr Gruffydd, who represents North Wales, said: “This damning report highlights serious concerns over the breakdown of the relationship between the Health Board, its staff and the Welsh Government. In particular, there was a failure to properly hold Health Board leaders to account.

 

“The committee concluded that, had the Welsh Government properly monitored the Health Board, then problems could have been identified earlier. The laissez faire attitude of the Welsh Government towards our health service is unacceptable, and this report demonstrates that patients have suffered as a result.”

* See the full story on the BBC North East Wales website at:
http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25305585