AM's concerns over "longer" Welsh NHS waiting times

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood is concerned that patients in Wales are facing much longer waiting times in Accident and Emergency (A&E) than their counterparts across the border in England.

 

Latest figures for NHS England show that the A&E target was met over the busy Christmas and New Year period - with more than 95 per cent patients seen within four hours – and that 94.3% of patients were seen within four hours during the first week of 2014, only marginally below the 95% target.

 

In contrast, the latest available figures for devolved NHS Wales  (November 2013) revealed that just 89.6% of patients spent less than 4 hours in A&E.  

 

The last time NHS Wales met anything like NHS England’s performance was five years ago in August  2009, when  94.5% of patients were seen with the four hours target period.

 

Mr Isherwood said: “The people of Wales deserve better and the health of Wales demands better. England is producing these figures weekly, yet they are not available in Wales. Only proper transparency and accountability will raise public awareness and drive the change required, but the Labour Health Minister says instead that he will review his NHS targets. Given the worsening crisis in the Welsh NHS he must be afraid of public scrutiny.”

 

Figures published earlier this month also revealed that the number of people waiting longer than the Welsh Government’s nine month target for hospital treatment in Wales has reached its highest level in two years, with 13,269 people waiting longer than the target at the end of November - an increase of about 1,000 on the previous month and nearly 8,000 since March 2013.

 

The Welsh Labour Government has a target that no one should wait for longer than 9 months to access the treatment they need.

Work starts at Climedw site

* Earth-moving equipment moves on to the Climedw site.

Work started yesterday on a new factory for the Dobson & Crowther printing company at Climedw off the A5.

When building work is completed the printworks will move across the there, leaving the firm's present site to be developed with a new Sainsbury's supermarket.

A start on the Climedw aspect of the plan was welcomed by local county councillor Stuart Davies who said: "With over 200 jobs either being created or secured, it was what I saw when the project came before the planning committee.

"This development also opens up the rest of Cilmedw for more job creating facilities."

It is understood that an official turf-cutting ceremony could be held at Climedw later this month.

Police launch clampdown on serious crime

This month, North Wales Police are launching Operation Scorpion which will focus on tackling serious and organised crime in our communities.

 

DCS Wayne Jones, Head of Crime Services said: “Operation Scorpion will manage all types of serious and organised criminality including cross-border crime, armed robbery, criminal use of firearms, kidnapping or human trafficking as well as drug production, importation and supply.

 

"North Wales Police already has a well-established response to tackle this level of criminality. We have an excellent record of success in recent years seizing drugs, criminals assets and convictions, with substantial sentences handed out to criminals who took part in organised crime. North Wales Police will pursue organised criminal groups operating here relentlessly.

 

"One of the Operation’s aims is to keep the people of north Wales aware of the progress being made to tackle organised crime where they live, work and visit. It is intended to be a two way communication process and part of the launch is focused on encouraging the public to provide North Wales Police with information and to share their concerns about individuals or criminal groups."

 

He added: "We have an excellent record of working with our communities and very often that vital piece of information which helps us convict the criminals comes from the community. Those who are involved in serious and organised crime seldom do so quietly, they very often live well beyond their obvious means, drive expensive cars, live in large houses and are often out of the country. These are some of the clues that someone may be living on the proceeds of crime.

 

"If you know someone who fits this picture then we encourage you to contact Police 101 or Crimestoppers 0800 555 111 to support Operation Scorpion. Together we can tackle organised crime and ensure that north Wales remains one of the safest places in which to live."

 

Police looking for new officers

Have you ever thought about a police career but are unsure about how you would fit in?

 

If so, come along to North Wales Police Headquarters in Colwyn Bay on Wednesday, January 21, between 3 and 8 pm, when you can chat informally to people already doing the job.

 

Chief Constable Mark Polin said: “North Wales Police is made up of a diverse range of people who come from all walks of life and backgrounds. It is recognised that for policing to be as effective and as impactive as possible, our work force has to properly reflect the communities they serve. Our aim is to have a workforce representative of our local communities and we particularly welcome applicants from underrepresented groups.”   

 

North Wales Police continues to recruit into Police Officer and Police Community Support roles and places will be available over the next  three years.    

 

The force also offers opportunities for those who would like to give a valuable contribution to their local communities by becoming a special constable or by offering their free time to support the local and specialist policing teams by volunteering.

 

If you are interested in a potential future career in the Police Service or volunteering, but are concerned about how you will fit into working life with North Wales Police you are likely to find this event informative and supportive in helping you to make potential career decisions.

 

Further information regarding the roles of Police Constable, Police Community Support Officer, Special Constable and Police Volunteers is available via this link

County orders Welsh language audit

The county council has commissioned an audit on the Welsh Language situation in Denbighshire communities and wants to hear ideas from people on how the language can be enhanced and promoted over the coming years.
    

The council has commissioned Sbectrwm to undertake the review and to consult with key individuals, organisations and institutions.

    

Three meetings, arranged in conjunction with Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, will be held on the following dates:

   

21 January 2014 - Corwen Sports Pavilion (7.00 p.m)
- Sports Pavilion (7.00 p.m)

22 January 2014 - Scala Arts Centre, Prestatyn (7.00 p.m)

- Scala Arts Centre, (7.00 p.m)

23 January 2014 - Denbigh Town Hall (7.00 p.m)

- Town Hall (7.00 p.m)
- Sports Pavilion (7.00 p.m)
   
Hywyn Williams, Corporate Director - Communities, Denbighshire County Council, said: "The Council commissioned the audit for a number of reasons. The Welsh language is a subject of debate nationally and the proposed Welsh Language Standards are expected to come into effect in around a year's time.

"There has been a decline in the number of Welsh speakers in the county, which reflects the national position and we are keen to see an increase by the next census. The Council was also very eager to build on the interest in the Welsh language and culture following the tremendous success of the National Eisteddfod held in our county this year."
    

Cefin Campbell from Sbectrwm, said: "The main purpose of the meetings will be to consider the current state of the Welsh language in Denbighshire and invite ideas on how to revitalise the language in future. The intention is to look at many different sectors, for example – education, children and young people, Welsh learners, sports and leisure, business, planning, community activities and the use of Welsh in the workplace."

    

John Glyn Jones, Chairman of Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych, said: "This is an open meeting for all those interested in the future of the language. Non-Welsh speakers are particularly welcome as there will be simultaneous translation facilities available on the evening to allow everyone to participate fully in the discussions.

   

"I hope that you will be able to attend one of the above meetings as your contribution to discussions on the language and how we can further promote the Welsh language in our community would be greatly appreciated."

    

For more information, call Sbectrwm on 01558 668663 or Menter Iaith Sir Ddinbych on 01745 812822. Or by e.mail to cefin@sbectrwm.com| or ruth@menterdinbych.org|

Skates calls for help to set up foodbank

* Ken  Skates with volunteers at a recent collection at
Tesco in Cefn Mawr.

ASSEMBLY Member Ken Skates is calling for community groups to help him set up a foodbank in his Clwyd South constituency.

Mr Skates is keen for more of the volunteer-run projects to open across Wrexham and Denbighshire in conjunction with national charity the Trussell Trust.

He said: “Every day people in Clwyd South and across Wales are going hungry. Trussell Trust foodbanks provide three-day emergency supply parcels with nutritionally balanced food, but they can only continue to do so with the support of the public and community groups.

“Rising costs of food, fuel and energy drinks combined with static income, high unemployment and changes to benefits are causing more and more people to go to foodbanks for help.

“The Trussell Trust forms partnerships with churches and community groups to open new foodbanks and currently has almost 400 in operation nationwide, including centres in Oswestry, Rhosddu, Mold and Denbigh. Their goal is for every town to have one, and I feel strongly that we need a foodbank in the heart of Clwyd South.”

Mr Skates added: “Sadly, schemes like this are becoming more widespread, but some 13 million people are currently living below the poverty line in the UK and food poverty is rising under the Tory-led Westminster Government.

“I have long been a supporter of the amazing work the Trussell Trust does and the fantastic work the volunteers do, and would love to see a centre up and running in my constituency.

“If anyone would like to discuss the possibility of setting one up in Clwyd South I would urge them to contact me by emailing Ken.Skates@Wales.gov.uk or by calling my office on 01978 869058, and we can take it from there.”

For more information visit www.trusselltrust.org/foodbank-projects.

700 join Plas Madoc demonstration

The BBC news website is reporting this evening that 700 people joined a demonstration outside the Plas Madoc leisure centre protesting against plans to close it and the Waterworld centre in Wrexham.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-25696072