Health alliance speaks out over ambulance queues

Following the news that ambulances were queuing a claimed 16 deep at Wrexham Maelor Hospital on Monday the North Wales Health Alliance have issued a statement.

Mabon ap Gwynfor of the alliance said: “The closure of four community hospitals at Flint, Llangollen, Blaenau Ffestiniog and Prestatyn, has meant losing more than 50 community beds, which has placed further unnecessary pressure on our district general hospitals.

"The Health Board will always say that they were experiencing particularly difficult circumstances.

"It’s winter, these circumstances come around every year. We have an aging population and serious GP recruitment issues as well as specialist doctors.

"These facts are well established and the senior managers of our Health Service should be prepared for these eventualities.

"It’s not rocket science to plan for winter and the ongoing pressures on hospital beds. One way of starting to deal with these issues would be to re-open our community hospital beds as part of their new phase of community health centres.”

KLS responds to Sainsbury's agreement plea

Martin Crumpton, chair of Keep Llangollen Special (KLS) responds to the recent plea by local county councillor Stuart Davies for opponents to "put their prejudices aside" when it comes to the planned new Sainsbury's store:

 

Having read your recent article, http://llanblogger.blogspot.co.uk/2014/12/councillor-calls-for-agreement-over-new.html, it’s time to set the record straight by taking the opportunity to respond.

 

Using pejorative words like ‘prejudice’ in this case is, of course, misleading as it implies irrational opposition to something. In five years of research, there has never been a single recorded instance of an edge-of-town large-format supermarket bringing anything but unemployment, and the prospect of 130 jobs is as likely to happen as the commitment to saving 110 jobs at Dobson & Crowther turned out to be.

 

The councillor seems oblivious to the changing pattern of supermarket shopping, being rejected wholesale by more and more shoppers. The likelihood of so many even part-time, low-wage jobs being created for local people is no more viable than, say, a footbridge across the River Dee, which he and Ken Skates AM once claimed Betsi Cadwaladr was applying for EU funding to build – but they’re not.

 

We naturally wish Dobson & Crowther, supported by Welsh Government money, well and we will also focus and redouble our efforts to help Llangollen’s many small employers provide decent jobs for local people and help keep the local economy from being swallowed-up by huge corporations.

 

We can’t expect everyone to have a solid grasp of economics, to be fair, nor current affairs and prevailing business conditions, but KLS will continue to fight for the heart and soul of our beautiful town, and in that spirit we’d like to take the opportunity to offer Cllr Davies our most special Christmas wishes.

Chair ΞKeep Llangollen SpecialΞ

Plas Madoc to re-open on Saturday

Plas Madoc Leisure Centre is a hive of activity this week as volunteers finalise their preparations for this weekend’s big reopening.

The centre in Acrefair will officially open its doors again as Splash Magic at 11am on Saturday, less than eight months after Wrexham Council closed the popular facility to cut costs.

Trust director Greg Ogden said: “The final bits of cleaning are being done, the lease has been signed – everything’s coming together. Christmas trees and decorations are going up and there’s definitely a feeling of festive spirit in the air.”

Greg, who lives in Trevor, said the centre’s new furry mascot – Splash the Magic Dragon – has also been collected and will be among the crowds on Saturday.

Trust chairman Darrell Wright said: “We’ve had the keys for a few weeks now and we’ve been getting the centre back into shape. There was a lot of work needed because of the closure, but the Coleg Cambria students have been a huge help.

“There’s been a lot of blood, sweat and tears gone into this over the past few months, so we need people to support us by using Splash Magic from the minute it reopens on Saturday.”

Darrell and secretary Stella Matthews signed the lease for the Trust to officially take over on Monday, and the new centre manager Claire Duffy took over the reins last Thursday.

Wrexham Community Choir will be performing on Saturday, and supporters of all ages are encouraged to go along before 11am and join the celebrations.

Greg added: “The Trust has started taking bookings for the sports hall and other facilities, and on Saturday there will be a series of free taster sessions and activities taking place – and the pool will be open straight away.”

Splash the Magic Dragon was designed by eight-year-old Mia Harper-Jones, of Garth Primary School, after a competition open to all junior schools in the area.

* For information on membership fees and class prices for Splash Magic, and how to get involved in volunteering at the centre, visit splashmagic.co.uk.

Llan man highlights hospital's problems

A Llangollen man has highlighted the serious problems currently being faced by Wrexham Maelor Hospital due to increased demand on its services.

In an email to hospital chiefs, Martin Crumpton, who has previously campaigned to keep open the town’s cottage hospital, said of his own experiences yesterday (Monday): “Today at A&E at Wrexham Maelor at 13:25, en route to a routine outpatients appointment, me and an ambulance crewman counted 12 ambulances and two ambulance cars queued – a new record he believed.

“Returning home, and at 14:45 we counted 15 ambulances and one ambulance car. The crew member had been asked to do three hours overtime this evening to help get patients sent home early as the hospital was desperate to find beds.

“This unacceptable. Please put patients first and reopen Llangollen and other cottage hospitals immediately. You must already know the temporary extra 30 beds at the Maelor won’t be enough, so do the right thing.”

Mr Crumpton received a reply from Professor Matt Makin (pictured), medical director of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which says: “It was a very difficult day today at the Maelor.

 

“I spent today in the Emergency Department and on the wards and our staff are working very hard to keep patients safe in exceptional circumstances.

“We have opened new beds today (Monday) and are taking a number of steps to ensure patients get the right treatment, do not have unnecessarily prolonged stays in hospital, and are supported on discharge.

 “I must pay tribute to the doctors, nurses and paramedics who I saw giving 100% today. I agree it is extremely worrying to see ambulances delayed outside hospital and I assure you I take this very seriously.”

Superbug rate rises at Maelor

A report on the BBC website this morning (Monday) says infection rates for the c.diff superbug have risen at Wrexham Maelor Hospital.

For the full story see: http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-30272689

Police launch Christmas drink drive campaign

In the 50^th anniversary year of the first anti-drink driving campaign, North Wales Police are today (Monday, December 1) launching their annual winter campaign against motorists driving under the influence of drink or drugs.

Led by Dyfed-Powys Police, the All Wales Winter Anti Drink and Drug Driving Campaign will run from Monday December 1 2014 to January 1 2015. Over the next four weeks, thousands of motorists face being stopped as teams from the four forces - Dyfed Powys, North Wales, South Wales and Gwent - conduct road checks at various locations and times across the country.

Last year’s December campaign resulted in 18,159 breath tests being carried out in North Wales, with 107 being positive. Some of the highest readings recorded during the campaign in North Wales were 133, 129 and 124 – the legal limit is 35 micrograms of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath.

This year police forces around the country will once again be focusing on driving under the influence of drink or drugs, with enforcement activity in every part of the country, along with local advertising campaigns, social media, and, in some forces, the naming and shaming of drivers whom the CPS have decided to charge.

Chief Inspector Darren Wareing from the Force’ Roads Policing Unit said: “If you drink and drive this Christmas you significantly increase the risk of killing an innocent person, or yourself or both. It is really that simple.

“Our officers do not want to be the unwelcome guest at Christmas. They don’t want to knock on anybody’s door to tell the bad news about a loved one who has been killed or injured by an intoxicated driver. They do not want to be the people who have to inform your family that you have been arrested for driving under the influence and have caused harm to yourself or others.

“There is an easy way to make sure that the holiday period is a safe and happy one for all concerned; enjoy yourself, celebrate, enjoy the company of family and friends, but if you drink – do not drive. It’s not worth the risk.

“Officers are on heightened alert all year round but especially at this time of year – they will spot you, they will catch you and you will face the consequences. Drivers need to be aware that regardless of the time of day they are caught, whether they are going to work or taking children to school, they will face the same penalties as someone who has chosen to drink heavily in a pub and driven at night.”

He added: “If you suspect someone is driving while unfit to do so, please report it immediately to your local police on 101 (or 999 if they are posing imminent danger) or phone it through anonymously to Crimestopers on 0800 555 111.”

Susan Storch, Chair of Road Safety Wales said: “Unfortunately too many drivers are still prepared to risk driving under the influence of drink or drugs.  No-one should be in any doubt that alcohol, in any amount, will have a detrimental effect on driving ability.  Road Safety Wales partners are committed to educating people about the consequences of impairment, and fully support the Police during this seasonal campaign, and throughout the year.”

Drink drive facts

• During the 2013 winter campaign over 460 drivers in Wales were caught over the drink drive limit after 35,255 tests were carried out.
• If you have information relating to someone you think is driving whilst under the influence of alcohol or drugs, please contact North Wales Police on 101 or via Crimestoppers anonymously on 0800 555 111. In an emergency always dial 999.

Councillor calls for agreement over new Sainsbury's store

Llangollen county councillor Stuart Davies has urged people in the town to “put their prejudices aside” to welcome the new Sainsbury’s supermarket.

His call for a halt to the long-running dispute over whether the new store should open came as he spoke of the switch of the Dobson & Crowther printworks to its new site at Climedw almost being complete.

The transfer of the business to a new factory will allow Sainsbury’s to be developed on Dobson & Crowther’s  nearby existing site off the A5.  

Cllr Davies said: “I am aware that the move is almost complete.

“There is a talk about people being taken back on and I applaud the company and wish it well in its new factory. I was elected on saving existing jobs and providing opportunities for new jobs for Llangollen.”

He added: “I look forward to the building of the new supermarket with its provision of more jobs for Llangollen, 130 is not a number to be sneezed at!

“I have met with the planners and a representative from the developers to discuss several detail points as agreed by the planning committee when the planning application was granted.

“I look forward to the finish of this project and the provision of over 130 jobs in our community. These jobs are important to the vast majority of Llangollen people as indicated by them when I was elected on a `jobs for Llangollen’ manifesto.

“I urge the community to join together, for some to put their prejudices to one side, and welcome these job opportunities for the people of Llangollen.

“I look forward to the opening of the new store and wish D&C the best for the future.”