Isherwood calls for action on prostate cancer

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood (pictured) has called on the Welsh Government to ensure that health boards in Wales act on its updated guideline that men with suspected prostate cancer should be offered a Multiparametric MRI scan before biopsy.

His call follows the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) having published its updated guidelines for prostate cancer diagnosis and management, 

Mr Isherwood, who has made repeated calls for pre and post-biopsy Multiparametric MRI scans to be made available to suspected prostate cancer patients, has welcomed the announcement.

However, speaking in the Chamber, he said it now up to the Welsh Government to ensure that health boards amend their pathways accordingly.

Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on the matter during the Business Statement, he said:

“Twelve days ago, the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence, or NICE, updated their guidelines for prostate cancer diagnosis and management in England and Wales, recommending, amongst other things, that active surveillance should be offered as a primary option for men with low-risk localised prostate cancer. 

"And the changes in the updated guidelines included the statement that men should be offered multiparametric magnetic resonance imaging, or mpMRI scans, before biopsy if they're suspected to have localised prostate cancer.

“Prostate Cancer UK stated ‘this breakthrough diagnostic technique should now be made available in all parts of Wales in the near future, ending the current variation in access that has resulted in some men paying privately for scans’. 

"In March last year, NHS England announced that it was launching a one-stop service using MRI techniques for timely diagnosis in England. Last December, NICE issued new draft guidance recommending pre-biopsy mpMRI for suspected Prostate Cancer.

“In January, the Welsh Government Minister for Health and Social Services (Vaughan Gething AM) wrote to Assembly Members stating that he'd asked all Health Boards to work with the Welsh Urology Board to ensure they have full implementation plans. In the same letter, he said that ‘Health Boards have confirmed that, at present, they deliver care in line with current NICE Guidance’. 

"However, when I had a meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr (Health Board) last December with a patient, they formally apologised for not having delivered care in accordance with NICE guidance for post-biopsy mpMRI and confirmed that they would be recompensing the men who had paid accordingly."

He added: "As Prostate Cancer UK states, ‘mpMRI revolutionizes Prostate Cancer diagnosis’. The Welsh Government should therefore respond to their calls and those of others, including Tenovus Cancer Care, for the Welsh Government to ensure that mpMRI is now available across Wales. 

"Although Mr Gething told the Assembly in March that when NICE recommends pre-biopsy mpMRI, he will expect all Health Boards in Wales to amend their pathways accordingly, he must therefore now go further and ensure that they do. I call for a Statement accordingly on a matter that has occupied much time in this Chamber and generated a number of issues.”

Responding the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, said: “Of course, patients should have access to investigations for cancer in line with national guidance, and this should be delivered consistently across Wales. 

"Mark Isherwood outlined that the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence published updated guidance on the diagnosis and treatment of prostate cancer on 9 May. Health Boards that do not currently provide care in line with this guidance are due to submit their implementation plans to the Welsh Government by 3 June, and then the Welsh Government will be meeting with Health Boards on 19 June to review these plans, and implementation timescales will depend on the content of those plans.”

Nominations open for county's sport awards

* Previous sport award winners.

Nominations are open for the Denbighshire Community Sport  Awards 2019.

Over the last seven years Denbighshire has recognised over 80 individuals, teams, schools and clubs for their dedication to local community grass root sport in the county. 

There are also elite level athletes representing Wales and Team GB in their chosen sport from the local area, which will continue to be rewarded.

All of the award finalists in the 2019 sport awards will be forwarded to the Sport Wales and BBC Wales sport personality awards held nationally in Cardiff, where Denbighshire will be looking to add to the success of 8 finalists and 6 national winners over the last few years.

Nominees must reside in Denbighshire, or be affiliated to a Denbighshire club relevant to their nomination and achieved their success in the last 12 months up to the application closing date which is Thursday 1^st August 2019.

This year’s categories include sports performer, junior sports performer, coach of the year, team of the year, volunteer of the year, disability sport award, young inspiration award, lifetime achievement award and the ‘Sport in School’ award.

Nominations can be made on-line: www.denbighshire.gov.uk/sportsawards

Jamie Groves, Head of Facilities, Assets and Housing said: “The Denbighshire community sport awards has helped recognise and share some amazing stories over the last few years.

“This proves to us that the quality of sport in Denbighshire is very high and that there are plenty of opportunities for people to return to playing sport or to try a new sport as a beginner.

“As a service through our partnership with Alliance Leisure we have continued to invest in our leisure facilities, offering residents a high quality service, and an environment for them to thrive.

Denbighshire Leisure services are also looking for organisations that would like to link their brand to the Community Sport awards as a category sponsor and a ‘sponsorship package’ can be sent for more information.

* For more information on the awards please visit www.denbighshire.gov.uk/sportsawards or contact Sian Bennett, Health and Wellbeing Manager, sian.bennett@denbighshire.gov.uk 01824 712710

Brexit Party tops Denbighshire Euro poll

The Brexit Party has topped the poll in the Euro elections in Denbighshire.

See the results at:

https://www.facebook.com/100000240903810/posts/2929977427020259/

The Brexit Party was also top in the poll in Wrexham county.

Denbighshire, Wales

• The Brexit Party
  Share %

  34.0(+34.0)
• Plaid Cymru
  Share %

  18.2(+2.0)
• Labour
  Share %

  13.6(-9.4)
• Liberal Democrats
  Share %

  12.4(+9.6)
• Conservative
  Share %

  9.5(-15.1)
• Green
  Share %

  6.1(+2.7)
• UKIP
  Share %

  3.6(-23.5)
• Change UK
  Share %

  2.6(+2.6)

Change compared with 2014

Special event launches eisteddfod fundraising campaign

* Karamba Samba drumming band in action on the square.

* Guitar vocalist Tim Lennon performs a number. 

A red-hot samba band helped pull in the bank holiday weekend crowds when the International Eisteddfod launched its new fundraising campaign with a fun event on Centenary Square this afternoon (Saturday).

#YourLlangollen aims to raise awareness of the eisteddfod’s charity status and how crucial donations are to maintain this unique festival for future generations.

Visitors enjoyed a programme of free entertainment from a variety of performers such as the high-energy Chester-based Karamba Samba drumming troop and mellow guitar vocalist Tim Lennon. 

They were also able to purchase raffle tickets to win exclusive prizes kindly donated from local business such as glamping, spa and dining experiences will support the event’s aim to raise funds for the Eisteddfod.

The event continues until 4pm today. 

Eisteddfod chairman Dr Rhys Davies said “We welcome the world to Wales every year and we know the entire Llangollen community is proud of our International Eisteddfod. 

"As with all charities, we rely heavily on charitable donations and are launching the #YourLlangollen fundraising campaign to raise important funds whilst also highlighting our amazing 2019 festival line-up."

People unable to attend the #YourLlangollen event can still show their support by donating:

Text YourLlangollen5 to 70085 to donate £5

Text YourLlangollen10 to 70085 to donate £10 

Texts will cost the chosen donation amount plus one standard network rate message. This charge will be taken from your Pay as you Go credit or added to your monthly mobile bill.

* Tickets for this year’s festival can be purchased online at www.llangollen.net or via the box office on 01978 862001.

Event in aid of Nightingale House Hospice

Shape My Llangollen stages another successful public event

* Shape My Llangollen volunteers busy during the 

public consultation exercise outside Home Bargains yesterday.

The latest in a series of public consultation exercises by the team of volunteers putting together Llangollen’s contribution to the county council’s next Local Development Plan was a big success.

Shape My Llangollen (SML) was formed last year at the behest of the Town Council to produce a 'place plan' for Llangollen.

The idea is that this plan, when approved and endorsed by the Town Council, will feed into the new emerging Local Development Plan being produced by Denbighshire County Council.

The plan will cover topics such as the natural environment, built environment, economy, and community and is a genuine opportunity for some grassroots democracy.

SML is therefore engaged upon a far-ranging consultation exercise contacting groups and individuals to seek their views on any issues which affect or concern them so that they can have an input into the plan.

Over the summer the team is hosting a series of consultation events to introduce themselves to the public and to get their views.

The first of these was held on May 7 at Llangollen Health Centre when throughout the day team members spoke to scores of people to gain their feedback.

The second successful session was held outside the Co-op store in Regent Street on May 13 when, again, SML gained lots of useful feedback from shoppers.

The third question-and-answer session was held outside the Home Bargains store, next to Aldi, yesterday, from 10am-1pm and 2-5pm.

During the course of the day the volunteers recorded answers to questions about what they love or dislike about the town from more 130 people, both young and not-so-young.

SML chair Phil Robinson said: "It was out busiest consultation session yet and we got some fantastic answers from the people who were kind enough to spare us a few minutes of their time.

"This feedback will be invaluable in preparing out final report by the autumn. 

"This was really an example of the people of this town having their say on some vital issues and I'd like to thank everyone who contributed." 

And for those people who haven’t been able to attend the week-day sessions SML will be holding a major meet-the-public event in Centenary Square on Saturday June 1, starting at 10am and continuing until at least lunchtime or possibly longer.

“I’d urge as many people as possible to come along and speak to our team members during the Centenary Square session because it's great to hear people having their say,” added Phil Robinson.

The questions SML is asking are:

1. What makes you happy about Llangollen?

2. What makes you sad about Llangollen?

3. What makes you mad about Llangollen?

4. How would you make Llangollen better?

5. How would you spend £10,000 for Llangollen’s future?

People unable to make it to SML’s meet-the-public sessions can fill in one of the question sheets which are available in the Town Hall office.

They can also jot down the answers in a reply to the posting about the health centre session on the Shape My Llangollen Facebook page.

AM questions prosecution of armed forces veterans

North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood called for a statement on the Welsh Government’s approach to justice for armed forces veterans who face prosecution and on its engagement, if any, with the UK Government over this.

Mr Isherwood raised the matter in the Business Statement after being asked to do so by Veterans from Flintshire to Anglesey, but was left disappointed by the Minister’s reply.

Speaking in the Chamber, he said: “This weekend, hundreds of protesters marched through Cardiff in support of veterans being prosecuted for historic offences in Northern Ireland, coinciding with protests by veterans across the UK. 

"In 2014, it was discovered that Mr Blair's Government had done a secret deal as part of the Good Friday negotiations, in which letters were sent to known IRA members involved in terrorism, assuring them they would not face prosecution in the future.

“Last week, the Defence Secretary, Penny Mordaunt, announced plans for legislation to provide stronger protection from repeated investigations into historical allegations for veterans of Iraq and Afghanistan, but she also said, although this wouldn't apply to (those who served in) Northern Ireland, she intended to find a way they could be afforded similar protection, and dealing with the treatment of Northern Ireland veterans was a ‘personal priority’ for her.

“Has the Welsh Government taken a position on this, will it do so, given the protests in Cardiff and the impact on many people living in Wales, and what dialogue has it had, if any, with the UK Government?" 

Responding the Minister for Finance and Trefnydd, Rebecca Evans AM, said: “The issue relating to armed forces veterans is not an issue that is devolved to the Welsh Government, so I suggest that the Member takes it up with the relevant UK Government Minister.”

Speaking outside the Chamber, Mr Isherwood said: “Armed Forces Veterans from Flintshire to Anglesey asked me to raise this in the Assembly. They will find the Welsh Government response more than disappointing.”