Health centre gives details of its next wave of vaccinations

Llangollen Health Centre is just given details on its Facebook page of the next phase of its Covid-19 vaccination programme. 

Their post says: "We hope to have news very soon of when we can start to vaccinate the next two priority groups.  These are patients aged 70 - 79 years and those who are on the official shielding list.  So that we can book patients into clinics quickly when we receive the vaccines for these groups we need to ensure that we have up to date mobile phone numbers where possible.

"If you fall into one of these groups please email your mobile number to us at Llangollen.Admin@wales.nhs.uk You will receive an automatic reply which you can ignore.  Our admin staff will then update your record where applicable and, when we receive the vaccines, we will text you regarding your appointment.

£25m boost for health services IT announced

An extra £25m investment will help the NHS to continue the move to more digital services, Health and Social Services Minister Vaughan Gething said today.

The funding boost is part of the draft Budget 2021-22 and is supporting the response to the coronavirus pandemic, including contact tracing and the vaccination programme, as well as the rollout of new video consultations and remote working in the NHS. 

The extra £25m is intended to speed-up the use of digital ways of working and help the NHS and social services adopt new technologies to improve services. 

It also aims to support the transformation of digital systems in hospitals, the ambulance service and social care sector and enable continued targeted funding for vital services, such as intensive care, cancer, and eye care.

Vaughan Gething said: “Stepping up our digital investment at this pace and scale alongside our response to the pandemic and other pressures has been a challenge but it is a priority.

“The additional funding announced today will help us to invest in mobile devices, remote working and video consultation, and accelerate other strategic transformation projects.”

Remote working and video consultation technology have enabled NHS services to continue throughout the pandemic, reducing the need for face-to-face contact.

One service, which has benefited from this new way of working has been children’s speech therapy. Using online video consultations, healthcare professionals have been able to deliver services from home.

The Welsh Government says it will be working closely with digital leaders across NHS Wales to identify existing programmes that can be accelerated thanks to these additional funds.

The extra funding will help to deliver a £175m investment in strategic digital transformation between September 2019 and March 2022.

Prospect Garden Tea Room closes partly because of lockdown

One of the area's most famous cafes has closed its doors for the last time due partly to the coronavirus lockdown.

For the past three decades the Prospect Gardens Tea Rooms in Blackwood Road, Garth has been popular with visitors and locals for its spectacular views of the surrounding hills.

But its owner, Linda, has taken to Facebook to say that Covid had helped her to decide to bring forward her retirement and close the cafe.  

She posted: "Dear friends, First of all I would like to send good wishes to you all and your families. The past months have been difficult for everyone and we still have a way to go before we get any sort of normality back into our lives.

"After a great deal of deliberation I have come to the decision to retire and hang my apron up for good.

"It now feels like the right time for me, to have more time for myself and for my family and friends. Covid has played a big part in me coming to this decision, although being of a certain age retirement would not have been too far away anyway.

"So sadly after 29 years in business Prospect Garden Tea Room is now closed permanently. I have got to say, it has been a big part of my life and have loved running the business, and have made many many lovely friends over the years.

"I will miss all of it, despite the hard work. Oh if only I was 20 years younger.

"I would like to thank all of my customers ,friends and family for the support over the years. I have lots of lovely memories, and I'm sure lots of you will too, of happy times spent at Prospect.

"Lastly but certainly not least I would like to thank my staff over the years for their loyalty and friendships. We have had a lot of fun behind the scenes, and quite a bit of cake eating too, well somebody had to test them.

"I would also to thank my friends and family who have arrived as customers and have been hurriedly snatched into the kitchen, you know who you are, to help out with the washing up during busy periods.

"Without my staff , friends and family and the good teamwork it would not have been possible to run the tea room.

"I send my love and good wishes to you all and a very big thank you for making Prospect Garden Tea Room a reality.

"Wishing good health and happiness to you all. Linda xxx

"Please if anybody has any unspent gift vouchers, get in touch with me and I will reimburse you in full."

Coronavirus update from the Welsh Government

The Welsh Government's latest coronavirus update (dated yesterday) is:

• A £17.7m funding package to help spectator sports severely impacted by the pandemic has been announced today by the Welsh Government.
• It has been designed to provide immediate financial support for spectator sports through the remainder of the winter period to ensure they will be ready for the beginning of the new season in September.
• https://gov.wales/ministers-announce-177m-spectator-sports-survival-fund
• GPs in rural communities have joined forces to set up community vaccination centres to help vaccinate more people closer to home over the weekend: https://gov.wales/gps-join-forces-vaccinate-over-80s-closer-home
• Updated: Guidance for unpaid carers: https://gov.wales/guidance-unpaid-carers-coronavirus-covid-19
• Guidance: How to self-isolate if you’re travelling to Wales: https://gov.wales/how-self-isolate-when-you-travel-wales-coronavirus-covid-19

 

Coronavirus in numbers

• The latest figures published by Public Health Wales today show there have been 872 newly reported cases of coronavirus, bringing the total to 188,583 confirmed cases of coronavirus in Wales since the start of the pandemic.
• Very sadly, there were 23 deaths reported by Public Health Wales today. The total number of deaths reported by Public Health Wales is 4,553.
• These figures are updated daily at: https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

• The number of people who have received a Covid vaccine in Wales is being published every weekday by Public Health Wales.
• The latest figures show 270,833 people have received their first dose
• And 543 people have received two doses of the vaccine
• https://public.tableau.com/profile/public.health.wales.health.protection#!/vizhome/RapidCOVID-19virology-Public/Headlinesummary

 

• The Office for National Statistics (ONS) has today published an article including an analysis of 7,961 deaths involving COVID-19 by occupation in England and Wales between 9 March and 28 December 2020.
• Taking age into account, deaths were higher in men compared with women.
• When looking at broad groups of occupations, men who worked in elementary occupations or caring, leisure and other service occupations had the highest rates of death involving Covid-19.
• In women, process, plant and machine operatives and caring, leisure and other service occupations had the highest rates of death involving Covid-19.
• Almost three in four of the deaths involving Covid-19 in social care occupations were in care workers and home carers.
• Rates of death involving Covid-19 in men and women who worked as teaching and educational professionals, such as secondary school teachers, were not raised when compared with the rates seen in the population among those of the same age and sex.
• https://www.ons.gov.uk/peoplepopulationandcommunity/healthandsocialcare/causesofdeath/bulletins/coronaviruscovid19relateddeathsbyoccupationenglandandwales/deathsregisteredbetween9marchand28december2020

 

What to do if you have symptoms of coronavirus

• The symptoms of coronavirus are a high temperature, a new, continuous cough and a loss or change in smell or taste.
• If you have symptoms of coronavirus, however mild, you must self-isolate at home for 10 days from when your symptoms started.
• Guidance about self-isolating: https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
• Do not go to a GP surgery, pharmacy or hospital.
• You should arrange to have a test to see if you have coronavirus once you are self-isolating. You can book a test at https://gov.wales/apply-coronavirus-covid-19-test
• You should continue to isolate while waiting for a test result.
• Got a question about what to do if you’ve got coronavirus? Visit https://gov.wales/self-isolation-stay-home-guidance-households-possible-coronavirus
   

Where to find the latest information

• Information about the new national measures in place in Wales is available at: https://gov.wales/alert-level-4

• Public Health Wales provides a daily update about the number of cases of coronavirus in Wales. It is available at: https://covid19-phwstatement.nhs.wales/
• Information about coronavirus is available on the Welsh Government’s website at https://gov.wales/coronavirus and https://llyw.cymru/coronafeirws
• Questions about Covid-19 vaccines? Visit: https://phw.nhs.wales/topics/immunisation-and-vaccines/covid-19-vaccination-information/ and https://gov.wales/vaccine-coronavirus
• Information about support for businesses is available at the Business Wales website https://businesswales.gov.wales/coronavirus-advice/
• The Welsh Government holds a regular media briefing about coronavirus. These are on-the-record, on-camera and supported by a BSL interpreter. These are held at 12.15pm and live-streamed on our @WelshGovernment Twitter channel.

o   Health Minister Vaughan Gething held today’s press briefing. You can watch again at: https://twitter.com/WelshGovernment/status/1353677948826476546

o   Slides used in the press briefing are available here: https://gov.wales/slides-and-datasets-minister-health-and-social-services-coronavirus-briefing-25-january-2021

Roadworks planned for Regent Street

Latest local roadworks notified by one.network are:

Regent Street, Llangollen, Denbighshire 28 January — 28 January   Delays likely - Traffic control (Stop/Go boards)   Works location: The Grapes, Regent Street, Llangollen   Works description: Cherry picker Permit   Responsibility for works: Welsh Government   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PD510212110734619

County rejects claims staff had vaccine despite being ineligible

Denbighshire County Council has hit back at claims that some of its staff have received the Covid-19 vaccine despite being ineligible. 

It was alleged that some council staff, not within the first two cohorts due the vaccination, managed to book appointments by following a link in an email only intended for the recipient.

This afternoon a statement issued on behalf of the council's Cabinet said: "You will be aware of press stories over the weekend which stated that Denbighshire Council staff had been able to receive Covid vaccinations in spite of being ineligible.  

"To the best of our knowledge this has not happened, but Cabinet has instructed the Chief Executive, Judith Greenhalgh, to launch an internal investigation to confirm this.

"Since we found that the regional system was potentially open to abuse we instructed DCC staff that the invitation to be vaccinated should not be shared, and that the consequences of doing so would be subject to disciplinary action.  

"The Health Board had been provided with a list of eligible staff and our understanding is that nobody has been able to use this system to receive the vaccination who is not eligible to receive one.

"We know that our staff have been working above and beyond to keep residents of Denbighshire safe during the pandemic and we are confident that the overwhelming majority of them have not - and would not - abuse the system.  

"Meanwhile we continue to work with partners across the region to ensure that people are vaccinated in the order of prioritisation that is in place across the country."

County tunes up for online singing event

A virtual singing event is offering residents in Denbighshire the opportunity to socialise online, from their own homes.

Residents are being encouraged to get involved and sign up to Sing from your Home, an event being hosted by Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, in partnership with Denbighshire County Council and funded by Arts Council of Wales. 

Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias Music Centre has also partnered up to help organise the event, which involves multiple sing-along sessions being hosted on Zoom in both Welsh and English.

This gives residents the opportunity to either take part in the sessions or to sit back and listen to the virtual choir.

The event is part of a Denbighshire Leisure Active Communities team arts activity project to help create opportunities for residents in Denbighshire regardless of experience, ability, age or background.

Jamie Groves, Managing Director of Denbighshire Leisure Ltd, said: “There is a growing understanding of how taking part in the arts can have a hugely positive effect on our wellbeing, and it is fantastic to see events like this taking place. 

"We hope many people will sign up and use this opportunity to keep in touch with others, whilst staying safe within the current restrictions. 

"Denbighshire Leisure Ltd’s Active Communities team’s commitment to residents throughout the various lockdowns has been outstanding, and the positive responses we have received from those benefitting from their projects continues to be both inspiring and heart-warming.”

Cllr Bobby Feeley, the council’s Lead Member for Well-being and Independence, said: “This is a fantastic project that helps connect members of our communities during this time and helps provide a creative output. 

"Music has a valuable role to play in enhancing our quality of life and ‘Singing from Home’ is a great project that supports us to keep in touch with others, while still adhering to lock down rules and staying at home. 

"The council is delighted to be working in partnership with Denbighshire Leisure and Canolfan Gerdd William Mathias on this project.”

The Welsh and English sessions are accessible via smart phone, tablet or computer. Additional support is available for anyone who needs help setting up the event on Zoom.

Residents are being encouraged to share this information with anyone in Denbighshire and the surrounding area who may benefit from the engagement and interaction this event offers.

* The event is happening tomorrow Tuesday January 26 and next Tuesday February 2, Cymraeg from 10.30 -11.15am and English 1.30 – 2.15pm. To register people need to either email post@cgwm.org.uk or call 01286 685230.