Ambulance service highlights Falls Awareness Week

ALMOST 35,000 calls have been made to the Welsh Ambulance Service since January for people who have fallen.

It is the number one reason people in Wales have called for an ambulance this year so far, with chest pain (32,000), breathing problems (25,000) and Covid-19 (23,000) calls second, third and fourth in the list respectively.

This Falls Awareness Week (20-26 September), the service has issued advice about not only how to prevent a fall but about what to do if you have fallen.

Charlotte Walker, the Trust’s Older People Improvement Lead, said: “Anyone can have a fall, but the natural ageing process means that older people are more likely to fall, especially if they have a long-term condition like heart disease, dementia or low blood pressure.

“Most falls do not result in serious injury, but there's always a risk that a fall could lead to broken bones, which can cause the person to lose confidence, become withdrawn and feel as if they have lost their independence.

“It’s important for people to take preventative steps to avoid having a fall, but it’s also important to know what to do when a fall occurs.”

Preventing a fall

1. Have a sight test if you're having problems with your vision, even if you already wear glasses
2. Request a home hazard assessment, where a healthcare professional visits your home to identify potential hazards and give advice
3. Do exercises to improve your strength and balance
4. Use non-slip mats in the bathroom
5. Mop up any spills to prevent wet, slippery floors
6. Ensure all rooms, passages and staircases are well lit
7. Remove clutter
8. Get help lifting or moving items that are heavy or difficult to lift

How to safely get up off the floor if you’re not injured

9. Lying on your back, bend one knee up towards you so your foot rests on the floor
10. Roll over onto your side, reaching your arms out in front
11. Pushing on your arms, try and sit up onto your side
12. Make sure you sit there for a few moments to allow any dizziness or light-headedness to pass
13. Spread your hands apart and try and roll over onto all fours
14. Look for the nearest sturdy piece of furniture and crawl towards it so you’re close enough to place two hands on it
15. Lift your stronger leg forwards to achieve a lunge position then push down through the arms and the legs to stand
16. Slowly turn around and sit down

How to stay safe while waiting for help after a fall

17. If you have fallen, try to remain calm
18. If you are unable to get up off the floor, it’s important to get help
19. If you have a ‘Lifeline’, press the button
20. Keep yourself warm while you wait for help – use nearby blankets or clothing to pull over yourself
21. Stay hydrated – try and leave water bottles dotted around your home if you fall regularly

The Trust has introduced a number of initiatives as part of a holistic approach to help fallers, from prevention to avoiding further harm caused by prolonged periods of time spent on the floor.

It includes a paramedic-physiotherapist collaboration to attend more complex falls, as well as partnerships with local health board and local council colleagues to develop ‘pathways’ which improve the patient’s care and experience.

The Trust has also worked with St John Ambulance Cymru to introduce Falls Assistants across Wales, whose role it is to help patients who have had a fall, but who are not injured or who only have a minor injury.

Community First Responders use lifting aids to help people who have fallen but are uninjured, and an education package is also being delivered to student paramedics to help them better understand why falls occur and how to seek assistance from wider health and social care teams to support people to remain at home.

In addition, colleagues in the Trust’s non-emergency patient transport service, which takes patients to and from their routine hospital appointments, have been trained to look out for potential falls hazards in a patient’s home and make referrals to the appropriate agencies, like Care and Repair.

Claire Roche, the Trust’s Executive Director of Quality and Nursing, said: “When someone has experienced a fall, it is really important that we are able to provide a suitable, timely response.

“This will ensure we can provide people with the appropriate assistance to safely get up from the floor.

“Improving our response to people who have fallen is one of our top priorities as an ambulance service, and we continue to work hard with our partners to achieve this.”

Police boss pledges to put more bobbies on the beat

 

A police boss has pledged to put more bobbies on the beat in North Wales.

The region’s newly-elected police and crime commissioner, Andy Dunbobbin (pictured), says he will increase the number of officers and staff during his three-year term of office.

He also promised to improve the technology at their disposal so police officers could spend more time out and about in communities across North Wales, rather than having to return to their police stations to complete form filling or search for information.

Mr Dunbobbin gave the assurance in his first Police and Crime Plan which sets out the overall strategy for policing North Wales that Chief Constable Carl Foulkes will have to implement.

The plan will be presented to a meeting of the North Wales Police and Crime Panel next Monday (September 20).

The  priorities contained in the commissioner’s new blueprint include:

1. Delivering safer neighbourhoods
2. Supporting victims and communities
3. Fair and effective criminal justice system

In drawing up the plan, the commissioner says he has consulted widely and listened to what the public want.

According to Mr Dunbobbin, one frequent complaint made to him during his election campaign was that residents didn’t see any police officers in their communities any more.

He said: “I will work hard to improve the efficiency and effectiveness of police officers and staff.

“The number one priority for communities is to improve visible policing - providing reassurance, gathering intelligence and disrupting criminal activity. 

“Local Neighbourhood Policing Teams (NPTs) provide the visibility and reassurance but are also widely regarded as being an invaluable source of intelligence to tackle the most serious and organised criminality. 

“The work of our Regional Organised Crime Unit (ROCU) and the Wales Extremism and Counter Terrorism Unit (WECTU) relies heavily on the local intelligence NPTs provide.  Neighbourhood policing is the bedrock of this Plan.

“In order to tackle issues ranging from drug dealing in our towns to rural crime on our farms, it’s imperative that all our North Wales communities have positive relationships and experiences with their local police, helping break down existing barriers and empowering residents to have their say on where we as a service should be focusing our efforts.

“In addition to increasing the number of officers in our communities, I am also committed to working with the Chief Constable in improving the digital support available to our current officers and staff thereby increasing the amount of time they spend in the community.”

Improving road safety was a key area for Mr Dunbobbin who wants to reduce the number of people killed or being seriously injured.

He says there will be a tough approach towards dangerous or careless driving which would not be tolerated.

Tackling and preventing domestic abuse and sexual violence was also a major priority and Mr Dunbobbin pledged to make North Wales a “hostile environment” for perpetrators.

At the same time, far too many women were being sent to prison with devastating consequences for their families, particularly their children, so Mr Dunbobbin will be spearheading the development of a new female offender strategy.

Among the innovations Mr Dunbobbin wants to introduce is a victims’ panel so that people who have suffered crimes against them can be heard and given the support they need.

Reducing reoffending meant there would be fewer victims so Mr Dunbobbin is keen on addressing the root cause of offending and strengthening rehabilitation measures.

With that in mind, he will continue to fund the pioneering Checkpoint Cymru programme to divert low-level offenders away from committing crimes as well as supporting other innovative crime prevention and rehabilitation project in North Wales.

Coming from a background in the technology sector, the commissioner was acutely aware that scams and online attacks now account for almost half of all offences.

As well masterminding the fight against cybercrime in North Wales, Mr Dunbobbin will be playing a leading UK role after the Association of Police and Crime Commissioners elected him as their deputy lead for police technology and digital and deputy lead for economic and cybercrime, including fraud.

He said: “It is vital that the police services’ approach to cybercrime is well co-ordinated and effective in providing a quality service for the people of North Wales.

“Cybercrime offences are still hugely under-reported nationally and we will work to build the confidence of people and businesses within North Wales to report these crimes.” 

Call for meeting over "perfect storm" of roadworks

* A sign warning of the A5 roadworks ahead. 

A town councillor has called for a high-level meeting of the main agencies involved to address what he has branded the "perfect storm of roadworks" facing Llangollen.

On Friday llanblogger reported how Stuart Davies was asking national roads bosses to "get their act together" to manage major traffic congestion in the town.

Earlier that day roadworks on the A5 just out of town, which are being carried out to strengthen the retaining wall and are due to last for 33 weeks, caused gridlock along Regent Street as heavy Friday afternoon traffic queued in both directions to negotiate the temporary lights just after the Birch Hill junction.

It is believed the jams were the result of a temporary fault with the lights.

At one stage around 3.30pm vehicles lining up in Castle Street to turn left onto the A5 missed numerous changes of the lights as they were unable to move freely out into the flow on the trunk road.

In a fresh statement sent to county and town council officials, along with the area's MP and MS and copied to llanblogger, Cllr Davies says: "It's coming to pass, the perfect storm of gridlock in Llangollen and area. 

"I wrote to you all a few weeks ago predicting this would happen and now it is. 

"The North and Mid-Wales Traffic Agent (NMWTRA) works on the A5 leading to tailbacks with police having to get involved to attempt to solve it, the gridlock on the A5 impacting on Castle Street with up to eight traffic light cycles to allow traffic on to the A5. 

"Now we get a statutory order, a TTO (Temporary Traffic Order) basically banning parking throughout Llangollen town centre for six months to allow the 2020 works, this stopping residents from parking outside their houses. 

"Also a TTO has surfaced from NMWTRA about traffic light replacement on the junction with Castle Street. Then the night closure of the A483 plus minor works on the A539 plus the closure of the minor Bont Road near Froncysyllte plus the landslip at Newbridge.

"Then we have the issue of the inset near the town hall with officers charging ahead without any feedback to the concerned public."

He added: "No statutory consultation regarding the TRO to allow the 2020 works to go ahead has been seen either.

"What on earth is going on? 

"I am calling on Denbighshire County Council (DCC) to repeat their consultation exercise to ensure the statutory TRO consultation is a meaningful one and to ensure the public fully understands and agrees the actions you are taking.

"Plus I am calling for all stake-holders to get a high level meeting with DCC, Wrexham County Borough Council, the Welsh Government and North Wales Police to make sure that they are all aware of the consequences and impact of their isolated planning.

"At the moment there is no joined up thinking with each agency doing their own thing and residents of Llangollen and the surrounding area being impacted."

Roadworks alert for Berwyn Street

Latest local roadworks alert from one.network is:

Berwyn Street 20 September — 31 March   Delays likely - Traffic control (multi-way signals)   Works description: To upgrade the existing traffic signals at A5 Castle Street Junction including re-location of the Eastern Traffic Head. Works have been co-ordinated with Denbighshire County Council Castle - Street Environmental Scheme (Llangollen 2020)   Works location: A5 Junction of Berwyn Street with A539 Castle Street, Llangollen   Public facing description: one.network has automatically assigned a category of Unclassified works to this Works based on the information available. Please note: Works Descriptions are not published by Welsh Government.   Responsibility for works: Welsh Government   Current status: Planned work about to start   Works reference: PD505211069250489

Councillor calls for action as town faces traffic gridlock

 * Traffic queuing in both directions along Regent Street around 3.30pm today.

A town councillor is calling on national roads bosses to "get their act together" to manage major traffic congestion in Llangollen.

Earlier today the roadworks on the A5 just out of town, which are due to last 33 weeks, caused gridlock along Regent Street as heavy Friday afternoon traffic queued in both directions to negotiate the temporary lights set up just after the Birch Hill junction.

At one stage around 3.30pm vehicles lining up in Castle Street to turn left onto the A5 missed two or three changes of the lights as they were unable to move freely out into the flow on the trunk road.

Later a police officer was seen speaking to a person connected with the roadworks.

Town councillor Stuart Davies said in a statement to llanblogger: "The perfect storm is happening here and now, something I warned about weeks ago. 

"Llangollen is being gridlocked as the work on the eastern end of the A5 is carried out.

"Police were spotted actually having to do some traffic control, something not usually seen today."

He added: "Things were at a a standstill today in Llangollen as the works traffic management failed to cope with the density of traffic as the UK public tasted a little bit of post-lockdown freedom.

"The North and Mid Wales Traffic Agency (NMWTRA), who will have commissioned the works, are responsible.

"More thought should have been given to the volume of traffic using the A5 after the Covid lockdown. 

"Better ways of managing the traffic flow or timing should have and should be considered.

"When the Denbighshire County Council (DCC) works in Castle Street start, as I have said before, with the A5 works, overnight A483 closures and single lane working in Castle Street the perfect storm is going to get worse.

"I am calling on NMWTRA officers to get their act together and work with DCC and North Wales Police to solve this problem.

"I am also calling on our elected representatives at county level to do bring pressure to bear to address this situation."

NHS Covid pass needed for nightclubs and large events in Wales

People will have to show a NHS Covid Pass to enter nightclubs and attend events in Wales from next months, the First Minister has announced today.

The measure is being introduced to help control the spread of coronavirus – cases are currently very high in Wales but the alert level will remain at zero for the next three weeks.

Announcing the outcome of the latest three-week review of the coronavirus regulations, Mark Drakeford (pictured) encouraged everyone to work from home whenever possible and to make sure they are fully vaccinated.

Awareness and enforcement of other key coronavirus protection measures, including face coverings in indoor public places and on public transport, will be increased.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said: "Across Wales, coronavirus cases have risen to very high levels over the summer as more people have been gathering and meeting. Tragically, more people are dying from this terrible virus.

"The very strong advice we have from our scientific advisers is to take early action to prevent infections increasing further.

"The last thing we want is further lockdowns and for businesses to have to close their doors once again. That’s why we must take small but meaningful action now to control the spread of the virus and reduce the need for tougher measures later."

The requirement to show an NHS COVID Pass will come into force from October 11. It will mean all over-18s will need to have a NHS COVID Pass to enter:

• Nightclubs
• Indoor, non-seated events for more than 500 people, such as concerts or conventions
• Outdoor non-seated events for more than 4,000 people
• Any setting or event with more than 10,000 people in attendance

People who are fully vaccinated in Wales can already download the NHS COVID Pass to securely show and share their vaccine status. It also allows people to show they have had a negative lateral flow test result within the last 48 hours.

First Minister Mark Drakeford added: "My message to you today is a simple but serious one – the pandemic is not over and we all need to take steps to protect ourselves and our loved ones.

"We have high levels of the virus in our communities and while our fantastic vaccination programme has helped stop thousands more people from becoming seriously ill or dying, the pressure on the NHS is increasing.

"We hope introducing the requirement to show a COVID Pass will help keep venues and events – many of which have only recently started trading again – open.

"Showing a COVID Pass is already part of our collective effort to keep businesses open with some major events, such as the successful Green Man Festival, using it. We will continue to work closely with all businesses affected to ensure a smooth introduction and operation of this system.

"We want to do everything we can to Keep Wales Safe as we head into the autumn."

Ysgol Dinas Bran goes green to reduce carbon emissions

* The solar panels in place as part of the greening project.

Ysgol Dinas Bran is playing an important role in the drive to reduce carbon emissions impacting on climate change.

The school has a green energy project taking place on site which will help reduce its carbon footprint.

The Greening Ysgol Dinas Bran project is part of Denbighshire County Council’s Climate and Ecological Change Programme. 

Denbighshire declared a Climate Change and Ecological Emergency in July 2019 and has since committed to becoming a Net Carbon Zero and Ecologically Positive Council by 2030.

This includes reducing the council’s emissions from its buildings alongside fleet, waste generated in operations, business travel, staff commuting and street lighting.

The green project at Ysgol Dinas Bran and Llangollen Leisure Centre has seen a 150Kw array of solar panels installed on the school roof which will generate electricity for the school onsite using the suns energy.

Other elements of the work include heating control upgrades and LED lighting. The whole project is expected to reduce the schools carbon emissions by 73 tonnes per year.

The new solar panels went live in August and heating control and LED lighting will all be complete by Christmas.

Cllr Brian Jones the council’s Lead Member for Waste, Transport and the Environment, said: “We are continuing to work on ensuring the council is reducing its carbon footprint and increasing biodiversity in the county.

“This project is a big benefit for reducing carbon and cost whilst at the same time improving the learning environment at the school.”

“We thank the school for working with the council on this important project."