Army called in to help ambulance service with Covid effort

The Welsh Ambulance Service is seeking to re-enlist military support to assist with its Covid-19 effort.

The Trust has submitted a request for additional support to Welsh Government under the Military Aid to the Civil Authorities (MACA) arrangement.

If approved, it will be the third time that soldiers have supported the service through the pandemic.

Chief Executive Jason Killens said: “Covid-19 has presented a challenge like no other, but the last couple of months in particular have meant significant and sustained pressures on our ambulance service.

“The Trust is starting to return to some of the arrangements we had in place at the height of the pandemic to better manage the increase in Covid-19 related activity that we’re feeling the impact of once again.

“As part of this, we’re seeking to re-enlist the military, who did a superb job of assisting us on two occasions previously last year.

“Winter is our busiest time, and this will enable us to get a head start on what we foresee will be a tough period, especially when you couple Covid-19 demand with seasonal flu and our usual winter pressures.

“This is about bolstering our capacity as far we can and putting us in the best possible position to provide a safe service to the people of Wales.”

More than 200 British Army soldiers have already assisted the Trust’s Covid-19 effort by driving and decontaminating ambulance vehicles as part of Operation Rescript.

Among them were 90 soldiers from 9 Regiment Royal Logistic Corps, who were enlisted on Christmas Eve at the height of the second wave of the pandemic.

More broadly, more than 20,000 military personnel have been supporting public services across the UK during the pandemic as part of a ‘COVID Support Force’.

A spokesperson for Joint Military Command Wales said: “Defence remains ready to offer support to civil authorities in the UK and we will work with the Welsh Government and the Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust to understand their requirements and offer assistance where appropriate.

“Since March 2020, Defence has supported more than 450 Military Aid to Civilian Authority (MACA) requests as part of the Covid Response Force.”

What happens now planters are going - councillors explain

 

* Town councillor John Palmer watering the begonias in Castle Street for the last time.

Llangollen's two county councillors, Graham Timms and Melvyn Mile, have issued a statement to coincide with today's removal of the social-distancing planters from Castle Street and Abbey Road:

"Thanks to John Palmer from Graham and Mel

The process of removing the covid 19 changes in Castle Street will begin today (Wednesday). 

We’d like to say a huge thank you to John Palmer who has for the last few months been caring for and watering the begonias every morning.

The flowers have really brightened up Castle Street and made it one of the most attractive covid schemes in Wales. 

We’d also like to thank Wayne and David from Dee Valley Fruit and Veg who helped John and provided the water and a hose! 

Thanks also to the businesses on Castle Street and the short street by Stan’s who helped out. 

The planters are not being thrown away, but will be reused in the future at other locations nearby.

Free Parking in Market Street Car Park

To compensate for the eventual loss of parking on Castle Street there are now 14 designated bays for free parking in Market Street Car Park. 

Four are disabled parking spaces (free for 2 hours) and 10 general spaces (maximum 1 hour) free for one hour. 

They are along the back wall between Capel Sion going towards Dee Valley Vets and are clearly marked. The intention is to encourage free short stay parking for those wishing to 'pop and shop' locally in the town.

October start for construction for Llangollen 2020 Scheme

Construction will begin in earnest in early October, starting at the Abbey Road/Castle Street junction and gradually moving southwards up Castle Street over the winter. Improvements will include:

·     * Widening of pavements,

·     * Making raised bed crossing points to make it safer to cross the road and slow down the traffic,

·     * Widen the road slightly to allow for extra room for vehicles to pass,

·     * New traffic lights at the A5 junction to be more reactive to real-time traffic conditions,

·     * Adding  decent sized tree to stand alongside the existing tree by the town hall,

·     * Using high quality materials including York Stone pavers and Berwyn Slate from the Horseshoe Pass,

·     * Adding uncontrolled crossing points around the town,

·     * Reconfiguration of the area outside the Old Lock-Up to make the junction less confusing and create extra space for pedestrians.

·     * Retaining the one-way section of Market Street.

The scheme is designed with pedestrians in mind to ensure that the town centre is an even more attractive place to spend time. Major consultations have taken place over the last three years and the final scheme has been modified to respond to your opinions.

There will be disruption during the construction, but the aim is to ensure that the town can continue to be vibrant with all businesses able to trade during construction. 

The work will be completed by the end of March 2022 at a cost of £1.75million, mostly paid through grant funding from the Welsh Government and by Denbighshire County Council."

Resurfacing work on A483 planned for October

Essential resurfacing work is to take place on the A483 in Wrexham between Junction 6 Gresford and Junction 7 Rossett between October 11 and 14.

The main works will be carried out under contraflow which will allow the A483 to remain open to one lane of traffic in either direction. 

This will enable the works to be carried out on the closed carriageway efficiently and safely. 

There will be full overnight closures at certain times within the programme, to enable the installation and dismantling of the traffic management system.

Traffic Wales says the project will address the deteriorating condition of the carriageway to eliminate the current ongoing and increasing requirement for reactive repairs. 

This will ultimately mean less disruption for motorists in future and will deliver a safe, quiet, high-quality road surface for many years to come.

A483 Northbound works between between junction 7 Rossett to junction 6 Gresford

Overnight full carriageway closure from October 11th-14th for 3 nights, October 23rd to 25th for 2 nights and October 28th for 1 night.

Daytime lane closures from October 11-13th for 2 days

Contraflow (all traffic on southbound carriageway) from October 14th-28th. Apart from overnight on October 23rd and 24th.

Overnight closure on Junction 6 Gresford northbound onslip and offlsip from October 11th-14h for 3 nights. 24h closure on on Junction 6 Gresford northbound onslip and offlsip from October 13th-28th

A483 Southbound works between junction 6 Gresford to Junction 7 Rossett

Overnight full carriageway closure from October 29th-30th for 1 night, November 11th-13th for 2 nights.

Daytime lane closures on October 29nd and November 12th

Contraflow (all traffic on northbound carriageway) from October 30th to November 11th.

24h closure on Junction 6 Gresford southbound onslip and offlsip from October 29th to overnight on November 13th. No closure during the daytime on November 12th

* For further information, please contact Traffic Wales on 0300 123 1213 or via Twitter @TrafficWalesN

Diversion route

Councils to get £2.9m to support new Welsh smacking ban

With six months to go before a new law ending the physical punishment of children in Wales comes into force more than £2.9m is being invested in parenting support.

The Children (Abolition of Defence of Reasonable Punishment) (Wales) Act 2020 gives children the same protection from assault as adults by removing an archaic 160-year-old legal defence.

The new law will apply to everybody in Wales, including visitors, from March 21, 2022. All types of physical punishment, such as smacking, hitting, slapping and shaking, will be illegal.

To help raise awareness of this landmark legislation, a nationwide multi-media advertising campaign – called The Sound of Change – will be launched tomorrow.   

The £2.9m, over four years, will be available to all local authorities in Wales to fund positive parenting support. 

It will mean that in cases where the police believe it is appropriate to offer an out-of-court disposal there will be an option of offering support to help avoid re-offending. This will, however, depend on individual circumstances.

Julie Morgan, Deputy Minister for Social Services, said: "This week marks the beginning of our six-month countdown as we move towards the day when children in Wales will have the legal right to be protected from all forms of violence, however minor.

"I have campaigned for many decades for this change in the law and I am very proud Wales will soon join more than 60 other nations across the world which have outlawed the use of physical punishment towards children.

"Absolutely key to this is providing the necessary information, advice and support for parents to help manage their children’s behaviour without resorting to physical punishment.

"Our campaign will signpost parents to support we’re already providing through our Parenting. Give it Time campaign, health visitors, and our family support programmes, including Flying Start and Families First.

"But we have gone a step further and I’m pleased to announce a new funding package for additional tailored parenting support as a rehabilitative alternative to prosecution in cases where the police are involved.

"This support, delivered by local authorities, will be designed to encourage and support parents in adopting positive parenting techniques while making it absolutely clear that the physical punishment of children is unacceptable in all circumstances."

Sally Holland, the Children’s Commissioner for Wales, added: "This is landmark legislation for children’s rights in Wales and cannot come soon enough. I wholeheartedly support this legislation as there is no room for physical punishment in Wales or the long-term trauma caused to children as a result of it."

Latest Citizens Advice column

Q: I’m going back to university and moving into a shared house with friends for the first time. Although I’m excited, I’m also a bit nervous as I’ve never rented from a private landlord before. The house looked fine when we viewed it, but that was months ago now and I’ve heard horror stories about dodgy landlords for student houses. What should I look out for when I move in?

A: Renting a house with friends is usually an exciting time. Most landlords are reasonable people who look after their properties and tenants well, but it’s always a good idea to know your rights as a tenant. 

Here’s a checklist of things to do when you first move in: 

●     Make sure you have your landlord’s contact details. Your landlord is responsible for keeping your home in good condition and doing repairs when they’re needed. They should be your first point of contact if anything goes wrong.

●     Make sure your deposit is protected. Check that your landlord has given you information about the scheme used to protect your deposit.

●     Take photos on the day you move in. It’s also worth asking your landlord or letting agent for an inventory, to check everything is in order. Use this to note down any problems and the condition of the furniture, kitchen, carpets, bathroom etc.

●     Check if you’re in a ‘house in multiple occupation’. If you’re living with two or more people who aren’t part of your family, and share a toilet, bathroom or kitchen with you, this is considered an HMO. This means your landlord must make sure your home meets certain safety standards. This includes making sure smoke alarms are installed and there’s a safe fire exit. The landlord must also ensure shared areas such as staircases and corridors are clean and in good repair.

●     Check your landlord is registered. In Wales, all private landlords must be registered with Rent Smart Wales

●     Make sure your landlord gives you: a copy of the Gas Safety Certificate, an Energy Performance Certificate and a How to Rent leaflet.

●     Understand your tenancy agreement. It’s important to know who’s responsible for paying bills and what to do if there are any changes, like if someone wants to move out. The Citizens Advice website explains the different ways shared accommodation can be organised. 

If you encounter a problem with the property, contact your landlord. They might not already be aware, as they shouldn’t come in without your permission. If it relates to disrepair, for example if your heating system fails or there’s damp in the property, it’s best to put this in writing so that you have evidence if you need it later. 

If your landlord is unresponsive or refuses to help, contact your student services or local Citizens Advice service for support. In serious cases, for example if your health or safety is at risk, you may be advised to contact the council or Rent Smart Wales

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.”