Health board positive update on being in Special Measures

Reductions in the number of out-patient waiting times and ambulance delays is flagged up in the latest response to being in Special Measures from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The organisation, which covers Llangollen, was placed in Special Measures by the Welsh Government last February due to serious concerns about board effectiveness, organisational culture, service quality and reconfiguration, governance, patient safety, operational delivery, leadership and financial management.

Board members receive regular reports about the situation and the latest update at the end of November listed a number of key achievements.

Board members were told by their officials about:

* A 52% reduction in people waiting 52 weeks for their first outpatient appointment -  equivalent to 13,000 people

* A 42% reduction in people waiting 104 weeks in comparison with the position last year which is in excess of 6,000 people

* A consistent reduction in four-hour ambulance delays with some local variation being closely monitored

* All people waiting over 156 weeks have now either received a date for their first appointment or have started treatment, with some challenges remaining within orthodontics which are under review

* A significant reduction in the usage of agency interim staff from 41 in December 2022 to just seven in September 2023

* A new leadership development framework is being put in to place to help develop and attract leaders within the health board

* Appointments to a number of vital clinical roles, including a new clinical radiotherapy lead to support improvements in oncology

* An ophthalmology “train and treat” model allowing more patients to be treated closer to home by optometrists, getting more convenient and faster care

* An ongoing series of ‘health conversations’ with local communities with a number of community engagement events scheduled for the new year to build a stronger relationship between our board, executives and local communities.

Illuminated Tractor Run raises over £6,000 for three charities

This year's Llangollen Illuminated Tractor Run raised over £6,000 for two local charities.

A post on the event's Facebook page thanks everyone who: "Gave, who volunteered, organised and who showed up to enjoy this incredible event.

"Thank you Llangollen, Trevor, Acrefair, Plas Madoc, Ruabon, Rhosllanerchrugog, Rhosstyllen, Bersham, Wrexham, Coedpoeth, Minera, Legacy, Bylchgwyn, and all the other areas that we went through.

"The money will go to Teenage Cancer Trust Nightingale House Hospice and for a defibrillator locally. This is all life critical or life saving stuff, and you've gifted it this Christmas.

"So just watch out for one more special announcement coming soon."

Hundreds of cheering spectators lined the route of last Sunday evening's run which was jointly organised by the Vale of Llangollen Rotary and Llangollen Young Farmers Club and involved 50 colourfully-lit and decorated vehicles.

Starting at 5 pm from The Pavilion in Llangollen, the convoy embarked on a picturesque journey through towns and villages in the area.

Leading the way, shouting "Merry Christmas" as he went was Santa himself.

A total of £6,122 was raised for three worthy causes - The Teenage Cancer Trust, Nightingale Hope Hospice, and a community defibrillator. 

* If you missed out and still want to donate, online donations are still open at

https://www.justgiving.com/crowdfunding/TractorRun2023

Christmas event at Plas Newydd postponed due to the weather

Tomorrow's planned Christmas event at Plas Newydd has been postponed due to the weather.

A note on the historic site's social media this afternoon (Friday) says: "We will be postponing the Christmas at Plas Newydd event that was due to take place on Saturday 9th December. 

"There has been a weather warning issued for heavy rain and high winds of up to 50mph throughout the day and with the outdoor nature of the site (and many veteran trees) we must take precautions for the safety of our visitors.

"The good news is that we will be postponing this event and not cancelling! We will be putting plans in place to reconvene in the new year and hope to welcome you then!"

Senedd Member 'proud' to make the Sir Tom Jones announcement

* Ken Skates gives the news that Sir Tom Jones will headline at the Eisteddfod.

An Eisteddfod vice president said he was ‘immensely proud’ to announce one of the biggest coups in the event’s history earlier this week. 

Ken Skates, Member of the Senedd for Clwyd South, unveiled Sir Tom Jones as the headline act for next year’s event at a press conference at St Collen’s Community Hall on Monday morning. 

The Welsh icon will top the billing at the 2024 showpiece, which will also include Katherine Jenkins, Gregory Porter, Madness, Kaiser Chiefs and Paloma Faith. 

Mr Skates, who is based in the town, said: “I was immensely proud to officially announce that Sir Tom Jones will be headlining next year’s Llangollen International Musical Eisteddfod. 

“I’m a proud vice president of the Eisteddfod, so I was thrilled to represent Clwyd South at the press conference on Monday morning when Katherine Jenkins and Gregory Porter were also announced to add even more stardust to an extremely exciting line-up for the 2024 event. 

“Huge credit must go to the board for pulling together so many big names. The event injects millions of pounds into the local economy every year, and after a difficult few years next summer’s showpiece is set to be one of the best Eisteddfods yet.” 

Board member Dave Hennigan said: “We are absolutely delighted and we’d like to thank Ken for his extraordinary and valued support, not just now but during times of financial difficulty too.

“We’re really pleased that, after many years of trying, Sir Tom Jones will be coming to Llangollen as part of our exciting programme.”

* Mr Skates does a TV interview at the launch.

Tidy Town Team marks another successful year's activities

Members of the Llangollen Tidy Town Team enjoyed their annual Christmas dinner at the Sun Trevor last night (Thursday).

Their co-ordinator David Davies told them that during the year they had completed a total of 400 unpaid hours of work on behalf of the town.

This ranged from planting 25 fruit trees at the St John's Road landscaping project to helping with the clean-up effort which followed a flood at the town's museum.

They also undertook a major litter-pick on the Aldi car park and assisted in a number of roles with both the food and Christmas festivals.  

Total donations to the work of the team, which has now been in existence for 18 years, amounted to £1,000.

Delay to Llantysilio Green car park scheme, says county

In an update on its social media Denbighshire County Council says the Levelling Up funded project to improve facilities at Llantysilio Green Car Park has been slightly delayed and will now begin work from the January 8 next year for a period of eight weeks, weather dependant.

It adds: "The works will include some disruption to car parking, and temporary closure of the toilet block to carry out renewals of the foul drainage and provision of the new paving around the building. However, pedestrian access to Horseshoe Falls will be maintained throughout the construction process."

* You can find out more about the project at: https://bit.ly/4a1ixUO

EE phone signal down again LL20 area

 

The EE mobile phone network in the LL20 area of Llangollen is currently down.

A message on the company's signal status checker this morning (Thursday) says it is due to maintenance while engineers upgrade the network and should be back on within five hours.