Rapid clinical screening aims to improve outcomes for 999 callers

The Welsh Ambulance Service has introduced a new process to improve outcomes for 999 callers and deliver a safer service.

Paramedics and nurses in the Trust’s control room will now undertake a rapid clinical review of most 999 calls to ensure patients get the most appropriate help. 

Those whose condition is immediately life-threatening will continue to be sent an emergency ambulance on lights and sirens as quickly as possible so that highly skilled clinicians can deliver life-saving interventions at the scene.

Callers whose condition is not as time-sensitive will be further triaged by control room clinicians, who will identify the most appropriate response for their needs. 

Thirty clinical navigators have been appointed to run the new service and are based from the Trust’s clinical contact centres in St Asaph, Carmarthen and Cwmbran.

Pete Brown, the Trust’s Assistant Director of Operations, said: “Winter is a busy time for the NHS with seasonal illnesses and cold weather putting more pressure on an already over-stretched system.

“This means a poor patient experience, not to mention frustration for our people, who are not able to help the community as quickly as they would like.

“Rapid clinical screening enables highly skilled paramedics and nurses to apply their critical thinking in a control room environment in a brand new ‘clinical navigator’ role, ensuring that those in most urgent need of help, get it.”

Greg Lloyd, Assistant Director of Clinical Delivery, added: “After the initial interaction with a non-clinical 999 call handler, getting an experienced clinician involved in the decision-making process is the most effective way of ensuring patients get the right care according to their needs.

“This may include sending an emergency ambulance, paramedic or advanced paramedic practitioner, or it may include a remote assessment with a clinician to gather further information to inform the next steps in the care and advice we provide.

“Clinical navigators can also observe and listen into 999 calls in real-time, prompting call handlers to ask additional questions to elicit more information and will stay on the call until a safe decision is made.

“This continuous assessment will lead to better patient outcomes, as well as a much safer service, and all with a view to ensuring patients get the right care or advice, in the right place, first time.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service is testing a number of new approaches over winter to improve patient safety and quality of care.

The Trust’s dedicated Mental Health Response Vehicle in south Wales is better supporting people in a mental health crisis and reducing avoidable hospital admissions.

Meanwhile, Community Welfare Responders are being trained to attend appropriate 999 calls in their community and take a set of observations from the patient to help clinicians in the ambulance control room determine the appropriate next steps.

Rachel Marsh, the Trust’s Executive Director of Strategy, Planning and Performance, said: “At the end of winter, we’ll look at how these changes have gone.

“Key to the evolution of our response model will be feedback from patients, staff and other stakeholders, and we’ll be listening to feedback in earnest to ensure our services better meet the needs of the people of Wales, now and in the future.”

Tidy Town Team celebrates at annual Christmas dinner

 

* To celebrate the end of another successful year of serving the community, volunteers of Llangollen Tidy Town Team enjoyed their annual Christmas dinner at the Wild Pheasant Hotel and Spa yesterday (Thursday) evening, organised as usual by their co-ordinator David Davies, pictured right.

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice

Latest column from Denbighshire Citizens Advice is:

Q: I’ve really struggled with my money this year, and have already spent too much on Christmas. I also recently got caught out by a free trial on an app that rolled into a paid subscription. Even without this though, it feels like every month I end up in my overdraft. How can I keep track of my spending better?

A: Lots of people will be feeling this way right now, and it can be difficult to stay on top of things like online subscriptions. But there are steps you can take to be more in control of your money.

Firstly, draw up a budget. Remember to include all of your general spending, and any other bills you have to pay. Be realistic about what you’ll need for essentials like food and travel. If your income fluctuates, use bank statements, benefit award letters and Universal Credit journals to plan your budget each month.

Your bank should be able to tell you what regular payments you have. If you find subscriptions you don’t want, contact the company in question to cancel them. In future, before signing up to anything, make sure you know what you’ll get, for how long and what it’ll cost. If you do use any free trials, set a reminder a week before the free period ends so you’ve time to cancel it if you want to. Keep evidence of any subscription cancellations in case you need it in the future.

If you’ve been relying on your overdraft lots this year, or turned to credit cards or Buy-Now-Pay-Later, it’s understandable if this worries you. Always prioritise paying your rent, mortgage, plus energy bills and Council Tax first though, because not paying these has the most serious consequences. If you’re having trouble managing your debts and paying bills, contact Citizens Advice for support.

Our website has an income checker where you can see if you’re getting all you’re entitled to, such as benefits or government grants.

Everyone’s circumstances are different, particularly when it comes to managing personal finances. We’re here to help you find a way forward.

Roadworks planned for A539

Roadworks are planned to take place on the A539 between The Sun Trevor and county boundary between Monday 16 and Wednesday 18 December 2024. 

Works will include siding, gully emptying and road sweeping with traffic managed by Stop & Go.

Railway get back on track after Storm Darragh havoc

* The damaged grotto left by Storm Darragh.

Storm Darragh caused chaos across the Dee Valley last weekend and Llangollen Railway sustained extensive damage to its “Lapland” at Carrog and also had several fallen trees to clear from the line.

With this and dangerous travelling conditions the team had to take the difficult decision to cancel services on both Saturday 7^th and Sunday 8^th December. 

However, the Llangollen Station Team and Father Christmas were still able to offer some seasonal cheer to anyone brave enough to be out and about in Llangollen on the Sunday.

Over the past few days dedicated staff and volunteers at the railway have pulled out all the stops to get back on track for the remaining Santa (from Llangollen) and Sion Corn (from Corwen) Services.

* Fallen trees along the track.

 

Robin Crowley, Volunteer Coordinator, said: “Storm Darragh has not stolen Christmas. Thanks to the incredible efforts put in by our team over the last few days we will be ready to welcome our guests back this weekend for the magical railway Santa experience we are renowned for. 

"I’m truly overwhelmed by the dedication, energy and spirit shown—it’s been nothing short of amazing. Our grotto at Carrog made for a terrible sight on Sunday, with our marquee destroyed by the wind and decorations strewn everywhere. You wouldn’t recognise it now – it’s like the storm never happened. We can’t wait for our guests to see what we’ve achieved this weekend.”

* A wind-damaged tree at Llangollen.

 

Nicola Reincke, Training & Quality Manager, said: “We were so sad to have to cancel our services last weekend, but the safety of our guests and staff had to come first. 

"However, the good news is, thanks to further outstanding efforts by our team, the railway is also able to offer two additional services for those who missed out last weekend. 

"The two extra services we will run are: Saturday 14th December at 17:15 from Llangollen and Friday 20th December at 17:15 from Llangollen.

"If you had tickets for last weekend, full refunds are in process. If you had a booking that was cancelled, you will be given priority to book on these two extra trains and our office will either email or call you shortly. After that, these seats will go on general release, if seats are remaining."

 

Llangollen Railway has enjoyed a busy and successful 2024 season and 2025 will see the 50^th anniversary of the first trains run in preservation, with a series of special events planned to mark the incredible achievement of a half century of running heritage steam, diesel and railcar trains in the  Dee Valley.

Chinese takeaways with a difference offered in Bridge Street

 

Two striking pieces of Oriental art have gone up on sale outside the former Chinese restaurant in Church Street.

A team of workmen are currently refurbishing the historic building and the large display panels, each measuring around six feet long by four feet wide and depicting ancient Oriental scenes in colourful relief style, have been left on the pavement outside.

The first has a sign propped up against it saying "DEAL OF THE DAY £100" while the second has a price tag of £70.

It will be interesting to see how long it takes for them to be snapped up. 

County council to consider its local toilets strategy next week

A report will go to Denbighshire’s Cabinet on Tuesday December 17 about Denbighshire’s Local Toilets Strategy. 

In line with the Public Health (Wales) Act 2017 the council has prepared this strategy to outline how it intends to try to meet the public toilet requirements of the county. 

 

While there’s no legal requirement for any local authority to provide public conveniences, this strategy identifies how the local authority will work towards meeting the need within each community in Denbighshire. 

This could be through direct provision or working with private businesses to make facilities available to the public.

 

The Local Toilets Strategy has been developed following a full public consultation earlier this year on the interim needs assessment, which resulted in 1,400 responses.

The purpose of this assessment was to review the needs of the local population, including changing facilities for babies and changing places facilities for disabled people. 

The overall aim of the strategy is to try to meet the identified need for provision of public toilets in Denbighshire without exceeding the current budget for the service.

 

Denbighshire, like many local authorities, is facing a period of significant and continued budget pressures. In order to set a balanced budget for 2024/25, the council says it is looking at alternative ways of providing some services such as public conveniences.

 

Councillor Barry Mellor, Lead Member for Environment and Transport, said: “As yet, no decision has been made about closing public conveniences in Denbighshire and this strategy is about identifying where there is a need for toilets and how to try and meet this identified need.

 

“We understand that public conveniences are highly valued assets by certain parts of the community. However, the fact remains that the provision of public conveniences is not a statutory duty, and we do not now have a big enough budget to enable us to keep delivering services in the same way that we have always delivered them in the past.

 

“Officers have already identified the needs of the local population through the Interim Needs Assessment consultation, and they are looking for alternative ways to deliver the service in line with the budget, such as the Community Toilet Scheme.”

 

If the report is agreed upon in Cabinet, there will be a public consultation on this strategy starting on December 18.

 

You can view the papers on:

http://mgintranet/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=281&MId=6895&LLL=0

* Town councillors last month approved a plan to work together with the county council in a bid to save Llangollen's under-threat public toilets. 

A report from town clerk Gareth Thomas said: “The county council have indicated that if they can convert the existing toilets on Market Street to cashless operation and variable summer and winter opening times then this will reduce cost which will allow for the continued provision of the service.

“However, to facilitate this capital works are required to the building and the county council is applying to the Brilliant Basics Fund which assists in the provision of small-scale tourism infrastructure improvements across Wales and is open to local authorities and national park authorities.

“Total grant available is £300,000 with a maximum intervention rate of 80%. There is no minimum grant amount.

“The estimated cost of the works to upgrade the toilet facilities to allow for cashless payment is in the region of £40,000.

“During discussions with the county council, it was clear that a joint application would be looked upon more favourably and therefore it is proposed that the town council would contribute to the match funding requirement to a maximum of 10% and provision has made in the asset specific reserve to facilitate such a contribution in 2025-26.”

Town councillors agreed to take £4,000 from their reserves to make the 10% contribution towards the £40,000.