Extra surge and step-down beds in some hospitals, more medical and Out of Hours support staff and extended MIU opening hours during the peak holiday season – these are just some of the additional measures Hywel Dda is planning to put in place to counter what is expected to be an extremely difficult winter period.

With well-documented seasonal pressures now becoming year-round pressures, the health board is planning a number of operational interventions to ensure that we can continue to treat patients in the most appropriate way for their need.  This means adopting a whole-system approach which brings together acute hospitals, primary care and community settings as well as local authority and the third sector.

The plans, which will be considered at a full meeting of the health board on Thursday, 29 November 2018, include:

• Extra Out of Hours support with Advanced Paramedic Practitioners and an advice doctor joining the service
• More community staff to support extra interim care beds in Ceredigion
• Extra weekend support with more medical staff, dedicated discharge vehicles in the north and south of the Health Board, and additional therapy staff
• An extra 12 inpatient beds at Withybush General Hospital, as well as GP support at the front door during afternoons and evenings
• An ambitious and targeted flu campaign for the public and our staff
• Greater access to cardiology services to ensure patients receive quicker access to specialist tests
• Plans to develop bridging services (additional domiciliary care packages to address delayed starts of packages of care)
• Closer collaboration with care homes in Llanelli, with a view to increasing the number of beds available
• An expansion of care at home through the Acute Response Team 
• Nationally facilitated initiatives to support the launch of NHS111 across the health board

In addition, the health board is also planning to add extra resilience to services during the 18 days between 21 December 2018 to 6 January 2019, when nine days within this busy period are weekends or bank holidays. 

This includes extending MIU opening hours; extra support to improve discharge – such as therapies, pharmacy, cardio-physiology and support staff; an additional Middle Grade / Consultant focused on discharge at weekends and bank holidays, and extended community pharmacy hours over weekends and bank holidays.

But we can’t do this on our own.  We need every single member of the public to play their part – and there are a number of ways you can help.

To ensure that we can treat patients who have a medical emergency, and to avoid ambulances queuing outside our A&Es or being diverted to other hospitals, we’re urging people to be Winter Wise and choose your healthcare services very carefully – for more information visit http://www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/winterwise. This will give you advice and support on choosing the right healthcare service for your need, so that we are only seeing people with urgent or emergency care needs in A&E.  Remember – every patient that turns up to A&E with a condition that could be better treated in the community, by their GP or pharmacist, or in an MIU, adds pressure on the system and means waiting times for acutely unwell patients will continue to increase.

Also, if you have a friend, family member or loved one who is medically well enough to be discharged from hospital, please help us by coming to pick them up promptly.  This will allow us to free up beds faster for acutely unwell patients and keep the patient flow steady through our hospitals. It is also important that people do not choose to remain in hospital if they are waiting to be discharged to their preferred care home; hospital is for acutely ill people and a safe and prompt discharge to the most appropriate place is essential and will achieve the best outcome for that person and their family.

Members of the public and healthcare staff are also being urged to protect themselves, their families and patients by having the flu jab. Flu can cause serious illness and can even be life threatening to people in at-risk groups so it’s essential that the public do all they can to protect themselves and others.

Joe Teape, Deputy Chief Executive and Director of Operations, said: “Last winter brought unprecedented pressures to NHS health boards and trusts across the UK and it’s fair to say that Hywel Dda experienced some really difficult periods trying to deliver urgent and emergency care services.

“Demand is so high that it’s felt like we’ve been in winter since last summer – the pressure hasn’t eased and what people don’t see is the very real knock-on effect that this has on patients with the most urgent care needs.  This could mean ambulances being delayed or diverted to other hospitals, because they can’t transfer patients immediately into busy A&E departments if there isn’t a bed available for them; it could mean that an operation you’ve been waiting for months to have being cancelled on the day you’re meant to have it because we might not have a bed for you.

“The health board has plans in place to help ease some of these pressures and hopefully enable us to see and treat patients the way we want to, but we can’t do it alone and we urgently need the public to help us.

“The NHS is here for all of us and we are extremely lucky to have it, but if we want it to look after us we’ve got to make sure we look after it too.”

The latest podcast from Phil Evans and Robert Lloyd.

The Big Cwtsh – Episode 35.

More than 200 elite professionals gathered at the Exchange Hotel, Cardiff, to celebrate their achievements at the Welsh Hospitality Awards and to recognise the growth of the country’s hospitality industry.

The coveted awards acknowledged the commitment of local professionals and establishments, from restaurants, bars, hotels to festivals and venues that have stood out from the rest due to their dedication to customer satisfaction. 

Parc y Scarlets is one of the premier conference and events venues in West Wales. As well as being home to Scarlets Rugby we also offer first class facilities for non-match day events including dinners, concerts and exhibitions. 

Hosting more than 500 events every year, with an average rugby attendance of over 10,000 in 2017-18 season and crossing the threshold of 1 million rugby tickets sold, Parc y Scarlets was named Sports Venue of the Year 2018.

Up against prestigious venues such as Principality Stadium and Chepstow Racecourse Parc y Scarlets was awarded for recent successes with the top award.

Parc y Scarlets General Manager Carrie Gillam said: “It was a huge honour to be nominated in this category and to be up against such iconic venues as the Principality Stadium.

“Parc y Scarlets is synonymous with rugby but we have a huge array of events in our back catalogue, from international football to live music events that showcase the stadium as the premier conference and events venue in West Wales. 

“Winning such a prestigious award is a privilege but is also fantastic recognition of the hard work done by our small team of dedicated staff.”

A spokesman for the Welsh Hospitality Awards 2018 said: “The Welsh hospitality industry has grown significantly over the years and this has introduced new challenges to the professionals who work within this sector.  The customer expectations have been increased but these winners are the experts in meeting their customers’ needs and demands. 

“The winners, chosen by members of the public, are a true reflection of the commitment, quality and impeccable customer service that flow in the hospitality industry. The awards also showcased those individuals that work tirelessly to achieve industry leading success, client satisfaction and all these while promoting excellence in the hospitality sector.

“We would like to congratulate all winners and finalists for their amazing achievements.”

Ospreys Rugby and Ospreys in the Community will once again join Stonewall’s award-winning Rainbow Laces campaign this weekend.

This year’s campaign from Stonewall, the UK’s leading charity for lesbian, gay, bi and trans equality, is challenging fans and athletes to be ‘active allies’ and to play their part in ensuring LGBT people feel included in sport. 

We want to ensure that the Liberty Stadium, and rugby as a sport, is an inclusive environment for everyone, regardless of age, gender, ability or sexuality and the two organisations will jointly showcase our backing for Rainbow Laces at the Guinness PRO14 game aginst Zebre (30th November).

Players and staff at the Ospreys and OitC have been invited to wear the famous rainbow laces on Friday to show their support. We will also be visibly backing the campaign across our social media channels in the lead up to the match as well as on our big screens in bowl pre match to underline the strong message.

This year’s Rainbow Laces campaign is running from Saturday 17th November until Friday 7th December. 

The list of sports take part in this year’s campaign has grown exponentially, and now includes the British Olympic Association (Team GB), British Judo, English and Wales Cricket Board, English Football League,  England Netball, England Rugby, England Rounders, the Football Association, the Football Association of Wales, the Football Association Women’s Super League and Championship, Great Britain Wheelchair Rugby, Premier League, Premiership Rugby, Professional Darts Corporation, Rounders England, Scottish Athletics, Scottish Professional Football League, Tyrells Premier 15s Women’s England Rugby UK Athletics, Welsh Athletics, Welsh Football Premier Leagues, Welsh Regional Rugby teams and Welsh Rugby Union. 

The Rainbow Laces campaign is made possible by TeamPride, a consortium of 10 organisations committed to making sport everyone’s game. TeamPride members are adidas, Aon, Asos, Aviva, Barclays, eBay, Manchester United, Premier League, Sky Sports and Visa. 

Andrew Millward, Managing Director Ospreys Rugby, commented on the campaign:

“We remain absolutely committed to ensuring that the Liberty Stadium is a welcoming and inclusive environment for everyone. We are proud to have a diverse workforce and support base, and want to send a strong message that whatever your sexuality, gender, age or ability, you are part of the team.

“We are proud to support a campaign that is encouraging everybody to think about their behaviour and the environment we create at the Ospreys.”

Kirsty Clarke, Stonewall’s Director of Sport, said: 

“We’re proud to have the support of the Ospreys for our Rainbow Laces campaign. It’s great to see organisations like the Ospreys standing up as allies to LGBT people in sport and beyond. Their commitment to lacing up shows what an appetite there is for positive change across the sporting world.”

For more information about Stonewall’s Rainbow Laces Campaign, visit: http://www.stonewall.org.uk/our-work/campaigns/rainbowlaces

Drop-in sessions have been arranged for Allied Healthcare staff in Carmarthenshire, following news that their employment is to be transferred to Carmarthenshire County Council.

Staff will have the opportunity to meet members of the council’s domiciliary care management team and human resources officers.

Letters have been issued to all those affected, and they are strongly advised to attend so that they can ask questions about the transfer of their employment and receive an information pack.

The transfer of employment and care packages is due to take place on December 11.

The sessions will take place between 1pm-5pm on the following dates:

• Tuesday, November 27 – Llanelli Leisure Centre
• Wednesday, November 28 – Cartref Cynnes, Llansteffan Road, Carmarthen
• Thursday, December 6 – Llanelli Leisure Centre

Link to earlier story – http://rlloydpr.co.uk/2018/11/19/council-takes-action-after-allied-healthcare-announcement/

The Welsh Government’s First Minister has described the project to restore Llanelli Railway Goods Shed for community use as an exciting plan for the future of Llanelli.

First Minister Carwyn Jones AM visited the Goods Shed site in Marsh Street to take part in a remembrance service to pay tribute to the 13 men from the Great Western Railway who died during World War One.

He also joined members of the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust and development partners for a fact-finding tour of the shed building.

Planning permission has been granted for the renovation of the shed and the establishment of a community hub, heritage centre, arts facility and offices.

The First Minister said after his visit: “I think it has got wonderful potential. I’ve seen buildings like this refurbished and brought back into use as offices and different types of accommodation. Buildings like this are tremendous assets for the towns that they are in.

“I think it’s marvellous that the Trust is here to help develop this building and it’s going to be an exciting project for the future.”

Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli and Chair of the Goods Shed Trust, said: “We were all delighted to see the interest the First Minister expressed in the project to restore the Railway Goods Shed here in Llanelli. It’s an ambitious scheme, but one which is important for our town and the surrounding area.

“The project is currently priced at £2.6million and the Trust is working hard to secure funding for the project from a number of sources. We are confident that we have developed a sustainable plan which will save this Grade II Listed building, which is one of the last of its kind, and develop it for community use. We are developing a number of exciting partnerships with other organisations and business to help achieve our goals.”

Ms Griffith added: “One of the things we want to do with the shed is to explore the heritage of Llanelli’s great industrial history.

“We are developing innovative ways of doing that and working closely with local schools to make sure the children of Llanelli understand more about the heritage of their town.

“The remembrance service for former employees of the GWR is just one of the ways we have used to explore the heritage of Llanelli and increase awareness of Llanelli’s industrial history.”

The Rev Eldon Phillips, a trustee of the Goods Shed, conducted the remembrance service which saw temporary memorial plaques (to be replaced later with permanent memorials) unveiled at the Goods Shed.

The service was attended by ceremonial standard bearers from the Royal British Legion and associated veterans’ organisations.

Ms Griffith added: “It was a very solemn occasion, to mark the sad loss of 13 men who worked for the Great Western Railway Company here in Llanelli during World War One.”

The remembrance service was attended by the Deputy Lord Lieutenant of Dyfed Lt Col David Mathias, Deputy Llanelli Town Mayor Suzy Curry and representatives of the Railway Goods Shed Trust, including George Parker, who led the team who carried out the research into the war dead.

The congregation included representatives of the current site owners, Network Rail, and Llanelli Railway Station, school children from Ysgol Penrhos, Coedcae School, Ysgol Maes y Morfa and Bigyn School. They joined civic dignitaries and veterans in laying 13 wreaths at the Goods Shed – one for every name on the memorial.

The First Minister Carwyn Jones laid the first wreath and said: “It is a great honour to be with you all here today to remember all those brave young men who gave their lives all those years ago so we can stand here today and enjoy our freedom.”

Sam Hadley, senior public affairs manager for Network Rail Wales and Borders, said: “We were very proud to play a role in this fitting tribute to the railwaymen of Llanelli who lost their lives in the Great War.

“The First Minister clearly recognised the potential of this historic railway building and we will continue to work collaboratively with the Goods Shed Trust on their plans to restore and reopen the shed for community use.”

Facebook – https://www.facebook.com/LlanelliRailwayGoodsShed

Twitter – @LlanelliRGST

Website – http://llanellirailwaygoodsshedtrust.org.uk/

The remembrance service at the shed.

Carwyn Jones addresses the congregation, flanked by Rev Eldon Phillips and Nia Griffith, MP for Llanelli.

Bob Thomas, chairman of Llanelli Veterans’ Association, salutes the wreaths at the Goods Shed.

First Minister Carwyn Jones and Llanelli MP Nia Griffith with some of the schoolchildren who took part in the service.

First Minister Carwyn Jones and Llanelli MP Nia Griffith with Llanelli Veterans’ Association.

First Minister Carwyn Jones with members of the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust.

First Minister Carwyn Jones with members of the Llanelli Railway Goods Shed Trust inside the main shed hall.