The annual Hywel Dda programme to encourage people in eligible groups across mid and west Wales to have a vaccination to protect themselves from influenza (flu), a virus that can cause serious illness, is being launched today (Thursday, 27 September).

This will complement the national Beat Flu campaign which launches (3rd October), led by Public Health Wales.

This year Hywel Dda has developed a localised campaign aimed at bringing together every resident in mid and west Wales to tackle this problem as one collective community. The superhero based theme is a call to action urging residents to become a “superprotector” by getting vaccinated which will ultimately help protect themselves, patients, their families, colleagues and neighbours from catching flu.

The theme will be introduced across Hywel Dda sites using visuals and messaging that have been developed to be eye catching, memorable and mean something to those that that view the messages with a hope that they are encouraged to make the effort to receive their flu vaccination.

We have particular challenges around flu vaccination uptake in the Hywel Dda region so whilst the campaign calls on everyone to get vaccinated it also focuses specifically groups that are eligible for a free vaccination which include NHS staff, pregnant women, people with certain chronic long term health conditions (a full list can be found below), and everyone aged 65 and over. We are also encouraging everyone, whether eligible for a free NHS vaccine or not, to have the vaccination to help prevent the spread of flu.

Children aged two to ten years (age on 31st August 2018) are also eligible as the vaccine programme for children is again being extended this year. The vaccine for adults is a small injection, but for children it is a simple nasal spray. Children aged between two and three years can receive the nasal vaccine at their GP surgery while those in reception class and every primary school (years 1-6) can get it at school.

To support the principle that the fight against flu is something we all need to work together to win the Hywel Dda University Health Board Executive Directors and Independent Members have held their own vaccination session at today’s Board meeting in Ceredigion to show their support and commitment to the campaign.

Ros Jervis, Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda University Health Board, who launched the campaign today, reiterated it is vital that those most at risk take advantage of the free vaccine: “Influenza can be a life-threatening illness for people who are at risk due to their age, an underlying health problem, or because they are pregnant. Sadly, influenza kills people in Wales every year.

“Influenza spreads very easily. Extending the programme to more children this year will help protect them from catching flu, and will also prevent them spreading it to others in the community who may be very vulnerable. I particularly call on the parents of 2-3 year old children to get their children vaccinated with the simple nasal spray this year as the statistics show as few as six 2-3 year old children vaccinated prevents one case of flu – this age group has the best opportunity over all others to help stop the spread of flu – they are our ultimate “superprotectors”.

“People can be seriously ill with influenza, and a flu vaccination is the best way to protect against it, so I call on each and every person in the Hywel Dda region including all our own staff to join us in helping prevent the spread of this virus by getting vaccinated and help make our local community a safer place to live this winter.”

While most NHS flu vaccines are given in GP surgeries, free vaccination is also available for some eligible adults in many community pharmacies across Wales. Carers, volunteers providing planned emergency first aid, Community First Responders  and for the first time this year, people working in care homes that have regular client contact are also entitled to the vaccine. It’s also recommended that frontline health and social care workers have the free vaccine to protect themselves and those they care for. They can talk to their occupational health department or employer about where and when they can get their vaccine.

Important information about influenza and the vaccine

Influenza is a respiratory illness caused by a virus that affects the lungs and airways. Symptoms generally come on suddenly, and can include fever, chills, headache, cough, body aches and fatigue.

The influenza virus is spread via droplets which are sprayed into the air when an infected person coughs or sneezes. Direct contact with contaminated hands or surfaces can also spread infection. It can spread rapidly, especially in closed communities such as hospitals, residential homes and schools.

The influenza viruses that circulate and cause illness each winter change and therefore each year the flu vaccine is changed to try and match the circulating strains, in order to give best protection.

Find out more by visiting www.beatflu.org or www.curwchffliw.org or finding Beat Flu or Curwch Ffliw on Twitter and Facebook.

FURTHER INFORMATION ABOUT INFLUENZA

• Most people who are fit and well recover fully from influenza, but some need hospital treatment.

• Thousands of people die from flu in the UK in a typical year.
• Flu strains differ from year to year so it’s important to have a flu vaccine every year, ideally before flu starts to circulate.
• Having a long-term health condition increases a person’s risk of being very ill from flu with the risk of death typically over 10 times higher than in those not in a risk group, and up to 50 times higher for some conditions.
• Last winter, over half of adults under 65 who were at increased risk of flu and its
complications did not have their free annual flu vaccine.
• This flu season the vaccine offered will depend on a person’s age, based on which vaccine works best in their age groups which will help improve effectiveness. Different vaccines are recommended according to age:
• Children aged 2 and over – Live attenuated influenza vaccine (LAIV) nasal spray
• Under 65 years – Quadrivalent influenza vaccine (QIV) injection
• Age 65 and over – Adjuvanted trivalent influenza vaccine (aTIV) injection
• The nasal spray vaccine works best in children and the ‘adjuvanted’ flu vaccine (aTIV) is more effective in those aged 65 and over, especially in those age 75 and over.
• This is the first year that people working in care homes can have their flu vaccination free at their community pharmacy, all those with regular client contact will be eligible.

Eligible groups include:
• People aged 65 or over
• People from 6 months to 64 years of age with a long-term health condition including, chest problems (including moderate to severe asthma), heart disease, kidney disease, liver disease, diabetes, neurological conditions including stroke, poor functioning or absent spleen and lowered immunity due to a health condition, medication or treatment for cancer (the immuno-compromised)
• Adults with a Body Mass Index (BMI) of 40 or above (morbidly obese)
• Pregnant women
• Children aged two or three years old (age on 31 August 2018)
• Children in primary school
• Care home staff with regular client contact
• Carers who are unpaid – either family or volunteers
• Anyone resident in a care home
• Community First Responders
• People working in voluntary organisations providing planned first aid, such as St John’s Ambulance

The vaccine is also recommended for all frontline health and social care workers provided their employer.

Photos:

Campaign poster

Director of Public Health for Hywel Dda UHB, Ros Jervis, receiving her influenza vaccine

The Ospreys Development team are in Celtic Cup action on Friday evening, and here’s how they lineup.

Looking for their second win away from home, top of table 2 holders the Ospreys Development travel to Dublin to face Leinster A tomorrow evening for round four of the Celtic Cup, K.O 7:30pm.

Ospreys Development –

15. Dewi Cross; 14. Dylan Moss; 13. Tom Williams; 12. Callum Carson; 11. Joe Jenkins; 10. Josh Thomas; 9. Reuben Morgan-Williams; 1.Rhys Davies; 2. Ifan Phillips ©; 3. Mitchell Walsh; 4. Matthew Dodd; 5. James Ratti; 6. Charlie Davies; 7. Morgan Morris; 8. Guido Volpi.

Replacements – 16. Dewi Lake; 17. Jordan Walters; 18. Rhys Henry; 19. Jay Williams; 20. Joe Grabham; 21. Iwan Temblett; 22. Frankie Jones; 23. Caine Woolerton.

Speaking ahead of the game, head coach Richard Fussell said: “I think we learnt a lot from last weekend’s game against Connacht. If we’re giving away penalties and cheap opportunities, then our opposition are going to use that against us. First and foremost, we’ve got to look at ourselves and make sure we have our house in order and that we don’t give the opposition those opportunities. I thought the boys responded well in the second half, whereas in the first half we struggled to get into the game. We defended really well in the first half, our defensive sets were great but we definitely had areas to build on.

“Second half we got into the game a bit more, so hopefully we can create opportunities in this game like we did in the last. Its going to be massive for us but if we get our setpiece functioning, it gives us a decent platform to build off. Leinster are going to be a formidable outfit, they are three from three at the moment and we’re going over there. Hopefully we can get stuck into them and deliver a performance for 80 minutes. I think that’s going to be the real challenge for these boys, we have to start straight away. When we do we’re a decent outfit, so hopefully we can come away with a good result.”

Llanelli’s Welsh Assembly member and the constituency’s Member of Parliament have put out a joint statement following yesterday’s special ‘NHS Change’ meeting held by the Hywel Dda University Health Board in Carmarthen.

It reads –

Lee Waters AM and Nia Griffith MP welcome retention of services at Prince Philip General Hospital.

Llanelli’s AM and MP have welcomed Hywel Dda Health Board’s proposal to keep Prince Philip as a General Hospital with acute services, such as Minor Injuries, remaining in Llanelli.

The announcement comes after vigorous opposition by local campaign group SOSSPAN, supported by the MP and AM, to prevent a downgrade to a community hospital.

Lee Waters AM said: “I’m glad that the Health Board listened to the strong representations that Nia and I made to them. Turning Prince Phillip into a Community Hospital was not on.”

Nia Griffith MP said: “We welcome the announcement today by the Hywel Dda Health Board to keep Prince Philip Hospital as a General Hospital and to keep acute medicine here in Llanelli, and I welcome close cooperation with ABMU, the Swansea Health Board.”

But both warned that the move of some of the planned operations out of Prince Phillip and all from Glangwili hospital into a new purpose built super-hospital near Whitland will need to be carefully managed.

Nia Griffith said: “The new hospital will be an hour away by car for most people in the Llanelli constituency, and many will be closer to hospitals in Swansea and along the M4. It’s essential that there are no bureaucratic boundaries between the health boards which get in the way of people being treated as close to home as possible”.

Lee Waters added: “About 25% of households don’t have a car and we need to make sure they can easily access the healthcare they need. And we need to make sure we can the most of digital communication so that people can have face-to-face contact without always needing to travel.”

The MP and AM will tell Health Secretary Vaughan Gething that Prince Philip needs to receive continued investment to secure a long term future.

Nia Griffith MP added: “We will be keeping close watch on the further development of the Board’s thinking on emergency, urgent and planned care.”

Lee Waters also said he was very concerned about the announcement that mental health services for the most serious cases will be provided outside of the area.

He added: “I’m worried that the new Mental Health treatment unit that was being planned for Llanelli will now be placed at the proposed new hospital near Whitland, alongside the planned new assessment unit. Llanelli is still on course to have a Community mental health centre, but that will not deal with more serious cases. Nia and I will be meeting with the Health Board to discuss this.”

See earlier post –

Here’s the verdict from today’s special Hywel Dda Health Board meeting

Match Report – Cardiff Met v Carmarthen Town  (25 September 2018)

Cardiff Met (3)  Carmarthen Town (1)   Nathanial MG League Cup R2

Carmarthen deservedly crashed out of the League Cup after a very disappointing performance that was a complete contrast to their impressive display of attacking football which earned them a comfortable victory in the WPL match between these sides at Richmond Park only three weeks ago.

The early stages of this match were decidedly uneventful with the play being largely confined to unproductive midfield exchanges as both sides squandered possession all too easily.

But all that changed after 8 minutes when Mael Davies initiated a slick move that carved open the Met defence.  Town’s stylish midfielder, from the centre-circle, threaded the ball through to Liam Thomas who, with a slick pass, instantly set Luke Bowen sprinting forward to the edge of the penalty area where the experienced on-form striker dispatched a fierce angled drive that flew past ‘keeper Max Manson and into the far corner of the net – that was his fifth goal in the last six matches.

Yet that simply prompted the hosts to enliven their performance and they began to monopolise possession, methodically building attacks from deep positions and increasingly probing the Old Gold defence.  And on 14 minutes they drew level.  Will Evans on the left flank fired a huge cross to the far side of the penalty area where Dylan Rees struck a low angled shot that was smartly blocked by ‘keeper Lee Idzi – however the ball fell nicely for Rhys Thomas who had the simple task of stabbing it into the net from close-range.

The Met continued to dictate the pattern and pace of the game with the play largely confined to the visitors’ half.  Yet for a spell they were unable to again pierce the Town defence very much due to the assured performance of Dave Vincent, making a rare start this season, while alongside him Lewis Baldwin impressed on his Carmarthen debut looking strong, mobile and composed under pressure.

Town could make only rare progress with occasional counter-attacks.  But in the 32^ndminute they went close to regaining the lead – Tyrrell Webbe, from the half-way line, made a powerful run along the left touchline before sending an inviting cross into the penalty area where Bowen struck a stunning volley that was resisted by Manson, turning the ball away with an excellent flying save.

After 38 minutes the hosts were similarly denied a goal.  Chris Baker played the ball across the edge of the penalty area to Eliot Evans who dispatched a rasping strike that drew a smart save from Idzi.

But in the final minute of the first-half the Met went ahead very much due to a mix-up in the Old Gold defence.  Joel Edwards, from the left-wing, sent a deep cross into the goalmouth where Idzi and Declan Carroll both fatally hesitated in clearing the danger which allowed Baker the time and space to dart in and stab the ball home from close-range.

After the interval the game became more open and fast-paced as the play switched quickly from end to end although neither side could make any real impression on the opposition defence and no early scoring chances emerged.

For Carmarthen the principal architect of their midfield progress was Mael Davies, forever looking calm and confident in possession as well as accurate and penetrative with his distribution – but with his usual midfield partners, Ceri Morgan, Greg Walters and Luke Cummings, all on the subs bench for this cup-tie he was often short of effective help in that area.

Yet both sides were unable to make much progress and it was not until the 71^stminute that any decent scoring opportunity arose – and that was due to a defensive error. Vincent, on the edge of his own penalty area, allowed Tim Parker to rob him of the ball and the tall striker instantly struck a crisp shot that Idzi, stretching high, just managed to claim.

Remarkably, Town’s only notable scoring effort in a very uninspiring second-half came in the 81^stminute when Bowen broke clear of the Met back-line and raced into the penalty area before releasing a fierce angled drive that Manson blocked with a smart save – the loose ball rebounded out to Carroll and he sent it across to Sean Hanbury who saw his promising strike turned past the post by Manson diving quickly down at full length.

However the hosts finished the match as the more determined and stronger side.  On 86 minutes Adam Roscrow sprinted along the left touchline to reach the by-line then delivered a cross into the goalmouth where Will Evans, with time and space, wastefully fired the ball over the bar.

But moments afterwards any chance that the Old Gold might possibly stage a late recovery was effectively extinguished.  Following a Cardiff Met corner Lee Surman (who had only been on the field as a substitute for 8 minutes) was sent-off, evidently for an “off-the-ball incident” involving Parker.  While the resulting penalty was squandered by Roscrow, blasting the ball high over the bar, it was not too long before he helped to make victory secure by setting up a third goal.

In the second minute of added time, with Town pressing upfield in the faint hope of snatching a late equaliser, Roscrow broke free along the left-wing and into the penalty area – as Idzi advanced to challenge him he slid the ball across to Parker, completely alone, who had the simple task of firing it into the unguarded net.

A miserable finish to a generally miserable match – it seems to be a very long time ago since the Old Gold were dominating this League Cup competition, winning the trophy twice in successive seasons!!

Town must now very quickly recover and regroup since their next two matches can hardly be more challenging – on Saturday (September 29^thk/o 2.30pm) they visit Connah’s Quay who currently lie second in the WPL, while the following week-end (October 6^thk/o 2.30pm) they entertain perpetual League Champions and current leaders TNS.

Team:

Lee Idzi;  Jordan Vickers (sub Jordan Knott sub 66);  Lewis Baldwin;  Dave Vincent (sub Lee Surman 79);  Tyrrell Webbe (sub Greg Walters 66);  Jay Woodford; Mael Davies;  Declan Carroll;  Liam Thomas; Luke Bowen;  Sean Hanbury;

Unused subs:  Luke Cummings;  Ceri Morgan;

Goal:  Luke Bowen (8);

Cards:  (R) Lee Surman (87).