Author: Rhys Gregory

Swansea Council is set to invest a record amount in local communities, social care and education next year as part of Budget proposals to be considered by Cabinet next week. A report to Cabinet next week highlights an extraordinary year which has seen the council build a hospital, new schools and regenerate large parts of our city. The report also notes how the council has also supported thousands of people at risk of getting Covid-19 and keep essential day-to-day services going through the pandemic. However the Council is now also promising residents are set to see an extra £22m spent…

A bright new future for a major Swansea focal point is set to move a big step closer on February 18. Swansea Council’s cabinet is to discuss a smart new concept for the city centre Castle Square – one that introduces more greenery, fun and reasons to visit. The amount of space for people to gather, sit out and relax would remain the same. Green space would grow from today’s 25% cover to more than 40%. Biodiversity would increase and most existing trees would remain, with new trees planted. A dynamic new 21st Century concept, with a keen eye on…

Plans to invest in Rhiwbina Library to deliver additional and enhanced services for the community have been unveiled. Cardiff Council is carrying out an engagement exercise on proposals to refurbish the library building and create the newest facility in the city’s network of community hubs. The aim will be to deliver more Council and partner organisation services there, based on the theme of wellbeing. With funding from Welsh Government’s Integrated Care Fundfor the development, the Council is proposing to create new and improved reception facilities, additional meeting spaces for service delivery and community activities, new library shelving and seating areas…

New details have been announced for how Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board is ensuring that eligible people do not miss out on their chance to receive the Covid-19 vaccine. The health board is asking anyone who is within one of the following top four priority groups, but who has yet to receive a vaccination appointment, to contact them using an online form: Care home residents and staff. People aged 80 and over. Frontline health and social care workers. People aged 75 and over, and the clinically extremely vulnerable. The online form, which is available at the Cwm Taf website,…

The South Wales Law Awards is delighted to announce the nominees for the 2021 South Wales Law Awards. The volume and standard of applications have been incredible, making the short-listing process very difficult and competitive. 2020 has been the most difficult of years. However, it’s tremendous to see the legal community thriving. The nominees are as follows: Solicitor of the Year Amanda Jones – Thompsons Solicitors Mark Hobbs – Howells Solicitors Hannah Magee – Robertsons Solicitors Family Law Services of the Year Hopkins Law Robertsons Solicitors Wendy Hopkins Family Law Practice Residential Conveyancing Law Services of the Year NewBold Solicitors…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service is sad to report the loss of a third colleague to Covid-19. Alan Haigh, an emergency medical technician with 22 years’ service, died yesterday (Tuesday 09 February 2021) in hospital. Alan, who was 59 and lived in Cwmduad, Carmarthenshire, joined the ambulance service in 1998 and worked for the non-emergency patient transport service in Newquay and Lampeter. In 2008, he became an urgent care assistant, and later qualified as an emergency medical technician, based in Carmarthen, Whitland and eventually Newquay. Alan, who was originally from Farnborough, Hampshire, is survived by his wife Sian, sons Ryan, 26,…

A group of GP surgeries in the Lower Swansea Valley is now offering a remote counselling and psychotherapy service for adults experiencing emotional distress and mental health challenges alongside its programme for youngsters. The service, being brought in by the Cwmtawe Cluster (Cwmtawe Medical Group, Strawberry Place Surgery and Llansamlet Surgery), is timely with an increase in demand for such a service being widely attributed to the effects of the Covid pandemic. It is being delivered by REACH, a Swansea-based counselling service, and will for the most part see sessions carried out via telephone or video calls over the internet.…

The number of people buying private health insurance for the first time has doubled since the beginning of the Covid-19 pandemic, according to leading UK protection comparison site ActiveQuote. Sales of Private Medical Insurance (PMI) to first-time customers were up on average by 100% across November, December and January this year, compared to the amount coming through at the beginning of the pandemic across March, April, and May 2020. This newfound consumer interest in PMI shows no signs of slowing in 2021 either, with private healthcare sales to first-time buyers up 32% between December and January alone. Rod Jones, Head…

Construction on the Lakeside Wing, which is based on the grounds of the University Hospital of Wales (UHW) site, has finished with the building officially handed over to Cardiff and Vale University Health Board (CAVUHB). As of Monday 8 February, building work on the new surge facility has been completed, just 20 weeks after construction first started. This means that the ownership of the modular build has been given to the Health Board from the primary contactors, Darwin Group Ltd. Delivering an additional 234 beds, the completion of the Southern Wing of the site by Darwin Group brings the total…

Former Wales prop forward Peter Rogers has become one of the country’s oldest apprentices as he uses the skills gained whilst playing international rugby union against the world’s best teams to guide his new career in health and social care. Peter, 51, who won 18 caps for Wales and played club rugby for London Irish, Newport, Cardiff and Roma, believes it’s an ideal career for ex-professional sportsmen and women to consider. “For some people, it may not seem the most glamorous job in the world, but I would say that domiciliary health care is ideal for professional sportspeople who do…