Author: Rhys Gregory

Virtual consultations across NHS Wales services are to be expanded to include virtual group clinics, for outpatients across primary, secondary and community care, the Health Minister, Vaughan Gething has announced. The use of  video consultations, called Attend Anywhere, has expanded rapidly over recent months and has helped to ensure patients continue to safely access healthcare services during the pandemic. To date, just under 11,000 GP consultations and almost 62,000 secondary and community care appointments have already taken place virtually in Wales. Virtual group clinics are the next stage in Welsh Government’s commitment to bringing care closer to home and will…

The Government of the British Antarctic Territory has announced 28 new place names in the Territory. One of them, Thomas Glacier (Palmer Land, Antarctic Peninsula), is named after Professor David N. Thomas, Honorary Professor at Bangor University. Professor Thomas moved from Bangor University to the University of Helsinki this summer. Prior to this move he had served as Pro Vice-Chancellor, Research, and as the Head of the School of Ocean Sciences at Bangor University. The new Antarctic place-names mark the 200th Anniversary of the Discovery of Antarctica. These place-names honour those who have made an exceptional contribution to furthering the understanding, protection…

Wizz Air UK, the UK-registered subsidiary of Europe’s fastest growing and greenest airline group, today announced a new base at Cardiff Airport, which will be its fourth alongside London Luton, Gatwick and Doncaster Sheffield. The airline will allocate one Airbus A321 aircraft to Cardiff, a new airport for Wizz Air’s services, and will launch nine new leisure routes. The new base will offer year-round ultra-low fares from Cardiff for the first time, with connections to sun destinations including Alicante, Faro, Larnaca and Tenerife as well as seasonal routes during the summer to Corfu, Heraklion and Palma de Mallorca and routes…

The University of Wales Trinity Saint David has appointed Jessica Leigh-Jones, MBE, co-founder and Chief Executive of the CareerTech company iungo, as a Visiting Professor supported by the Royal Academy of Engineering to develop the next generation of intrapreneurial graduates to drive innovation in manufacturing in Wales. Intrapreneurs perform the role of entrepreneur but from within an organisation. They possess the entrepreneurial skills to identify new opportunities, develop new ideas, commercialise new products, and occupy a strategic role within an organisation. Intrapreneurs are supported by the resources of their organisation to deliver ambitious projects that have the potential to enhance…

THE Welsh Ambulance Service’s control rooms are among the best in the world, it’s been confirmed. The Trust has been re-awarded Accredited Centre of Excellence status by the International Academy of Emergency Dispatch for the quality of service delivered in its Clinical Contact Centres. More than half a million 999 calls are processed every year from its three emergency Clinical Contact Centres in Conwy, Carmarthenshire and Torfaen. Director of Operations Lee Brooks said: “Our Clinical Contact Centre colleagues are the beating heart of our emergency ambulance service and we’re thrilled that they’ve been recognised for their commitment to excellence. “Every…

Virgin Media has today switched on Wales’ fastest home broadband, delivering connectivity more than 18 times faster than the average in the Welsh capital. Virgin Media’s next-generation Gig1 broadband, providing average download speeds of 1,140Mbps, is now available across its entire network in Cardiff and surrounding areas such as Adamstown, Ely, Grangetown, Lisvane, Pentwyn, Rumney, Saint Mellons, Thornhill and Whitchurch. Cardiff is joined by homes across South Wales in Virgin Media’s latest gigabit switch-on. Other areas set to benefit include Barry, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Glamorgan, Port Talbot and Rhondda Cynon Taf. The major broadband boost for Wales comes at a time…

One of the UK’s leading timber groups has strengthened its team with a new appointment. Premier Forest Group has appointed Gary Pugh as branch manager of Mill Timber Direct, its sawmill outlet store near Crumlin. Gary brings a wealth of experience with him to his new role. In addition to 20 years within the builders merchant sector, in which he developed an extensive knowledge of the local construction industry, Gary has also honed his managerial skills running his own business. Outside of work, Gary is passionate about rugby, particularly at the grassroots level, and spends his weekends coaching the Pontypridd…

The RSPCA has launched an appeal for information after two ponies were found on common land at Gelligaer with serious welfare problems. Officers from the animal welfare charity worked in partnership with Caerphilly Council, Redwings, World Horse Welfare and The British Horse Society to help the horses on Friday (27 November). A grey stallion pony and a bay orphaned foal were identified on the land with serious welfare problems – and had to be taken from Gelligaer Common, with the equines seized by the local authority on veterinary advice. Sadly, a very serious eye condition affecting the grey stallion had…

Two local companies from Powys are in the running to be named one of the best rural businesses in the UK after being shortlisted in the 2020/21 final of the Amazon-backed Rural Business Awards. PM Training and Assessing Ltd from Brecon has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Innovation category and Llanwrtyd Wells Community Transport Ltd from Builth Wells has been shortlisted in the Best Rural Social Enterprise, Charity or Community Project category in the 2020/21 Rural Business Awards, held in partnership with Amazon. The Rural Business Awards 2020/21 will mark the Awards’ sixth year of celebrating the success of businesses across the…

Nando’s is turning up the heat in south Wales, having announced the opening of its new Bridgend restaurant, opening its doors to local Welsh PERi-PERi fans from 8th December 2020. Nando’s Bridgend will seat 56 hungry customers at launch, with social distancing measures in place (79 at full capacity), as well as an additional 8 seats on the restaurant’s ‘Treehouse’ mezzanine (16 at full capacity). The new opening will also create up to 26 new jobs in the area. Regional Managing Director, Samantha Neal, said: “We’re very excited to unveil Nando’s new Bridgend site, which has been built using mostly…