Author: Rhys Gregory

The incredible transformation of a 1950s industrial unit into a superb 2020 hospital is on track. A former motor plant factory is being transformed into the Bay Field Hospital with more than 1,000 extra beds to help the NHS fight Coronavirus. Working with contractors Kier and TRJ, Swansea Council has – at maximum capacity – more than 200 skilled tradespeople working on the project. At certain times, 24-hour working is helping to prepare the site for the NHS in around two weeks. Where there were sprawling concrete floors just two weeks ago there’s now a huge expanse of insulated wooden…

Public Health Wales has reported a sharp rise in smokers quitting amidst fears over Covid-19. Compared to recent weeks last week saw a 51% increase in referrals to NHS Wales’ Help Me Quit service following warnings that smokers face an increased risk of suffering severe complications from Covid-19. According to health experts, smokers are more at risk from the virus because they have weakened lung defences as a result of smoking which damages the cells protecting their nose, upper and lower airways. If they quit now however, they can improve their ability to fight the infection. A study carried out…

The family of a cyclist who died in a collision in Port Talbot on Wednesday have paid tribute to him. Retired British/Tata Steel worker Philip Bamsey, aged 67, who was known to all as ‘Phil,’ died on April 15 when his bicycle was involved in a collision with a Silver Ford Fiesta on Afan Way, at around 2pm. Phil is survived by his loving wife Jan and his son Chris. He is also survived by his siblings Diane, Ken, Dennis, Robert and Malcom, sadly his younger sister Elaine having passed away some 2 years previous. He worked at British/Tata steel…

Budweiser Brewing Group UK&I and their Magor Brewery are supporting the local healthcare community by producing hand sanitiser and disinfectant, which is being packaged and distributed to the local health services. It is still business as usual for the Magor brewery who brew over 1 billion pints each year, but they are doing what they can to support those in need in the local community during the current coronavirus pandemic. Magor Brewery have provided 485 litres of hand sanitiser to Gwent Police, 30 litres to the Central Beacons Mountain Rescue, as well as other local businesses including Chepstow Doctors Surgery,…

Almost 500,000 people have signed a Change.org petition calling for Captain Tom Moore to be knighted, just hours after the 99-year-old war veteran finished 100 laps of his garden to raise more than £17m for the NHS. Sonia Wilson started her petition to create enough support for Capt Moore to be recognised in the next honours list, set to be published on the Queen’s official birthday in June. She says “I’m an NHS midwife and it’s given me and my colleagues a huge morale boost to watch Captain Moore over the last few days. Not only that, but to see…

Welsh comedian Rhod Gilbert will return this week with a very special episode of his hit series Rhod Gilbert’s Work Experience as he finds out what it’s like to be a care worker. Filmed last year and broadcast as a tribute to those who are looking after our loved ones, the brand new episode will air this Friday (17 April) at 9.30pm on BBC One Wales and is the latest in a long line of career challenges for the comic. The episode sees Rhod embark on an emotional journey as he discovers how, even in more ordinary times, the work…

Economy, Transport and North Wales Minister Ken Skates released detailed information last week about this tranche of the fund, worth £200m, including eligibility criteria for businesses and charities to enable them to prepare to apply. The fund offers further financial support in dealing with coronavirus crisis and will be vital in helping organisations manage cash flow pressures. It has been designed to address gaps not currently met by schemes already announced by the UK Government, Welsh Government and Development Bank of Wales. This is a unique additional funding stream for Wales. The first stage saw the £100m Development Bank of…

A new online service, which will match employers with jobseekers looking for agricultural, land and veterinary work during the Covid-19 outbreak, has launched today. Commissioned by Welsh Government, the new pilot service is delivered by Lantra, the leading awards body for land-based industries in Wales. The service will put potential employees, with the relevant skills and experience, in touch with businesses to ensure vacancies are filled in the coming months, addressing any potential labour shortages in the sector caused by the Covid-19 outbreak. Skills matching forms are easy to complete and can be completed online at www.wales.lantra.co.uk. For individuals that…

The Museum of Cardiff might be closed during lockdown but it’s still possible to learn from the fascinating stories it holds, by taking a virtual tour of the collection, one object at a time, and downloading free activities exploring the city’s past. A picture of a different object from the collection is being posted to the museum’s social media feeds every day, along with its stories. So far the stories have included everything from a 17th century piece of treasure found by metal detectorists in a field in Pentyrch, to a wireless radio that used to belong to a gentleman…

Emergency services were called to a serious road traffic collision which occurred at 12.30am on Friday 17th April 2020 on Penycoedcae Road, Pen Y Coedcae, Pontypridd A grey Nissan Micra was involved in a collision with a stone wall. As a result the driver, a 50 year-old woman from Talbot Green, was taken by ambulance to the University Hospital of Wales for treatment to her injuries. South Wales Police wants to hear from anyone who witnessed the collision, who stopped to provide assistance or anyone who may have seen the vehicle prior to the collision and who have not yet…