Author: Rhys Gregory

As the Covid-19 coronavirus pandemic continues, Bridgend County Borough Council is undertaking a range of measures to help protect the public ahead of the Easter Bank Holiday weekend. Four vehicles are being fitted with loudspeakers and a public address system which will broadcast the bilingual message “Stay home, protect the NHS, save lives.” Working closely in partnership with South Wales Police, the tannoy cars will travel the county borough broadcasting the message and will be dispatched to areas where people are reported to be breaking requirements on social distancing. Digital signage is also being set up on the primary routes…

Coronavirus has closed Wales’s historic sites but this week, Cadw has donated food supplies from its castles, abbeys and monuments to help communities across the country. With provisions taken from 24 heritage sites, Cadw has donated more than 1,000 food items to public services across Wales — including food banks, community charities, homelessness centres and local school hubs, which are still operating to support the children of key workers. Delivered in Cardiff, Rhyl, Barmouth, Pembrokeshire, Cwmbran and Pontypool, Cadw’s donation boxes comprise a selection of luxury food including: fudge, Welsh cakes, bara brith, biscuits, jams, chutneys and Easter Eggs —…

Vital health workers and people making essential journeys across Wales this Easter weekend can access the latest public transport information thanks to Traveline Cymru’s dedicated Coronavirus page. Many operators will be running a different to normal service this weekend and Traveline Cymru is regularly updating train and bus information via its page, as operators continue to alter their timetables. The Welsh Government public transport information service is supporting key workers, and those making essential journeys, following the Government’s ban on all non-essential travel in a bid to stem the spread of the virus. Through its Coronavirus page, which has been…

A specialist advice service for GPs, paramedics and other healthcare professionals caring for patients in the community has gone live in record time. Consultant Connect is an innovative phone app which allows them to obtain advice rapidly from a range of hospital consultants. It has been successfully used by the NHS in England and Scotland, and is now being introduced in Wales with Welsh Government funding. Swansea Bay is the first Welsh health board to launch it. And whereas implementing Consultant Connect usually takes six to eight weeks, the app went live this week after just 72 hours. Initially, the…

Consultants at Morriston Hospital are concerned that cardiac patients could be putting their lives at risk during the Coronavirus pandemic. Some patients appear to be avoiding hospitals and pharmacies because of the outbreak. Doctors are now urging them to continue their treatment plans, or they could become seriously ill. Four people who had previously had stents fitted have ended up back in hospital in the last week because they did not take vital medication. Others are believed to be failing to seek medical advice while suffering chest pains at home, a potential sign of a heart attack which if untreated…

17-year-old Aamir was brutally murdered at his family home in Roath on the afternoon of Sunday, April 11 2010 while waiting for his Quran teacher. One man wanted in connection with his murder, Wales’ most wanted man – Mohammed Ali Ege – has now become one of Europe’s most wanted fugitives. His face appears on the Europol website as South Wales Police continues to work with the National Crime Agency and international law enforcement agencies to trace the 42-year-old and return him to the UK. In February 2013 Ben Hope and Jason Richards were convicted of the murder Aamir Siddiqi…

People across Wales and the UK have joined in a third “Clap for Carers” tribute, to say thanks to NHS staff and other key workers involved in the fight against the coronavirus pandemic. Front-line workers including delivery drivers, supermarket staff, care workers and bin collectors were among those honoured with a round of applause at this difficult time. Thank you NHS 💙 Among those sharing their appreciation, Cadw lit up Caerphilly Castle in blue, which joined other iconic sites across Wales including the Senedd. From the safety of your own homes, your gardens, front doors or balconies, people are encouraged…

Rhondda Cynon Taf Council has thanked Wilko after the company’s generous donation of 1,000 Easter eggs – which continue to be given to young people after they were delivered on Friday. Having received the delivery from Wilko on April 3, a number of departments across the Council helped deliver the Easter eggs to the 13 emergency childcare hubs – where the children of key/essential workers (aged 3-14) and vulnerable young people (aged 3-19) each received the kind gift. A number of Easter eggs were also delivered to the Rhydyfelin Children’s Centre, for further distribution to young people across the County…

First Minister Mark Drakeford and NHS Wales are appealing to the Welsh public to download a new COVID Symptom Tracker app to help the NHS response to COVID-19 in Wales. People across Wales are being asked to log their daily symptoms to help build a clearer picture of how the virus is affecting people. The app is for everyone, not just those who are experiencing symptoms. Developed by researchers at King’s College London and healthcare science company, ZOE, the COVID-19 Symptom Tracker is already being used by more than 38,000 people in Wales, and over 2 million across the UK.…

Ministry of Furniture and sister company Ministry Graphics are making their contribution to the fight against COVID-19 by repurposing their facilities to make equipment to help frontline key workers. From its Group factory in Ystalyfera, the Ministry Graphics team has repurposed its machinery and facilities to allow it to make disposable face shields that can be used by frontline healthcare workers. It aims to be making as many as 500 a day at the site within a week. It will be supplying the face shields to organisations at a heavily discounted price and, for every item it sells, it will…