Author: Rhys Gregory

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…

Mae BookTrust Cymru yn lansio hwb digidol newydd i helpu i ddifyrru plant a theuluoedd sydd gartref, ac i rannu llyfrau, straeon a rhigymau gan rai o hoff awduron, darlunwyr a storïwyr Cymru. Bydd BookTrust Cymru HomeTime – AmserGartref BookTrust Cymru yn cynnwys darlleniadau o lyfrau wedi’u ffilmio, sesiynau rhigwm a chân, llyfrau stori a llun rhyngweithiol a llawer iawn mwy. Mae awduron, darlunwyr a storïwyr o bob cwr o Gymru’n cyfrannu’u gwaith i helpu plant a theuluoedd ddod drwy’r amser anodd hwn tra bo’r ysgolion ar gau a bywyd arferol wedi’i gyfyngu. Bydd AmserGartref BookTrust Cymru yn rhoi cyfle…

BookTrust Cymru are launching a new digital hub to help entertain children and families at home and share books, stories and rhymes from some of Wales’s favourite writers, illustrators and storytellers.  BookTrust Cymru HomeTime – AmserGartref BookTrust Cymru will include filmed book readings, rhyme and song sessions, interactive picture books and much more. Authors, illustrators and storytellers from across Wales are contributing their work to help children and families through this difficult time when our schools are closed and normal life is restricted.  BookTrust Cymru HomeTime will shine a light on some of the great talent that we have in Wales and…

Care home owners in Wales have protested they are being put under pressure to admit patients from hospitals when they haven’t got access to tests and enough personal protective equipment to shield residents and staff from the coronavirus. Mary Wimbury, the chief executive of Care Forum Wales, has written to First Minister Mark Drakeford saying they Welsh Government appeared to be willing to sacrifice 20,000 vulnerable care home residents. She called on Prof Drakeford to disclose the Welsh Government’s own risk assessment in relation to discharging patients from hospitals to care homes. While she understood the importance of creating more…

Principality Building Society has donated £60,000 to its charity partners, the Alzheimer’s Society Cymru and the Teenage Cancer Trust Cymru. The donation, which is split equally between both charities, will go a long way in supporting the local services they provide in Wales during the COVID-19 crisis. The funding will help Alzheimer’s Society provide increased support to people living with dementia and isolating through its Dementia Connect service, as well as supporting Teenage Cancer Trust, who provide specialist nursing care and emotional support for young people with cancer at its dedicated unit at the University Hospital of Wales. With an…

Training courses to get new and returning health care workers into hospitals quickly as demand rises due to COVID-19 are taking place at Swansea’s Liberty Stadium. Newly-registered nurses, new health care support workers (HCSWs), existing clinical staff and medical students are among those on specially designed, fast-track induction programs delivered by the nurse education team at Swansea Bay University Heath Board. The size of the venue, left, means larger numbers of trainees can go through the training programs while still being able to observe social distancing measures. Moving training out of the hospitals has also freed up clinical areas for…

While we’re in lockdown and dealing with a very different world to the one we’re used to, it’s easy to get distracted by social media. Keeping in touch with family and friends while cooped up is vitally important for our happiness, and also our mental health. But social media could also cause us problems if we’re not careful, particularly if we share more information than we normally would. Rachael Medhurst, cyber security lecturer at the Newport Campus-based National Cyber Security Academy (NCSA), explains how an innocent social media post could help hackers learn lots more about you than you realise.…