Author: Rhys Gregory

Due to the latest Government advice and the need to protect patients and our staff, Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board has taken the difficult decision to stop visiting to our hospitals. As of yesterday (March 24th) members of the community are asked not to visit any of our hospitals at all, except for the below: The patient is receiving end-of-life care (visiting to be agreed with clinical team) One partner or birthing partner accompanying a woman in labour and in the post-natal period for a limited time only. No other visitors will be allowed. Paediatrics and neonatal areas (one…

Philip Lane OBE, who spent ten years as Chief Executive of the British Paralympic Association, has been appointed as a Non-Executive Member of the Welsh Rugby Players Association (WRPA).   Phil was most recently the Head of Sport & Communities at Greenwich Leisure Limited (GLL), which is the UK’s largest leisure operator running more than 350 public sport and leisure centres, including the London Aquatics Centre and Copper Box Arena both opened for the London 2012 Olympic and Paralympic Summer Games. He was awarded an OBE for services to sport in 2009, after leading Britain’s Paralympic teams at Salt Lake…

The Wales Co-operative Centre has launched a Covid-19 Helpline for the social business sector in Wales. The helpline will be delivered by the Centre’s Social Business Wales programme, funded by the Welsh Government and European Regional Development Fund. Social Business Wales has a team of regional business advisors located across the country that will be on hand via telephone or video conferencing to help with enquiries about cash flow, HR, digital platforms, communications and a range of other areas which might need re-thinking in light of the Coronavirus. Latest research for the sector shows there are over 3,000 social businesses…

Cardiff Council has introduced limits on the number of people attending funerals and wedding services have been cancelled to help slow the transmission of COVID-19. From today, a maximum of ten immediate family members will be able to attend burials and cremations taking place at Thornhill Crematorium and the city’s cemeteries. All wedding ceremonies are now cancelled and due to a spring backlog caused by COVID-19, new bookings for weddings will not be taken for dates before September. No new notices of marriage are currently being taken. Cabinet Member for Environment, Cllr Michael Michael, said: “These are big milestone events…

Cardiff Council is taking over accommodation in the city to help the most vulnerable in our society. The OYO Hotel in Clare Street, Riverside – previously known as the Wynford Hotel – has been taken over by the Council to ensure that self-contained accommodation is available for rough sleepers living in Cardiff. The shipping containers in both Ely and Butetown, which were fitted out for use by homeless families, are also now being used for those homeless people who are showing symptoms of the virus and need to self-isolate. The Council’s current emergency accommodation for the homeless has a number…

Pwllheli-based videographers Kelp & Fern have created a three minute film showing the peace and tranquility of Snowdon after unprecedented levels of visitors at the weekend. The video was shot on Monday before the UK-wide lockdown. Film maker Martin Toole said: “Silent Snowdon was filmed pre lockdown in the UK when exercise and outdoor walks was recommended by the government. “Living nearby I swapped my running trainers for my camera and decided to document the peace and tranquillity of the mountain. “I adhered to the government and mountain rescue advice of social distancing and that being outdoors on walks and…

The Welsh Government is contacting people in Wales who have been identified as being at very high risk of severe illness from coronavirus. Each person will be given specific advice about how they can protect themselves, based on their individual medical history and health needs. The letters, which are currently being sent out, will include clear advice to stay at home for 12 weeks, and will list the medical, practical and emotional support available. Wales’ 22 local authorities and the Welsh Government have been working closely with the Wales Council for Voluntary Action (WCVA) to ensure everyone who receives the…

With an increasing number of people working from home or at home following the Government’s latest advice, it’s not surprising that BT’s Openreach has already seen a 20% surge in demand. Openreach, the UK’s bigger provider of broadband connections, has said they ‘confident’ that their networks can ‘deal with a big increase in people working from home’. That said, home broadband users may still see a drop in their broadband performance. There are many factors that can affect your broadband connection. The distance between your home and the telephone exchange is one, as well as the time of day that…

The West Wales region opened the doors to their Parc y Scarlets home to tackle expected overspill from hospitals dealing with the Covid-19 health crisis. The decision to hand over their stadium to help relieve the strain on services was reached discussions with the Carmarthen County Council and the Hywel Dda University Health Board. Scarlets general manager of rugby Jon Daniels said: “Community has always been a huge part of what the Scarlets is about and in unprecedented times like these communities stick together. “The health service and workers are doing an incredible job in challenging circumstances and we are…

The Red Dragon Centre will be offering free parking spaces for key workers across Cardiff Bay during the lockdown period with immediate effect. Following Government guidelines, the Centre has closed its doors to keep its staff and visitors safe. During this time, the Centre wanted to offer its car parking facilities free of charge to key workers who are working in Cardiff Bay, including supermarket workers, NHS and medical staff, and staff at the schools and nurseries nearby who have to stay open. Emma Constantinou, Marketing and Tenant Liaison Manager at The Red Dragon Centre, said: “At the Red Dragon…