Author: Rhys Gregory

The RSPCA has launched an appeal for information following a cat shooting in Wrexham. Officers from the charity were alerted after a female cat, named Willow, was found to have a large air pellet lodged in the bone of her leg, near to the elbow joint. Her owner – Katie Judd – rushed Willow, who is 11 and a half months old, to the vets after she was found outside her Minafon property on the evening of 18 April limping and acting very frightened. Willow had grass stains on her nose, and her face was covered in dirt. There were…

COUNCILLOR Anthony Hunt has been elected Chair of the Cardiff Capital Region (CCR) City Deal Regional Cabinet. The Torfaen County Borough Council Leader was unanimously elected to the role by the leaders of the nine other CCR City Deal local authority partners at the annual general meeting of the Regional Cabinet. Anthony Hunt brings with him a wealth of experience gained at all levels of government having worked in parliament, in Whitehall and in the National Assembly of Wales prior to taking up his current position of Leader of Torfaen Borough Council in December 2016. Anthony is also a Trustee…

In response to the Covid-19 pandemic, the Health Minister has today (Tuesday 5th May) announced new arrangements to ensure people who are shielding or self-isolating can continue to get their prescription medicines in partnership with the National Pharmacy Association, Wales’ third sector organisations and Royal Mail. The arrangements will support community pharmacies and dispensing doctors to allocate deliveries to volunteer drivers where people do not have family, friends or neighbours who can collect their prescriptions for them.  Working with the National Pharmacy Association,  Pro Delivery Manager, a web-based delivery tracking system developed in Wales to support the deliveries of prescriptions,…

The Deputy Minister and Chief Whip, Jane Hutt, has welcomed the Justice Minister Lucy Frazer’s announcement that the first residential centre for women offenders will be in Wales. Many women are sent to prison, often for low-level summary offences, where the impact of incarceration has a catastrophic impact on them and their families. The Minister also welcomed an additional £2.5m funding to further advance the Female Offending Strategy in England and Wales. The first Residential Women’s Centre in Wales will provide accommodation for vulnerable women with complex needs who would otherwise be sentenced to custody. It will also aim to…

Deliveroo and M&S have announced that customers can now order an expanded M&S Food range on the Deliveroo app, via the Cardiff store. This announcement follows the launch of more than 100 M&S BP Franchise stores in March. The extended range will mean customers can enjoy quick and easy dinner options such as restaurant quality Gastropub meals, popular prepared meals such as Indian, Chinese and Italian as well as a wide selection of M&S’s fantastic fresh produce for your own scratch cooking. Not to mention treats such as Chocolate Eclairs and New York Cheesecake, and the odd pack of Percy…

170-strong team of nursing staff have been trained to work in critical care units across North Wales and save as many lives as possible during the Covid-19 pandemic. The reinforcements have completed a fast-track course supported by Bangor University’s School of Health Sciences, more than doubling the numbers available to work in the region’s Intensive Care Units. As a result, the upskilled staff are ready to start working on the coronavirus frontline at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan and the Maelor in Wrexham. A key role in the three-day course was played by a team led…

A leading Welsh medtech company has received significant equity funding to develop the digital element of a new rapid test to support authorities fighting the coronavirus pandemic. Cardiff-based Bond Digital Health is part of an international consortium that is producing a diagnostic test for patients suspected of having Covid-19. The consortium was set up by Canadian company Sona Nanotech Inc. and includes GE Healthcare Life Sciences. The new test is based on lateral flow technology, which is used in a wide range of human diagnostics, including for infectious diseases such as cholera, malaria and HIV. The test will be affordable,…

Swansea University academics are among the world-leading experts sharing their knowledge to help Welsh sixthformers with their studies during lockdown. Staff from across the University have been compiling online content – ranging from webinars to Zoom meetings, tailored web content to talks – to help A-level students as they learn at home and prepare to enter higher education. The resources are part of the Stay Safe. Stay Learning initiative announced by Welsh Education Minister Kirsty Williams which aims to provide guidance and the tools to support learners, leaders, governors, practitioners, parents and carers in dealing with the impact of coronavirus.…

Welsh homebuilder Llanmoor Homes has announced a phased return to construction on its sites across South Wales. While construction sites have been deemed a permitted activity by Government subject to maintaining social distancing and other guidance, Llanmoor considered it essential that procedures were put in place to ensure the health and wellbeing of its workforce, their families and its customers and took the difficult decision to close the business with effect from 24th March . New working practices and protocols have now been prepared, taking into account guidance from Government, the HSE and other organisations, to allow a phased return to…

Swansea nursing students say they are proud to be able to face the challenge of joining the NHS during the pandemic. More than 700 nursing students from Swansea University opted to take on clinical roles and have begun caring for Welsh patients this week. Third-year nursing student Natalie Jenkins said: “This was definitely not the situation I expected to find myself in at this stage, and despite obvious anxieties I feel extremely privileged to have the opportunity to complete my training on the frontline.” While she admitted it would be a steep learning curve, she said: “I feel honoured to…