Author: Rhys Gregory

A new digital service called Patients Know Best (PKB) is helping empower patients to be more involved in their care by securely giving them access to their own health records. [aoa id=”1″] As well as having 24/7 access to their records, patients can now choose who they want to share the information with, and work much more closely and easily with clinicians to manage their future care as a team. Care plans can be created digitally with input from patients and clinicians, and videos and other media content to help patients better understand their condition and manage care are also available.…

Eleven-month-old Eden Olive was at M&S Culverhouse Cross this week to accept a cheque from the store on behalf of the Noah’s Ark Charity.  Colleagues and customers at the store have raised more than £13,500 over the last year for the charity’s Tiny Lives Appeal. The money will fund new breast pumps for the neonatal unit at the University Hospital for Wales.   [aoa id=”1″]The neonatal unit currently cares for more than 560 babies from across Wales each year and is the only centre in the country to provide treatment to babies needing surgery. The Tiny Lives Appeal was launched by…

Work has started to breathe new life into an historic Swansea location which was previously a work base for hundreds of council staff. Cross Hands-based Enzo’s Homes has moved construction workers onto the site of Penllergaer’s former Lliw Valley Civic Centre. They will build 80 homes, with a show home expected to be open by mid-November and the project completed in late 2020. The site was once home to renowned botanist and photography pioneer John Dillwyn Llewelyn. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] The company’s Enzo Sauro met Clive Lloyd, Swansea Council’s cabinet member for business transformation and performance, on the site to mark…

Presenter Andrea Byrne returns to our screens on Monday 20th August in a new series of the ITV Wales true crime series, ‘Crime Files’. Andrea will reveal the evidence from more of Wales’ most intriguing criminal cases and get exclusive access to police files and interviews with suspects. [aoa id=”1″] The third series features cases from around Wales including the killing of Flintshire 15 year old Janet Commins. Andrea reveals how remarkable DNA evidence led police to reopen the case over 40 years after the schoolgirl was killed. Other cases include the murder of Barry teenager Conner Marshall in Porthcawl’s…

Kier has revealed the success of its skills initiative that aims to provide training and career opportunities within the built environment as it looks to tackle the skills shortage facing the construction industry. [aoa id=”1″] Over the past 12 months, the company has helped 45 individuals into full time employment, organised work experience placements for 56 young people, taken on 42 apprentices across five projects in the area and Kier colleagues have volunteered almost 1,400 hours working in the community. Working with the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB), Kier has also launched an Education and Engagement Programme and held a…

Children at Ysgol Bae Baglan were proud to welcome Hollywood star Michael Sheen to hear about the school holiday scheme they attend. [aoa id=”1″] The visit was an opportunity for Michael to hear about how the School Holiday Enrichment Programme (SHEP) uses school facilities during the summer holidays to encourage children between the ages of 9 to 11 to become more active, eat healthily and develop friendships. Everyone who attends the programme is given a healthy breakfast and lunch, and takes part in a number of physical, educational and enrichment sessions throughout the day. During the visit, Michael sat…

Good weather and calm seas have helped Porthcawl’s all-new sea defences to make great progress during the summer heatwave. More than 116 of the 185 new terraces have been set in place and the £3m project is running according to schedule. Intended to protect 260 seafront properties and businesses from flooding and coastal erosion, the £3m initiative is replacing ageing sea defences at the town’s famous ‘tarmac beach’. When complete, the terraces will be joined by a sand-coloured hard surface to create an attractive, all-new look for the popular location. [aoa id=”1″][/aoa] Residents and visitors will be able to find…

Newport City Council’s annual Jobs Fair takes place this year on Thursday 23 August at Pill Millennium Centre, from 10am to 1pm. Many jobs will be on offer once again from a wide range of businesses. Organised by the council’s Work Based Learning Academy (WBLA), it is run in partnership with Jobcentre Plus. [aoa id=”1″] Last year businesses were delighted with the number of people who attended and the quality of potential candidates. Companies looking for recruits this time include Dean Close Nurseries, Amberport/PortSec Security, The Gym Group, United Living, Newport Norse, Allied Healthcare, Q Care, Liberty Steel, Wastesavers, Cordant…

Rhondda Cynon Taf council’s Planning and Development Committee has approved a planning application for the new HQ of the Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) in Treforest – which will bring more than 1,500 jobs to the area. [aoa id=”1″] At the Committee meeting on Thursday, August 16, Members considered two separate applications relating to the scheme. The first was for a 14,844sq/m Class B1 office building development which includes 252 car parking spaces and 170 cycle parking spaces. The second was for a change of use of land to a car park, to provide an extra 192 car parking spaces to…

Talented Welsh chefs eager to make a name for themselves are being encouraged to put their skills to the test in two prestigious competitions. [aoa id=”1″] The quest to find the best chefs in Wales has begun with the launch of the National and Junior Chef of Wales contests. Chefs must get their entries in to the Culinary Association of Wales (CAW) by the September 30 deadline. Entry forms may be downloaded at: http://www.welshculinaryassociation.com/index.php/competitions/ From the entries, which must include the chef’s own creative menu, a panel of judges will select regional finalists who will be given three hours to…