Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

Hywel Dda University Health Board is working with Ashleigh Surgery in Cardigan to ensure continued provision of GP services in the area following a resignation and future retirement of one of the partners. Dr Peter Counsell resigned from Ashleigh Surgery in January 2016 and will be leaving the Practice at the end of July. Dr Simon Knight will reach retirement age in January 2017. The Practice has been striving hard for some time to attract GPs to the area, but unfortunately has not been successful to date. In light of this, the partnership has decided to serve seven months' notice to end their General Medical Services contract with Hywel Dda University Health Board. In the short term this means that care will be provided by the same doctors, nurses and reception staff currently within the Practice, whilst the Practice and the University Health Board work with the community to find a longer term future that secures this important service for the Cardigan population. The decisio...

A Ceredigion pharmacy has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to providing appropriate support and consideration to its customers who are carers. Well Pharmacy in Cardigan has become the second pharmacy in the town to be awarded the Investors in Carers bronze level award by Hywel Dda University Health Board. The scheme, originally designed to help GP practices across the Hywel Dda area focus on and improve their carer awareness, is now being rolled out to pharmacies and selected hospital wards across the region. Pennie Muir, Regional Project Support Manager for the Investors in Carers scheme was delighted to award Well Pharmacy with their award: "The work of the pharmacies, GP surgeries and outpatients department in Cardigan means that carers in the area can get some support and help if they need it. “Pharmacies are busy places so it is good to see that the staff at Well Pharmacy are committed to helping carers." For more information about the Investors in Carers sch...

The proposed Cardigan Integrated Care Centre development continues to make steady progress, with the full business case due to be submitted to Welsh Government for approval in the coming weeks. Local stakeholders met with Hywel Dda University Health Board at a meeting last week to discuss progress on the new development, as well as hearing about how community services are continuing to developing well across Ceredigion. Updates included: South Ceredigion Community Resource Nursing Service – the team of nurses provide care and support for people with need in our community. They continue to see an increase in referrals and the service is delivering good outcomes for patients and their carers, who have provided positive feedback. Over the last quarter (January to March 2016) 80% of patients referred into the service received continued care and support enabling them to remain in their own homes. Transport – work is ongoing to develop a travel plan and to establish a Transport and Access...

A Ceredigion pharmacy has been recognised for its ongoing commitment to providing appropriate support and consideration to its customers who are carers. Caerleon Pharmacy in Cardigan has been awarded the Investors in Carers bronze level award by Hywel Dda University Health Board. The Investors in Carers scheme is designed to help GP practices across the Hywel Dda area focus on and improve their carer awareness, and enhance the help and support they give carers. The scheme is now being rolled out to pharmacies and selected hospital wards across the region. Pennie Muir, Investors in Carers Regional Project Support Officer for Hywel Dda UHB recently met with Huw Morgan and Mollie Angelow to present their award and find out about the pharmacy’s work to support carers. Proprietor and Pharmacist Huw Morgan said: “I am delighted to be part of the Investors in Carers scheme that raises awareness of carers issues and the support that is available for carers. “We are able to provide advice in ...

Hywel Dda University Health Board has taken another step forward in the development of a new Integrated Resource Centre for Cardigan and its surrounding areas, bringing health and social care provision together onto one integrated site. The Draft Outline Business Case (OBC) was submitted to Welsh Government in July 2014 and the revised version was re-submitted in December 2014. Initial feedback has been received and the University Health Board is now responding to the Welsh Government’s request for further information. As a result, the project timeline has moved on a few weeks to allow for Welsh Government’s full consideration of the draft OBC and the additional information provided. It is anticipated that, subject to the necessary approvals, the University Health Board should be in a position to commence work on developing the Full Business Case stage of the project in May. Steve Moore, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board said “We are pleased that this important proj...

People in Cardigan and surrounding areas had a chance to learn more about progress towards Cardigan Integrated Resource Centre and the future of wider healthcare services in Mid Wales, at an event hosted by Hywel Dda University Health Board. In total, more than 60 people attended either the drop-in session about the Cardigan development and new model of care or the presentation and question and answer session on the Mid Wales Healthcare Study. Both events were held at the Small World Theatre on Monday 19 January. An independent report by Professor Marcus Longley, the Mid Wales Healthcare Study recommends Bronglais Hospital is developed as a hub hospital for mid Wales and suggests ways to improve primary care and community services. University Health Board Medical Director Dr Sue Fish gave an overview of the study and its 12 recommendations at the Cardigan meeting, together with next steps. This includes the formation of a Mid Wales Healthcare Collaborative between Hywel Dda University ...

A further opportunity to find out about the new Cardigan Integrated Care Resource Centre has been planned for 14 October in Newcastle Emlyn  If you have not been able to attend any of the previous events over recent months, then this drop-in event gives local people another chance to learn about latest progress with the development and the new model of care in Ceredigion. The session will be open between 2.00pm and 6.00pm on Tuesday 14 October in the Holy Trinity Church Community Hall, Newcastle Emlyn. It is being run by the Hywel Dda University Health Board. For more information about the development and to keep updated with future events being planned, go to www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/cardigan  

Delivering care in the community and supporting patients to stay well and out of hospital has been given a boost following the start of a new cohort of community trained nurses to the enhanced community nursing service. Hywel Dda University Health Board made a commitment to build on community services to the people of Cardigan and surrounding areas. The range of treatments being provided includes wound dressings, responding to urgent requests and providing end of life nursing care. Following a period of training, the eagerly awaited nursing workforce started on 14 July and the early results are encouraging. Within the first two weeks, 27 people were referred and care was provided to people ranging in age from 16 to 90 years old, often avoiding admission to hospital and assisting discharge home. Comments received from patients and relatives have been positive and express appreciation of the support given by the enhanced community team. One relative said “May I take this opportunity to ...

A healthcare clinic, provided by specialist doctors visiting from Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board, is just one of the new services available for patients in the Cardigan area, heard stakeholders and members of the public at the latest meeting and drop-in session. For the first time, a Motor Neurone Disease (MND) specialist clinic is taking place every three months in Cardigan Hospital. It provides a local, community based service to support symptom management of the disease, which attacks the motor neurones and can affect mobility, speech and more. Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Executive lead for the Cardigan development, Director of Strategy & Integration / Therapies & Health Science, Kathryn Davies said: “The MND clinics in Cardigan illustrate the type of new service we can deliver locally in the future as we provide new ways of delivering care.” Information about the clinics and plans for the new integrated care resource centre and provision of integrat...

A further opportunity to find out about the new Cardigan Integrated Care Resource Centre has been planned by the Hywel Dda University Health Board for 18 September in Cardigan. Following two successful information events held in July, this information session has been arranged so that people who may have missed previous events have another chance to learn about latest progress with the development and the new model of care in Ceredigion. The session will be held on Thursday 18 September from 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm in St Mary’s Hall, Cardigan. Further information and event details will be provided on a regular basis through local media and our website www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/cardigan

A further opportunity to find out about the new Cardigan Integrated Care Resource Centre has been planned for 18 September in Cardigan. Following two successful information events held in July, this information session has been arranged so that people who may have missed previous events have another chance to learn about latest progress with the development and the new model of care in Ceredigion. The session will be held on Thursday 18 September from 4.00 pm – 5.00 pm in St Mary’s Hall, Cardigan. Further information and event details will be provided on a regular basis through local media and our website www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/cardigan

Hywel Dda Health Board’s Cardigan Stakeholder meeting was well attended by representatives from the health board, county council, social services, the League of Friends and many more from the local and wider community who were updated by the health board on its vision for community hospitals in the future. The health board’s Cardigan development was again described as its flagship development and it was made clear that the design of this service has the potential to be the model for future community services. Assurances were also provided that the health board is committed to providing beds and informed the group that prior to the development of a full outline business case for Welsh Government consideration, an option appraisal process will take place to determine the best use of beds, how many and where these should be allocated for the benefit of the whole community. It was also acknowledged by the health board that the project’s progress was slower than initially planned. The Outli...

Hywel Dda Health Board is exploring the possibilities that the new Cardigan Integrated Care Project could offer - potentially providing opportunities for more specialist dental care, an on-site pharmacy, in-reach, outreach and healthy living services. New partnerships with groups and organisations in other community settings are also being explored. Community and Primary Care Services General Manager Jina Hawkes explained: “We are currently working with planners and partners in primary care and social services on the final stages of a model of care that will meet the needs of the Cardigan and district population. We are also exploring a huge range of potential opportunities that a new building such as this offers – from involving local GPs, pharmacists and dental services to minor injury care and other ‘walk-in’ services. We are also working with other sectors to make this a community building for use by local residents.” Some of the services planned to be provided include: community ...

The husband of a 51-year-old care worker killed while riding her moped says a 12-month driving ban issued to the man who caused her death is an “insult to her memory”. Danny Lewis, 41,was found guilty of causing the death of Joan Morris by careless driving last week. He was acquitted by a jury at Swansea Crown Court of the more serious charge of causing death by dangerous driving. Sitting in Cardiff Crown Court on Friday morning, Judge Phillip Richards told the defendant that no punishment he delivered would be “greater than the sentence on your conscience.” Lewis, of Hawen, Penparc, Cardigan, was ordered to complete a community order of 250 hours unpaid work and has been disqualified from driving for a period of 12 months. Swansea-born Mrs Morris was the wife of Alan Morris, communications manager for Hybi Cig Cymru and a former editor of the South Wales Guardian newspaper in Ammanford. Mr Morris issued the following statement after the sentencing - As a family, we are disappointed a...

As the winter months approach again it is important for people to start thinking about getting their seasonal flu jab. To help their patients access this year’s vaccine Ashleigh Surgery & Cardigan Health Centre will be running drop in clinics for their registered patients at Cardigan Swimming Pool Hall on 1st, 2nd, 8th & 9th October 2012. Cardigan Health Centre and Ashleigh Surgery patients who are aged over 65 or in an ‘at risk category’ are invited to turn up at the Swimming Pool Hall between 9am – 7pm - no appointment needed. Vicki Jenkins & Tracey Huggins, Practice Managers at Ashleigh Surgery & Cardigan Health Centre are encouraging their patients to take up the opportunity: “Protecting yourself against seasonal flu is a simple way to prevent unnecessary risk to your health over winter. Anyone can get flu and the flu virus is easily passed from person to person and can spread rapidly. Most people recover from a bout of flu uneventfully but complications c...

Hospital beds will be included in the Cardigan healthcare development, health chiefs have pledged. Hywel Dda Health Board Chief Executive Trevor Purt has confirmed intentions to make the Cardigan integrated health and social care development the ‘diamond in the ring’ of community investment projects. He said: “There has been some speculation in the community, so I would like to make it clear that this health board is committed to providing to the Cardigan development, and beds will be included as part of the business case currently being developed. “Our project board and GPs are discussing the detail, including the requirements for how many and what type of beds are required as well as the design and layout of the building, and there is also involvement from the stakeholder board, which has wide local representation.” Land for the development has been secured and contracts have been exchanged. The project board is now developing the Outline Business Case, which is due to be submitt...

The Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match raised a staggering £11,078 for Healing The Wounds, the Welsh PTSD charity. The event was organised by soldier's mum Deana Collins. Deana's son Dan tragically lost his life on New Year's Day 2012. With the help of Deana's friends and Dan's mates from the Welsh Guards, the Dan Collins Memorial Rugby Match kicked off at Cardigan Rugby Club, with the Healing The Wounds charity's Patron, Nigel Owens, giving his time to kindly referee the match. The day turned out to be very warm and sunny with lots of supporters young and old joining the fun and a fabulous day was had by everyone. A delicious barbecue was available and Healing the Wounds Mascot 'Dylan Draig' made a welcome appearance that added to the fun theme of the day. A fund-raising auction was also held. Healing the Wounds would like thank everyone involved - All at Cardigan Rugby Club for providing the venue, the Male Voice Choir who entertained pre-match...

Hywel Dda Health Board | Local community getting involved with new health facility for Cardigan The first meeting of the Cardigan Integrated Health and Social Care Project Stakeholder Board has taken place. The discussion on a new health facility was very positive. The land has recently been secured and contracts have been exchanged.

Crime pays for Skate Park initiative! | Dyfed Powys Police | Heddlu Dyfed Powys It’s not everyday that you can say crime pays – but thanks to the Dyfed-Powys Police Incentivisation Fund, a local youth programme has received £1,000. The cash, which paid towards a design and construction project at Cardigan Skate Park, was obtained as a result of Police successfully seizing and confiscating criminal assets. Small World Theatre put together the initiative, which will work with skate park users and young people Not in Education, Employment or Training (NEETS).

A sheltered housing project in Cardigan is reaping the rewards of a powerful new alliance of six construction companies in South West Wales. The Bro Teifi complex now has a new private garden thanks to the ‘working together’ group of construction companies. The improvement works were carried out under the direction of HM Building Services, of Narberth, as part of new pilot project in the construction industry. “Thanks to HM Building Services and the ‘working together’ group we have transformed what was a muddy and unusable piece of waste ground into an attractive area for our residents,” said Louize Davies, the warden at Bro Teifi. HM Building Services and the ‘working together’ group donated their labour free of charge so that Tai Ceredigion could push ahead with their plans at Bro Teifi. “It’s been a hugely rewarding experience for us,” said HM Building Services proprietor Mark Thomson. “All our staff got a big boost in helping to carry out the works and improve the area. “It cost...