In his regular blog for Caerphilly Observer South Wales East AM Lindsay Whittle gives his take on recent news.
Tour of Britain
I’m still buzzing after attending the culmination of Stage Four of the Tour of Britain cycle race in Caerphilly.
I don’t think anyone could have been other than impressed by the spectacle of these top level cyclists in action.
Local residents and visitors lined the streets and we were blessed with great weather.
It was also great that local primary schools took part in a relay race before the 96 cyclists arrived. Congratulations to all those involved and to the winners Bedwas Junior, runners-up Cwm Ifor Primary and third place The Twyn school third.
Caerphilly Council now has an excellent reputation for putting on big events like the Big Cheese and that was enhanced by the Tour of Britain race.
Hugely disappointing though was the cancellation of the BBC Proms in the Park at Caerphilly because of the high winds. Many fans had braved the elements.
I hope that it will be possible to bring the event back to Caerphilly next year. Only Boys Aloud deserve extra special praise for performing their two songs in howling gales. True Welsh music spirit.
Ysbyty Ystrad Fawr
This landmark hospital at Ystrad Mynach is due to open shortly and it will mean a step change for health care in the county borough.
However, I’ve written to the Aneurin Bevan Health Board to raise the issue of Accident & Emergency Unit facilities.
Lindsay Whittle
Plaid Cymru South Wales East AM
I have heard these rumours, about lack of A & E, too. I have also been told, by both doctors and nurses, that the operating theatre facilities will be deficient as well.
I heartily agree with Lindsay that we must have A&E and a 24 hour one, at that.
Lindsay`s concerns in respect to the new hospital at Ystrad Mynach and a lack of conformation that a 24 hour A&E provision for citizens of its catchment area are very wellcome and he must be supported in his efforts.
This apparent lack of essential health provision within the Anuerin Bevan Trust, is not uncommon, for instance it has no proper emergency Dental provision, the Cardiff Dental School Emergency `drop in` provision is no longer available to patients from Caerphilly, as it was, unless you live in the Cardiff and Vale Health Trust area you are not treated as an emergency at the dental clinic. All Health Trusts are supposed to provide emergency Dental Care Facilities, and the one we all financially contribute to at the `Heath` has now been `hijacked` by Cardiff and Vale Trust as THEIR emergency provision for Dental Treatment. Thankfully, Lindsay tells me he is also onto that one.
The Anuerin Bevan Health Trust has also decided to share your and my personal health records with many other outside bodies. They have established an on line system whereby our personal records can be accessed by any Tom Dick or Harry, mine should be secure as I have contacted them and denied them the opportunity to place my personal records on that system. None of the people who now have access to your medical records are Health Professionals or people who have any contribution to your health care.
The politicians, and the Labour, Welsh Health Minister, should move for a Root and Branch review of this Gwent Trust to see where the Money really is being spent, and that they are providing the Health Care Provisions in Gwent which are reasonably expected by Gwent Citizens
Having said all that, it is necessery to say that I have absolutely no gripes or complaints, but only praise, for all the health care `hands on clinicians` and other personal health care providers in the health care system in Gwent. Managers and planners,Administrators and accountants, and those paid politicians and others sitting on the Anuerin Health Board need to have their respective roles subjectively questioned and reviewed.