In a new blog for Caerphilly Observer, Islwyn AM Rhianon Passmore reflects on a fall in unemployment figures, cancer treatment times, and tackling domestic violence.
“News is by its very nature the atypical. We are often met with a seemingly never ending supply of bad news. So before our ever-brief summer flickers away, I thought I would focus on some good news events in this, my first blog for the Caerphilly Observer.”
Unemployment figures fall
“Employment will always be one of the key issues. It gives people dignity, self-respect and an ability to meet the cost of living for themselves and their families. Without employment, individuals and communities are devastated.
“So I was delighted that over the past twelve months, Wales has seen unemployment fall faster than anywhere else in the UK and is ahead of England, Scotland and Northern Ireland, with unemployment declining at a rate more than twice the UK average, and now standing well below the UK rate of 4.9%. Over the same period, employment in Wales has also increased by 17,000 and is close to its highest recorded level.
Cancer patients receive treatment in target times
“The Labour Party is incredibly proud that it was a Labour government that created the welfare state and the National Health Service. By its very nature, the NHS will always consume huge resources and raise many challenges as science unlocks more opportunities for us to tackle disease and illness.
“So it alerted my interest that a record number of people started cancer treatment in June within the 62 day target time, according to the most recent figures. The figures show that 86.5% of people (578 of 668 patients) started treatment within the target time via the Urgent Suspected Cancer route, compared to 88.6% (535 out of 603 patients) the previous month.
“It is right that a Welsh Labour government is committed to an NHS free at the point of need and committed to investing in the care of the people of Wales.
Tackling domestic violence
“Welsh Labour’s Communities and Children Secretary, Carl Sargeant, has published a new national strategy setting out how the Welsh Labour Government will continue to tackle violence against women, domestic abuse and sexual violence, for consultation.
“The strategy builds on collective progress to date between the Welsh Labour Government and relevant organisations, and prioritises delivery in the areas of prevention, protection, and provision of support. It’s a sign of Wales’ determination and calibre that we want to be a progressive nation whose government is willing to tackle this issue with such vigour.
A great honour
“There is good news to be found, and I personally remain positive, notwithstanding the challenges that we face. I am very much looking forward to the National Assembly for Wales recommencing in September.
“It is a great honour to represent the people of Wales and the constituency of Islwyn in the Welsh Assembly and I have been touched by the amount of constituents who get in touch and have wished me well.
“I know that they find the Caerphilly Observer online and its fortnightly newspaper a great source of news following the events in the home of democracy in Wales and I look forward very much to contributing in the coming terms.”
Rhianon says:“So it alerted my interest that a record number of people started treatment in June within the 62 day target time, according to the most
recent figures. The figures show that 86.5% of people (578 of 668
patients) started treatment within the target time via the Urgent
Suspected Cancer route, compared to 88.6% (535 out of 603 patients) the
previous month”.
Rhianon highlighs the above data and of course it is probably correct, because government civil servants always ensure that such important data is
correct.
But, these figures DO NOT include the many thousands of Welsh Citizens who are referred for URGENT CANCER DIAGNOSIS by thier GP who suspects indications of cancer in a patient, but, who are then reclassified by the Health Board Staff as ` NON URGENT`, always done without any contact with the patient at all, a patient who sits at home waiting for their diagnosis appointnent, (mostly older patients according to health authority figures provided under an FOI) the result is that this then ensures the URGENT CASES WAITING LISTS, is maintained at a `manageable level` to ensure that Welsh Assembly `62 days Cancer treatment targets are largely met, these are dishonest and deliberatly distorted figures deliberatly manipulated to demonstrate that Welsh Assembly Targets are being met, they are dishonest and mainly controlled at the cost of early diagnosis of cancer in more elderly patients, ageism is alive and well in this respect while Welsh Citizens are not.
The opposition parties in the Assembly are of course, totally useless in tackling this issue, they are already aware of this situation but decide to do nothing to tackle this dishonesty in the interest of Welsh Citizens, just think how much improved Cancer survival rates in Wales Could be if someone stepped up to the mark on this institutionalised dishonesty?.