November Newsletter
Dear All,
Please find below an update on the issues which I have been working on over the last month. If you have any feedback, please don’t hesitate to contact me by email [email protected] or by phoning 01686 610887.
Newtown Bypass
The Welsh Government has recently confirmed that it will progress its preferred option for the Newtown bypass, and that construction work on the bypass can now begin. I’m told that construction work will begin next month, and that the bypass will be completed by the end of 2017.
Welshpool Traffic
A couple of weeks ago, I welcomed the Welsh Government’s Minister for Economy Science & Transport, Edwina Hart AM, on a visit to Welshpool to discuss on-going concerns relating to pedestrian safety and the
town’s one way system.
Last year, I conducted a survey of people in the Welshpool area, asking for their views on the town's one-way system. It would seem that there is a consensus that a number of alterations would support the better flow of traffic in the town including the idea of Brook Street becoming two-way.
I was pleased that the Minister was receptive to the idea of alterations being made and she has committed her officials to reviewing the proposals to return Brook Street to two-way traffic next year.
Education
I have been sent a copy of a letter from Powys County Council’s Chief Executive and Director of Education, which was sent to its external consultants, Sbectrwm, who have recently undertaken a consultation exercise on the future provision of secondary education in North Powys.
During the consultation process, I received reports from concerned constituents at the unprofessional way in which some of the drop in sessions were conducted by Sbectrwm who, according to concerned parents, failed to allow parents to ask questions, express their views or participate in the meeting.
I was therefore concerned to receive a copy of a letter from the Chief Executive of Powys County Council, addressed to the Managing Director of Sbectrwm, in which the Chief Executive appeared to disregard parents’ concerns about the process and also offered an apology to Sbectrwm for the way in which they were held responsible for organisational failures at the meeting.
There are a number of questions which still require an answer from the Council’s leadership including what evidence the Chief Executive has for making these suggestions, and why the Council felt it had to apologise to its consultants. I hope to have an opportunity to raise this issue directly with the CEO.
Health
GP recruitment
The recruitment and retention of GPs is rapidly becoming a crisis for the NHS across Wales as a result of poor workforce planning. Many doctors are close to retirement age, with too few younger medics stepping in to replace them.
I recently met with local GPs and Powys Teaching Health Board to discuss the issues in Mid Wales.
There are currently five surgeries in Montgomeryshire attempting to recruit GPs. As a result of the retirement of a number of GPs, several practices are having to make changes to ensure a high level of care is not compromised.
This has involved increasing the expertise of nursing and pharmacy staff as well as increasing the receptionist role so that patients can be guided to the right health care professional. The priorities are making sure that the most unwell or in need are seen and treated promptly while making sure that patients who need the skills of a GP can see one.
For example, the medical practice in Newtown has been attempting to recruit for the last three years without success. From Monday 2nd November, if you are a patient of the Newtown Medical Practice and you feel that you need same-day medical care, your call will be dealt with by the ShropDoc nurse-led telephone triage service who will direct patients to the right member of the Newtown clinical team.
In Machynlleth, Powys Teaching Health Board are working closely with the practice to actively recruit appropriate staff including GPs to maintain a fully functioning and safe practice.
In Llanfyllin, I understand that key staff members have been unwell for extended periods. Therefore, waiting times for routine GP appointments has increased. However, patients who need to be seen before the next available appointment have and will continue to be seen by the duty team. I understand that the situation is improving and some locum GP time has been secured for the New Year which will improve matters.
Local GPs have highlighted to me that most GP practices will ring you before visiting to ensure that it is the best course of action for you so please be prepared to give as much information as you can to the clinician you speak to so that you receive the most appropriate care.
The shortage of GPs nationally, combined with the local challenges of recruiting GPs in Mid Wales, is also clearly a much wider issue that needs to be addressed by the Welsh and UK Governments. For my part, I have asked the Welsh Government to intervene to promote local GP vacancies in Mid Wales on its website to supplement the current efforts of Powys Teaching Health Board.
Dentists
I recently met with officers of Powys Teaching Health Board who have assured me that there are plans in-situ for the continuity of an NHS dental service in Llanfyllin and plans are being arranged for a new dentist to be in place by the new year at the latest for the Machynlleth Dental Practice.
If you are struggling to register with an NHS dentist, please contact me.
Mobile Coverage
Since I covered the issue of the lack of mobile coverage in my October newsletter, I have been bombarded with letters and emails complaining at the deterioration in coverage.
As a result, I have called for mobile operators, particularly EE, to urgently address mobile coverage issues in North Powys.
In response to the numerous complaints received in relation to the difficulties experienced by EE customers in Mid Wales, specifically in the Newtown and Llanfyllin areas, I also contacted Ofcom, the telecoms regulator, to highlight the issues which have been experienced by residents.
I understand that recent issues can be attributed to EE continuing to decommission mobile masts following a mast sharing agreement between EE and Three, and the deployment of infrastructure to support 4G.
Ofcom informs me that EE now intends to take action to alleviate the recent problems in the Newtown area by providing additional capacity and is considering the possibility of re-commissioning a mast.
This Friday, I will also be convening a meeting of mobile network operators for community representatives to discuss ways in which coverage can be improved in Montgomeryshire. I think it's important to bring the network operators to Mid Wales so that they can hear directly from community leaders about the day to day difficulties which residents experience when trying to make a simple phone call or send a text message.
I will update you on the result of this meeting in my December newsletter but in the meantime, if you are experiencing on-going mobile coverage issues or have experienced a deterioration in service, I would like to hear from you. Please contact me by email: [email protected] or by phone: 01686 610887 to report any problems.
Saturday Drop in Surgeries
I am currently offering a different type of advice surgery. My team and I will be in the following areas between 10.30am and 12.30pm on the following dates speaking to people on the doorstep about the issues which affect them. If you wish to make a specific appointment either at these locations, or on a different date at my Newtown or Welshpool office, please contact me
14/11/15 – Arddleen
21/11/15 – Kerry
28/11/15 – Guilsfield
05/12/15 – Welshpool
12/12/15 – Meifod