Dear resident,
Please find below my monthly update on my work in Montgomeryshire and the Assembly.
This month, I have been getting to grips with my new role, chairing the influential National Assembly Committee on Economy, Infrastructure & Skills.
Closer to home, there have been some significant developments on healthcare matters and the re-configuration of health services for Mid Wales so I will provide a detailed update below and a summary of the other issues which I have been working on.
Please assume, that if an issue is not mentioned, it is not an indication that I’m not involved or supporting it, but I hope you will understand that each month I select different areas to report on.
As always, if you feel that I can help you in any way, please don’t hesitate to contact me on 01686 610887 or by email at [email protected]
Best regards,
Russell George
National Assembly Member for Montgomeryshire
Reconfiguration of Health Services in Shropshire
I believe in the common-sense approach that NHS services should be delivered as close as possible to home.
There is a real sense of deep frustration that access to healthcare is moving further away from our local communities as services are centralised in more densely populated areas, meaning that we have to travel longer distances to obtain quality health provision.
Most of us in North Powys depend heavily on services provided across our border by The Shrewsbury and Telford Hospital NHS Trust. As residents of Mid Wales, there is real concern as services are moved from the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital to Telford.
The people of Montgomeryshire have clearly stated that they want services to be retained and strengthened in Shrewsbury. Therefore, while no decision has been officially made, it was encouraging to learn from a ‘leaked’ report that the non-financial, evidence-based assessment seems to point to the retention of A&E services at the Royal Shrewsbury. If the speculation is confirmed by Future Fit, the organisation which has been charged with making a decision on naming a preferred site for emergency and other health services, it will be a victory for common sense as both Glyn Davies MP and I have always maintained that emergency care serving Shropshire and Mid Wales should be located in the centre of the region, Shrewsbury.
Regrettably, the Future Fit Programme Board has delayed a formal recommendation due to concerns around the decision making process and there is justifiable concern at the uncertainty and ongoing delays surrounding the process of evaluating the future provision of health services in both Shrewsbury and Telford.
I understand that the next stage in the decision making process will be the financial appraisal of the different options and it is hoped that the recommendations will then go out from the Future Fit Programme Board for a 12 week public consultation between December of this year and March 2017. I would encourage you all to respond to the consultation when it is published and I will let you know how you can do this in due course.
The delivery of the best possible health services for the people of Mid Wales has to be the top priority. I will continue to campaign for the best possible outcome for residents in Montgomeryshire.
Day Centres for Older People Consultation
Powys County Council is presently consulting on options with regards to the future of Council run day centres. They have called the consultation ‘day time activities for older people’. My own view is that day centres offer an invaluable service and should be retained and supported.
As one of the options in the consultation is to close current centres (all be it that the consultation document is suggesting other models of services), the consultation is causing enormous concern amongst the users of day centres and their families. I have visited all the day centres across Montgomeryshire and am aware of the many health and well-being benefits older people in our rural community receive by visiting the day centres.
The day centres are vitally important to those who use them by receiving much needed social interaction along with the many other services available; such as bathing, hair dressing and an opportunity for a good meal. The centres also of course offer much needed respite to the users’ families.
With a service that is so vitally important to so many people in our community I am very disappointed by the inaccessibility of this consultation, which is why I am highlighting this issue in my update. Details of the consultation appear to be primarily available online and therefore may not be accessible to the very people at which it is aimed. Paper copies are available from libraries and council offices.
The consultation also seems to be aimed at the user and their families, rather than the wider public. The consultation document is lengthy and I would further urge people not to feel obliged to respond in the prescribed way. You can present your views in your own format. I do believe that Powys County Council have fallen short in their public engagement in this consultation.
Powys County Council are running a small number of meetings throughout the area. Unfortunately, I and your elected representatives have been excluded by Powys County Council from attending. All said, they did offer to meet with me separately, and last week I met with the Cabinet member responsible and senior council officers which allowed me to raise my concerns.
I urge you to engage with the consultation which runs until 9th November 2016.
If you unable to access a computer please contribute in either of the following ways:
• Call Powys County Council on 0845 602 7030 and request a paper copy of the consultation.
• Visit your library and request a copy of the consultation.
• You are also able to write with your views (without completing a survey) by sending them to:
Day Time Activities Consultation, Communications Team, County Hall, Llandrindod Wells, Powys. LD1 5LG
For those that have internet access, please visit Powys County Council’s website on www.powys.gov.uk for more details on the ‘Day Time Activities for Older people Consultation’ All responses must be received by Powys County Council no later than 5pm on 9th November 2016. I will be feeding into this consultation with a strong view that day centres should remain in our communities as a vital asset for our older generation and their families. Please also feel free to copy me in to your response – [email protected]
Supporting Breast Cancer Now, Macmillan & British Lung Foundation
Over the last month, I have been pleased to be able to support a range of healthcare charities.
Earlier this month, I was joined by pupils form the Montgomery Church in Wales Primary School, who were on a school visit to the Senedd, to support Breast Cancer Now’s Wear it Pink campaign which is calling on people to raise money for Breast Cancer Now’s life-saving breast cancer research.
I also added my support to Macmillan Cancer Support in advance of their “World’s Biggest Coffee Morning” and took part in the British Lung Foundation’s “listen to your lungs” campaign by taking the BLF's online breath test to raise awareness of lung disease and the measures which we can all take to check our lung health.
Broadband
The Welsh Government has recently committed to delivering “fast reliable broadband to every property in Wales”, in its Programme for Government for 2016 – 2021. Regrettably, this Programme for Government contains no targets for delivery, and no detail about the when, where and how it is actually going to deliver its laudable aims of promoting digital connectivity and delivering universal access to fast reliable broadband. There is still a gap in digital coverage in rural Powys and the reality is that 50 per cent of properties in rural Wales still don’t have access to superfast broadband.
Earlier this month, the final evaluation of the Superfast Cymru programme was published which highlighted some significant concerns, including issues with the availability of historical and forward-looking information for the public on the timetable for the roll-out of superfast broadband. This has been a frustration of literally hundreds of residents who have contacted me about the broadband upgrade over the last few years. I am pleased that I have secured an hour long debate on broadband next month. I will keep up the pressure on the Welsh Government as the programme approaches its conclusion.
Mobile - Welshpool and Llanidloes
I was inundated by residents complaining about the deterioration in EE’s mobile coverage in the Welshpool area. I am on the EE network myself, and have experienced the issue when working in and around the area. Over the course of a few days, I raised the issue with senior staff within EE, and the issues are now resolved to a point.
I’m also aware of issues of the O2 signal in Llanidloes deteriorating, which I hope has now been resolved. The issue of poor mobile signal in rural areas especially is a matter I raised with the regulator OFCOM again this month when I met them at the Assembly.
Transport - Rail
I have recently had the opportunity to ask the Welsh Government about the cancellation of services on the Cambrian Line throughout this summer which left commuters stranded on platforms at little or no notice without any public information or replacement bus services.
This is unacceptable and I was pleased that I had the opportunity to raise the matter with the Cabinet Secretary for Transport, Ken Skates AM. I am pleased that Mr Skates confirmed that he has met with Arriva Trains Wales to express his dissatisfaction at the inadequate summer of rail services which commuters in Montgomeryshire have experienced and has signalled his intention to ensure that the next rail franchise which is up for award in the near future meets the demands of passengers in Mid Wales who rely on the Cambrian line for their daily transport needs.
Bovine TB
One of the most moving letters which I received this month was from a farming family who highlighted the devastating personal and financial distress which bovine TB has on farming families in rural communities across Montgomeryshire.
I had the opportunity to read this letter out in full in the Assembly Chamber during a debate on the effects of Bovine TB and there is no more powerful way to communicate the effects of this devastating disease than using the words of those who have been affected.
In my view, it is now essential that the Welsh Government takes immediate action to adopt a comprehensive, scientifically-led programme of bovine TB eradication, recognising that stringent cattle controls and additional biosecurity will not be sufficient in eradicating this disease.
I urge the Welsh Government to work closely with farmers, farming unions, scientists and rural communities to develop a new comprehensive strategy which will end the scourge of Bovine TB once and for all.
Mid Wales Tourism
Earlier this month, I questioned the First Minister on the fact that not a single penny of the £8.3 million spent by Visit Wales, is spent on promoting Mid Wales as a specific destination to visit. Mid Wales has a huge amount to offer, from the coastal path, beautiful market towns and fantastic mountain ranges. It has a countryside other holiday regions in Britain would die for and I want to see the Welsh Government shout about these assets from the roof tops.
Tourism is a critical driver in economic development and job creation and it is clear that the Welsh Government is failing to foster the right conditions for growth in this crucial sector for the Mid Wales economy. I would like to see the industry in the driving seat in promoting Mid Wales’ unique tourism offer. It is therefore high time that the Welsh Government considers removing Visit Wales from Government control, introducing an industry-led approach to the visitor economy so that our tourism industry can deliver on its great potential.
Exhibition - Montgomery Town Crier
I was delighted to recently launch an exhibition at the National Assembly for Wales of a painting of the Montgomery Town Crier, Sue Blower, by talented local artist, Daniel Yeomans. Prominently displayed in the Senedd Oriel, the painting will be on display throughout October. At the launch event, attended by Montgomery residents, we were even treated to a special proclamation from Sue, complete with bell ringing, describing the creation of the painting by Daniel. Sue is a wonderful ambassador for Montgomery and it was my pleasure to support such a talented local artist and showcase original art from Montgomeryshire.
Advice Mid Wales
Advice Mid Wales in Machynlleth offers a drop in service every Monday, Wednesday and Friday from 10:30 to 14:00. providing advice to people in the Mid Wales area. More information is on their website: www.advicemidwales.org.uk and their address and phone number is as follows: Advice Mid Wales, The Care Centre, Forge Road, Machynlleth, Powys SY20 8EQ. 01654 700192
Advice Surgeries
I will be holding an advice surgery in Llanidloes this Saturday (22nd October). I hold advice surgeries in my Newtown or Welshpool offices most Fridays. If you would like to make an appointment, please call my office on 01686 610887 or email [email protected]