The struggle of many families to work their way out of poverty and give their children a better future is something all politicians should be focusing on. Global research shows that a more equal society, where there is a smaller gap between incomes,  results in less fear of each other, and a greater desire to care for those who are elderly and vulnerable.  Our benefits system is failing and is costly to administer, and we also need to accept that the future may not hold full employment for everyone.  More women are working, technology and automation continues to drive down the need for jobs, and better health means we are working until we are older.  

Is England showing what will happen in Powys?

Over the next few weeks Community Health Councils (CHCs) across Wales will be asking people whose lives have been touched by dementia, or anyone who is a care giver, one simple question:

 What could the NHS do better to support people, as well as their families and their carers, living with dementia?

 http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/899/home

Powys Teaching Health Board are developing a new Health and Care Strategy. Whilst it doesn’t describe the detail of the developments at this stage, it does outline the direction the board feel it is important to take. More information is available on-line:

http://www.powysthb.wales.nhs.uk/health-and-care-strategy

 Thanks to the Campaign and over 3,100 signatures on the petition Powys Council Cabinet have changed their mind and the Newtown and Welshpool Potters sites will remain open but for only for 3 days / week.

The change of mind would not have happened without the large petition handed to the Council before Christmas, and the hundreds of individual questions and comments sent to them. Thank you to all those who signed. It is clear that there is a huge need for proper recycling and waste facilities here.

The Welsh Liberal Democrat Group on Powys County Council has warmly welcomed the first occasion when a member of the public has been able to table a question to Council Cabinet members at a meeting of the full County Council (27/1/17).

GPs across Wales have given a resounding message that the Conservative and UKIP policy to have elected Health Commissioners run Wales’ NHS would be a disaster for patients.

William Powell Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Mid & West Wales and Jane Dodds have written to the Chief Executive of Openreach to complain about the standard of service constituents frequently receive from his company..

Jane Dodds and Kirsty Williams visit Oswestry Health Centre

Jane Dodds, the Welsh Liberal Democrat Candidate for Montgomeryshire visited the Oswestry Health Centre last week with party leader Kirsty Williams AM.

If elected in May, Jane’s priority as an Assembly Member will be to secure an Urgent Medical Centre for Montgomeryshire, on similar lines to the Oswestry Health Centre which provides a minor injuries unit and a whole range of other care facilities plus a GP practice and a dentist all under one roof.

Commenting Jane Dodds said: “I was really impressed with the Oswestry Health Centre. It’s a convenient one-stop shop for so many health issues. People in Montgomeryshire have very limited access to urgent, nonlife-threatening care, and often have to travel to Shrewsbury or Aberystwyth even to be seen for minor injuries.”

Jane added: “The population of Oswestry is roughly17,000 people whereas Montgomeryshire is home to more than 60,000. I have lost track of the number of heart-breaking stories that people have told me on the doorstep about their health needs but it underlines the fact that Mid Wales consistently gets a poor deal when it comes to health.”

Kirsty Williams, who is also the Welsh Liberal Democrat Spokesperson for Health, commented: “Rural health care has been neglected by the Welsh Assembly Government. An Urgent Care Centre in Montgomeryshire would cut down travel times for patients and reduce the pressure on services at Shrewsbury, Telford and Bronglais Hospitals. The Oswestry Health Centre is fantastic, and I fully support Jane’s campaign for an Urgent Care Centre in Montgomeryshire.”

William Powell AM for Mid & West Wales was delighted to find that elderly pacemaker patients from Montgomeryshire are able to have Pacemaker scanners at home after a constituent visiting the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.