Leighton Andrews

Leighton Andrews supports the World's Biggest Coffee morning for Macmillan

Leighton Andrews supported Macmillan Cancer Support's World's Biggest Coffee Morning on Wednesday 27th September 2013 at the Senedd. 

He is also calling on the people of The Rhondda to get involved by holding their own coffee mornings, to help make the cancer charity’s fund-raiser the biggest and best ever.

Leighton said: “In Wales more than 18,000 people are diagnosed with cancer each year.  I know that a considerable number of constituents have personal experience of cancer, and I know that Macmillan has been there to support many of those in need. 

“Macmillan Cancer Support is there for people from the moment they are diagnosed, with medical and practical help, as well as emotional and financial support. 

“It is a great idea because everyone likes tea, coffee, cake and a chat - it brings people together and is an easy and fun way to raise money for Macmillan.  Every penny you raise will help people with cancer.”

Last year thousands of people across Wales took part in coffee morning helping to raise funds for Macmillan. This year the charity hopes to raise even more money to help fund vital cancer services across the country. 

Susan Morris, General Manager for Macmillan Cancer Support in Wales, commented:

“Macmillan in Wales would like to say a huge thank you to Leighton Andrews for supporting the World’s Biggest Coffee Morning.  The money raised will fund cancer services in Wales.

“With the number of people living with cancer in Wales expected to reach 240,000 by 2030, Macmillan Cancer Support wants to ensure that no-one faces cancer alone.

“Money raised by events such as World’s Biggest Coffee Morning helped Macmillan to spend £3.2m on its services in Wales last year alone, including funding our nurses and providing £545,000 in grants to people affected by cancer.”

Now in its 23^rd year, World’s Biggest Coffee Morning raised an amazing £15m for Macmillan last year alone.

To sign up to host a coffee morning, call 0300 1000 200 or visit www.macmillan.org.uk/coffee.

For information or support relating to cancer, call Macmillan’s Support
Line on 0808 808 00 00 (8am to 8pm Monday to Friday) or visit www.macmillan.org.uk.

South Wales NHS programme summer update

The South Wales Programme proposes fundamental changes to the way in which
hospital  services are delivered to the Rhondda and to others throughout
South Wales. The consultation document refers to a ‘best-fit’ model based on a
five-hospital Option 3 with key services of consultant-led maternity and
neo-natal care, inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at
the Heath in Cardiff, Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre
planned for Cwmbran, Prince Charles in Merthyr  and Princess of Wales in Bridgend.

I believe that this proposal is not the best option for either my Rhondda
constituents or the South Wales population as a whole.

I do not dispute the case for change, nor the challenges facing the NHS in Wales.
However, my conclusions from assessing the evidence are different. I believe
that the interests of South Wales and South Powys are better served by Option
4, with these key services of consultant-led maternity and neo-natal care,
inpatient children’s services and emergency medicine based at Heath in Cardiff,
Morriston in Swansea, the new critical care centre planned for Cwmbran, Prince
Charles in Merthyr  and the Royal Glamorgan hospital.

I sent in a full submission to the consultation, arguing

• 
  Option 3 will result in serious and unequalled
  pressures on maternity and neo-natal services at UHW
• 
  Option 4 would address this risk
• 
  The financial arguments are significantly in
  favour of Option 4
• 
  Option 3 will produce worse health outcomes
  and accentuate health inequalities
• 
  Travel issues for patient visitors and
  elective patients have not been properly considered
• 
  Emergency journey times would increase and
  treatment outcomes for those in the most significant areas of deprivation could
  be worsened
• 
  As an alternative, the SWP should consider a
  further option, based around a joint governance model for the two M4 corridor
  hospitals at PoW and Royal Glamorgan, with consultant-led facilities being
  managed across the two hospitals
• 
  Finally, it is essential that the long-term
  security of the Royal Glamorgan Hospital is maintained, with serious
  consideration given to its adoption as a centre of excellence for specific
  designated clinical disciplines.

 Apparently, there have been over 50,000 responses to the
consultation. That shows how passionate people are about the issues. I want to
thank everyone from the Rhondda who has got involved. The number of responses
means the decision will not be finally taken until much later in the year.

(This was my Rhondda Leader column in August)

 

NHS Reconfiguration

Welfare Benefits and GPs

BBC Radio Wales is leading on a story about advice being given to GPs not to write letters supporting welfare benefit appeals.

This was brought to my attention by constituents this week and I have written to Bro Taf Medical Committee asking on what basis they have given this advice. It is outrageous. We know that high proportions of appeals are succeeding, often with support from local AMs, MPs and of course GPs. I will also be raising this with Ministers.

65 years of the NHS

I was delighted to attend a recent event at the National Assembly to mark 65 years of the NHS.  I am grateful to NHS staff past and present for their hard-work and dedication.

I support the Welsh Labour Government's committment to strenghtening and protecting the NHS for the future.

I know how much my constituents rely on and value NHS services.  Since the South Wales Programme launched their public consultation, many constituents have written to me to voice their support for the Royal Glamorgan Hospital.  With the consultation closing on Friday, I urge all my constituents to take part and make their opinions on the proposed changes known.  Information on how to have your say can be found online at the South Wales Programme website.

Public meeting: proposed reconfiguration of consultant-led hospital services in South Wales

As Assembly Member for the Rhondda, I am holding a public meeting on the proposed changes to hospital services in South Wales.  Details are provided below and constituents wanting to know more can contact my office on 01443 682550.

 

Mental Health Debate, 28th November 2012

Absolute respect to my colleagues Ken Skates, Llyr Huws Gruffydd, Eluned Parrott and David Melding who spoke movingly about their own mental health during yesterday's debate which you can watch here. Congratulations to Time To Change Wales on their involvement with this.

 

South Wales Health Boards reconfiguration proposals

I echo the concerns of my colleague, Chris Bryant MP, in his open letter to Cwm Taf Local Health Board.  I've included a copy of his letter below.  Obviously, I want the Royal Glamorgan Hospital to keep the widest range of services, including full consultant-led Accident and Emergency, neo-natal and paediatric services.  I will be telling the Local Health Board that, and I encourage all my constituents to do the same.  

The South Wales Programme Board is now undergoing a three month engagement process on these proposals which closes on 19^th December 2012. Full details can be obtained from my office on 01443 682550.

 

Wear it Pink for Breast Cancer Campaign

I was delighted to support Breast Cancer Campaign’s ‘Breast Cancer Action Month’ at a ‘Wear it Pink’ event at the National Assembly today.

Now in its tenth year, ‘Wear it Pink’ is Breast Cancer Campaign’s biggest fundraising event. Breast cancer is one of the most common cancers in Wales, accounting for nearly a third of all diagnoses in Wales. Each year, on average, over 2,600 women are diagnosed with breast cancer. Although it is rare, men can also develop breast cancer and on approximately 15 men will be diagnosed each year in Wales. Breast Cancer Campaign fund innovative, world-class research to understand how breast cancer develops, leading to improved diagnosis, treatment, prevention and cure.

I hope people in the Rhondda and across Wales will ‘Wear it Pink’ on Friday 26th October.

Hospital services in South Wales

This week, the South Wales health boards published their proposals for changes to hospital services. Their proposals are outlined in the documents below.

The health boards are collecting and analysing feedback on these proposed changes. I am also interested in hearing my constituents' views on these proposals. You can contact me here.