Have your say on NHS Wales in 'Our Home, Our Health' survey
The Easter recess from the Senedd means I have more time to get out and about here at home in the constituency.
At the start of the break, I was pleased to have the chance to pay a visit to Holywell Leisure Centre and meet with both the manager and some of the Trustees.
Whilst there, I saw first-hand how the centre is being widely used across the community and how every space is being made use of – from dance classes to gym sessions and rooms for different groups to meet.
It really is a valuable and important community asset, thanks in no small part to the trustees and all who work there, and I will be working closely with them moving forward to see how they can best build on this.
Earlier this year, it was an honour to be asked to become an Honorary Member of Flint and Holywell Rotary Club and in the past fortnight, I've finally had the opportunity to join them once again at their monthly meeting at the Springfield Hotel in Holywell.
The evening was an informative one and it was good to have the chance to talk to members.
The club do fantastic work locally, supporting charitable causes and making a huge contribution themselves and I will, of course, continue to support their efforts.
The League of Friends of Mold Community Hospital raise funds to enhance the patient experience at the hospital, with volunteers running the hospital tea bar and a team that keeps the gardens looking great.
They also fund patient entertainment and newspapers as well as other items that will make a difference to the patients' stay in hospital.
More recently, they have completed work on a major project refurbishing one of the courtyard gardens making it accessible and more enjoyable for patients, visitors and staff.
On Easter Monday, they hosted a thank you event at the hospital and it was a pleasure to be invited to join them and the many wonderful volunteers who do their bit to help and support.
Finally, I know from correspondence from and conversations with constituents that access to NHS services matters to us all.
That's why I have been running my 'Our Home, Our Health' survey to get peoples views but also to have your voices heard and help shape what services look like.
If you haven't already had a chance to complete the survey then you can still do so online at: www.hannahblythyn.cymru/get-involved-our-home-our-health-survey/ or feel free to get in touch with my office to request a paper copy.
It will come as no surprise to Leader readers, that one of the things flagged with me is waiting times.
So, it is positive to see a significant fall in the longest waits and the overall size of the waiting list falling for the third month in a row.
There is clearly still work to do but it is a welcome step in the right direction and shows what can be achieved when health boards focus on delivering services, including faster treatment and increased NHS capacity, by embracing new ways of working – efforts that have been supported by an additional £50 million worth of investment from the Welsh Government.
This comes on the back of the Welsh Government's new deal to improve access to NHS care and cut waiting times, which aims for the NHS to provide faster access to planned care and will tell people how long they can expect to wait when they are added to the list.
Amongst other things, people will also be able to track how long they have to wait through updates to the NHS Wales App, which will be available from June and will be offered two dates for an appointment, if they cannot or do not attend these, without a good reason, they will be referred back to their GP.
Health boards will also be required to minimise the number of cancelled appointments and operations.
As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales.
You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythynForDelyn.
Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
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