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Powys County Times
30 minutes ago
- Powys County Times
Powys woman waiting an extra year due to health board policy
A woman has slammed the 'deplorable' extension of waiting times for Powys patients at English hospitals after being made to wait almost an extra year for an operation. Melanie Wallace, 59, from Llandrindod Wells, was told she would have to wait an extra 45 weeks for an operation due to the cost-cutting measure by Powys Teaching Health Board to intentionally make patients wait longer for operations which came into effect on July 1. This followed a vote by members in March. 'In December 2023, I changed my job from a sedentary job to a more physical job in care,' said Melanie. 'That job only lasted about three weeks as I suddenly started suffering really bad pain in my leg, my knees, my hip. Just unbearable pain, I couldn't walk up the stairs I just physically couldn't do the job – it was really gutting.' Melanie was diagnosed at Llandrindod Wells Hospital with osteoarthritis with significant damage to her right hip and was recommended for a hip replacement. 'I went away, didn't hear anything for a couple of months,' she added. 'I thought I'll ring Hereford hospital to find out where I am. They told me I hadn't been assigned a consultant and to ring Llandrindod Wells. 'I was registered for a consultant there, only I found out they don't have any consultants.' Melanie eventually had a pre-op appointment in Hereford in March this year, at the same time she got a new job and told doctors she would not be able to attend her operation on three days in June when she was having an induction in London. 'They rang me and offered me a date [for the operation] in the middle of the induction,' said Melanie. 'It was a real anguished dilemma for me. I told the person that I had said I couldn't do those days, as I thought I would get another chance. 'I rang them on June 30 and was told 'well you won't be getting an operation now until you have been on our waiting list for 104 weeks''. This was the 59 weeks she had already waited, plus the 45 weeks she will now have to wait because of the new health board policy. What are your thoughts? You can send a letter to the editor to have your say by clicking here. Melanie had not been informed about the changes by the health board at any point and discovered many others on social media in the same situation. 'This is not an acceptable way to treat people and there are people who are far worse off than me,' she added. 'If I overdo things it is excruciating pain. I've still got a working life left, I used to like exercising and walking but I can't keep myself fit in 12 months, I worry I may not pass the pre op checks.' Help support trusted local news Sign up for a digital subscription now: As a digital subscriber you will get Unlimited access to the County Times website Advert-light access Reader rewards Full access to our app Powys Teaching Health Board said the changes had been a 'difficult decision' and have been 'frustrating and disappointing for patients and their families.' A spokesperson for PTHB said: 'Residents of Powys should be treated in the same time frame as residents of anywhere else in Wales. 'The change aligns the waiting times for new and existing referrals to NHS England providers with the current position for Welsh providers. This ensures a consistent approach across all services commissioned by the Health Board for all of our residents. 'The current measures relate to treatments, but we are in discussions regarding expanding this to also include outpatient appointments later this year. 'It is vital that we live within our means. We cannot continue to spend money we do not have to offer faster access care to some parts of the county. Instead, we need to take a fairer approach that protects essential services for everyone.'
Time of India
33 minutes ago
- Time of India
Mohammed Siraj is everything Jasprit Bumrah isn't — Available, reliable, unbreakable
Mohammed Siraj with a special headband to honour ex-England batter Graham Thorpe, who passed away a year ago. (Getty Images) Stepping out of the shadows of legends like Virat Kohli, Rohit Sharma, and even Jasprit Bumrah is no easy task. To perform, carve your own identity, and make a statement that says, 'Yes, I'm here too. I can deliver, bleed for my team, play with fire, go full throttle, and rattle the opposition to secure a win' - that takes immense belief. That's exactly where Mohammed Siraj , Team India 's very own 'Mian' - a nickname fondly given by his teammates - stood tall, firm and etched his name on English soil. Without making much noise, Siraj entered the series - with some expectations, but certainly not as many as those placed on senior pro Jasprit Bumrah . All eyes were on Bumrah to lead India's bowling attack. He was expected to play only three Tests due to workload management, and rightly so. India's hopes largely rested on his shoulders. IND vs ENG: Mohammed Siraj reflects on memorable win at The Oval But when the series ended, the man front and centre of every highlights package, every news bulletin, every social media account was a different one. The fans' affection shifted towards one man. The team leaned on him. He became the nightmare for the opposition. The volume of the ohhhs and aahhs rose, and the man delivered - Siraj. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free P2,000 GCash eGift UnionBank Credit Card Apply Now Undo By the end of the series, Siraj emerged as the highest wicket-taker with 23 scalps and was deservedly named Player of the Match at The Oval. More importantly, he stamped his authority - his presence - and without uttering a word, declared: I can lead this pace attack too. The big takeaway is that it all came in Bumrah's absence. He made it clear: I can be the one who charges in, fierce and fearless. Siraj made his debut in 2020 against Australia when the likes of Bumrah, Ishant Sharma, Bhuvneshwar Kumar, Umesh Yadav, and Mohammed Shami were already established names. Over time, Ishant, Bhuvneshwar, and Umesh faded from the main frame - and that's when Siraj's rise truly began. Mohammed Siraj was the leading wicket-taker in the Anderson-Tendulkar Trophy. He played in Australia, England, the West Indies, South Africa, and Bangladesh - took wickets, dismissed big names, became the captain's trusted option - but the Siraj who could lead the pack was still missing. Then came the England series - perhaps a script written by fate - for Siraj to reveal what had long remained hidden within. When Bumrah plays, the opposition's focus automatically shifts to him. But Siraj's numbers tell a different tale - he becomes a different beast when Bumrah is not around. Yes, Siraj with and without Bumrah are two different stories. Mohammed Siraj in Test cricket Matches Wickets Average Strike Rate With Jasprit Bumrah 25 74 35.00 57.3 Without Jasprit Bumrah 16 49 25.10 44.3 Without Bumrah & Mohammed Shami 13 43 22.83 41.2 In the 25 Tests he's played alongside Bumrah, Siraj has taken 74 wickets at an average of 35.00 and a strike rate of 57.3. But in 16 Tests without Bumrah, Siraj has claimed 49 wickets — at an average of 25.1 and a strike rate of 44.3. There's more. In the 13 Tests where neither Bumrah nor Shami played, Siraj picked up 43 wickets, averaging 22.83 and striking every 41.2 deliveries. The reason? Mohammed Siraj was adjudged the Player of the Match at The Oval. (Getty Images) Possibly the leadership instincts that get activated when responsibility falls solely on his shoulders — the hunger to be the main man, the fire to be the captain's go-to bowler, no matter the situation or conditions. In the fifth and final Test, Siraj gave it everything. Every part of his heart and soul. He hit the right areas, beat batters with nip-backers, deliveries that jagged in, balls that angled across, jaffas, inswingers, and outswingers. He kept everyone on the edge of their seats. It was nerve-wracking, heart-pounding stuff. He was exhausted, down but never out. Injuries struck the team, but Siraj stayed firm - his message loud in action: 'Don't worry, I'm here'. He bowled 1,113 deliveries in the series - the most by any bowler - across all 10 innings of a five-match Test series. That's an enormous workload. But Siraj made the Herculean effort look routine. And this wasn't the first time. He had bowled 953 deliveries in the 2024 away series against Australia. This is why Siraj is Team India's true workhorse — constantly challenging the theories of 'workload management.' Then came that nail-biting final day at The Oval. England needed 35 runs. India needed 4 wickets. Pressure was at its peak. All eyes turned to one man — Siraj. When Jamie Overton smacked two early boundaries off Prasidh Krishna, many began to lose hope. But not Siraj. Silently, he took the ball, had a brief chat with captain Shubman Gill, and walked back to his mark. Then came the moment. He knocked over Gus Atkinson's stumps. Arms spread. A leap. The Siuu celebration (just like Cristiano Ronaldo). Teammates rushing in. It was Siraj's stage. His win. His story. He didn't shout. He didn't boast. He just showed up, over and over again — confident, consistent, committed. And when asked what kept him going, what kept the fire alive, he had just one word: Believe. Catch Rani Rampal's inspiring story on Game On, Episode 4. Watch Here!
News18
an hour ago
- News18
'My Arm Was Just Hanging There...': Chris Woakes Reflects On Horror Shoulder Injury During Oval Test
Woakes reflected on the horrific injury, during England's fifth and final Test against India at the Oval, that ended with him enduring a dislocated left shoulder. English bowler Chris Woakes earned plaudits for his courageous effort to come out to bat in the fifth and final Test of the series between India and England at the Oval in the hosts' 6-run defeat that levelled the series at 2-2. Woakes, who had dislocated his shoulder while fielding on the penultimate day of the Test, came out to take the crease before Mohammed Siraj scalped the tenth and final wicket of the English chase. Woakes might not have been able to give his side the win on the day, which would have translated to them clinching the series, but he was extended a standing ovation by the passionate crowd nonetheless for his courage to just walk out to the middle with his arm in a sling. Following the conclusion of the series, Woakes reflected on the horrific injury that ended with him enduring a dislocated left shoulder. 'We chase down every run. That has always been the way. As a bowler, you really respect guys trying to save every run. It means a lot to you. So you kind of do the same for the team," he explained. 'The outfield was wet from the rain, almost greasy, and my hand slipped as I landed and my full body weight went through my shoulder. I heard a pop and knew I was in trouble. Woakes reflected on the grim thought that preoccupied his mind following the nasty fall while treatment was being extended to the pacer. 'The pain came on pretty quickly and my arm was just hanging there. It was grim and my thoughts were racing. 'Is it game over? Is it career done?' It was a horrible place to be. We got it into a makeshift sling with my jumper and got off the field," the 36-year-old said. The English quick went on to laud the impeccable work done by the medical team to limit the damage and 'It is a horrible feeling, your shoulder not where it should be and worrying it might never get back in. It felt like three hours but the medical staff were amazing," the pacer added. 'I had this vape pen thing which tasted rank but took the edge off, pain-wise. First we tried me lying flat on my front on the bench and letting the arm hang down to do it. But the pain was too much to get into position. Wokaes also touched upon the moment the medical team felt they had addressed the issue, but the seamer's pectoral muscles acted up and the painful process had to be repeated before his shoulder was popped back ino the socket. 'In the end it was just a case of lying on my back and Anita gradually straightening my arm and trying that way. We thought we had it in with a 'clunk' but then my pectoral muscle spasmed and rejected it," he said. 'That was horrendous. Another 10 minutes or so, with her knee in my armpit, there was another 'clunk' and it was back it properly. It hurt but there was such a feeling of relief with it, too," the pacer added. First Published: Disclaimer: Comments reflect users' views, not News18's. Please keep discussions respectful and constructive. Abusive, defamatory, or illegal comments will be removed. News18 may disable any comment at its discretion. By posting, you agree to our Terms of Use and Privacy Policy.
