Latest news with #Anna-LouiseMarsh-Rees
Pembrokeshire Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Councillor urges men to get tested following stage 4 prostate cancer diagnosis
Inquiry told failures in testing and tracing cost lives and left Wales unprepared THE UK Covid Inquiry has begun its latest public hearings with stark criticism of the UK and devolved governments' handling of testing, tracing and isolation strategies during the coronavirus pandemic. On the opening day of Module 7, which focuses on 'Test, Trace and Isolate' (TTI) systems, serious concerns were raised about the Welsh Government's effectiveness, coordination, and long-term preparedness. Covid pandemic: Council staff in Tenby in 2020 (Image: File) Sophie Cartwright KC, lead counsel to the Inquiry, laid out a damning picture of systemic disarray across the four nations, including Wales. She highlighted that despite early warnings and international advice, the Welsh Government did not fully roll out its Test, Trace, Protect strategy until mid-May 2020, by which time the virus had already swept through communities. The Inquiry heard that on 12 March 2020, all four UK nations, including Wales, stopped community testing and contact tracing—despite the World Health Organization's call to 'test, test, test.' Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, told a COBR meeting that day that mass testing and tracing would no longer be pursued, even as infections surged. The result was, as Cartwright put it, a 'disastrous blind spot' in surveillance and control. While countries like South Korea and Japan avoided national lockdowns through robust test-and-isolate systems, the UK suffered repeated waves. Professor Anthony Costello estimated that over 180,000 deaths might have been prevented had the UK adopted similar strategies. Emotional testimony: Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, who gave emotional evidence, represents Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. She spoke on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Her testimony underscored the human impact of delays in testing, isolation support and communication failures. Lack of preparedness and ignored lessons Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, criticised the Welsh Government for failing to act on pandemic preparedness plans. She highlighted that Exercise Shipshape, a 2003 SARS simulation involving Wales, had already identified the importance of being able to test, trace and isolate effectively. Yet, none of those lessons were implemented. Marsh-Rees said there was a clear failure to build resilient infrastructure and no meaningful contingency planning, despite numerous simulations and warnings. Testing failures and wave two disaster Marsh-Rees gave a stark account of the absence of routine and repeat testing during the second wave of Covid-19 in Wales. She revealed that repeat testing of patients wasn't introduced until January 2021, and even then only every five days—compared to every three in England. Worse, healthcare workers were not regularly tested until February or March 2021, despite lateral flow tests being available from November 2020. She stated bluntly that this oversight contributed to Wales having the highest rate of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections in the UK, calling it one of the group's most heartbreaking concerns. A sense the Welsh Government didn't want to know In her closing remarks, Marsh-Rees accused the Welsh Government of appearing as though it did not want to know if people were testing positive, implying that awareness would have triggered obligations to act. She pointed out that 178 people had contracted Covid in Welsh hospitals just last week, five years into the pandemic. 'Testing has been forgotten—or proactively not undertaken,' she said. 'It's like a concerted effort not to find out.' Her testimony called for an internationally informed overhaul of public health strategy and an end to political point scoring in future pandemic response. Missed opportunities in Wales Wales launched its Test, Trace, Protect plan on 13 May 2020. Then Health Minister Vaughan Gething promised increased capacity and localised response. But the Inquiry was told that testing capacity remained limited, with many key functions outsourced to UK-wide services like Lighthouse Labs and delivery partners like Amazon, rather than utilising existing NHS and university laboratories in Wales. A submission from the Royal College of Pathologists noted that many NHS and academic labs in the UK were sidelined, despite offering higher quality and faster results than the private facilities that were favoured instead. The Microbiology Society echoed these concerns, saying the government did not properly engage with universities and local experts in Wales and elsewhere. The Inquiry heard that by mid-2020, Wales had access to six drive-through test centres, eight mobile units and a handful of community testing sites—but by then the damage had already been done. Support for isolating 'too little, too late' The Welsh Government's Self-Isolation Support Scheme, launched in November 2020, was described as well-intentioned but too slow in implementation. Earlier schemes in Northern Ireland and England had started months prior. Evidence submitted highlighted how economic necessity led many to avoid testing to avoid losing income. 'I remember people saying, 'I can't test because if I test and I'm positive, I can't work,'' one person told the Inquiry. Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, will give impact evidence later this week, speaking on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Infrastructure dismantled Lord Bethell, who had responsibility for TTI at UK level, warned that the UK is now less prepared than ever for a future pandemic, with testing labs dismantled, data systems shut down, and public health infrastructure 'weaker than ever.' The Inquiry continues this week with further evidence from bereaved families, scientists, and public health experts from across the UK. Lady Hallett opened the TTI hearings on Monday (Pic: Covid Inquiry)
Pembrokeshire Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Tufnell secures pledge to improve GP access across Pembrokeshire
Inquiry told failures in testing and tracing cost lives and left Wales unprepared THE UK Covid Inquiry has begun its latest public hearings with stark criticism of the UK and devolved governments' handling of testing, tracing and isolation strategies during the coronavirus pandemic. On the opening day of Module 7, which focuses on 'Test, Trace and Isolate' (TTI) systems, serious concerns were raised about the Welsh Government's effectiveness, coordination, and long-term preparedness. Covid pandemic: Council staff in Tenby in 2020 (Image: File) Sophie Cartwright KC, lead counsel to the Inquiry, laid out a damning picture of systemic disarray across the four nations, including Wales. She highlighted that despite early warnings and international advice, the Welsh Government did not fully roll out its Test, Trace, Protect strategy until mid-May 2020, by which time the virus had already swept through communities. The Inquiry heard that on 12 March 2020, all four UK nations, including Wales, stopped community testing and contact tracing—despite the World Health Organization's call to 'test, test, test.' Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, told a COBR meeting that day that mass testing and tracing would no longer be pursued, even as infections surged. The result was, as Cartwright put it, a 'disastrous blind spot' in surveillance and control. While countries like South Korea and Japan avoided national lockdowns through robust test-and-isolate systems, the UK suffered repeated waves. Professor Anthony Costello estimated that over 180,000 deaths might have been prevented had the UK adopted similar strategies. Emotional testimony: Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, who gave emotional evidence, represents Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. She spoke on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Her testimony underscored the human impact of delays in testing, isolation support and communication failures. Lack of preparedness and ignored lessons Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, criticised the Welsh Government for failing to act on pandemic preparedness plans. She highlighted that Exercise Shipshape, a 2003 SARS simulation involving Wales, had already identified the importance of being able to test, trace and isolate effectively. Yet, none of those lessons were implemented. Marsh-Rees said there was a clear failure to build resilient infrastructure and no meaningful contingency planning, despite numerous simulations and warnings. Testing failures and wave two disaster Marsh-Rees gave a stark account of the absence of routine and repeat testing during the second wave of Covid-19 in Wales. She revealed that repeat testing of patients wasn't introduced until January 2021, and even then only every five days—compared to every three in England. Worse, healthcare workers were not regularly tested until February or March 2021, despite lateral flow tests being available from November 2020. She stated bluntly that this oversight contributed to Wales having the highest rate of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections in the UK, calling it one of the group's most heartbreaking concerns. A sense the Welsh Government didn't want to know In her closing remarks, Marsh-Rees accused the Welsh Government of appearing as though it did not want to know if people were testing positive, implying that awareness would have triggered obligations to act. She pointed out that 178 people had contracted Covid in Welsh hospitals just last week, five years into the pandemic. 'Testing has been forgotten—or proactively not undertaken,' she said. 'It's like a concerted effort not to find out.' Her testimony called for an internationally informed overhaul of public health strategy and an end to political point scoring in future pandemic response. Missed opportunities in Wales Wales launched its Test, Trace, Protect plan on 13 May 2020. Then Health Minister Vaughan Gething promised increased capacity and localised response. But the Inquiry was told that testing capacity remained limited, with many key functions outsourced to UK-wide services like Lighthouse Labs and delivery partners like Amazon, rather than utilising existing NHS and university laboratories in Wales. A submission from the Royal College of Pathologists noted that many NHS and academic labs in the UK were sidelined, despite offering higher quality and faster results than the private facilities that were favoured instead. The Microbiology Society echoed these concerns, saying the government did not properly engage with universities and local experts in Wales and elsewhere. The Inquiry heard that by mid-2020, Wales had access to six drive-through test centres, eight mobile units and a handful of community testing sites—but by then the damage had already been done. Support for isolating 'too little, too late' The Welsh Government's Self-Isolation Support Scheme, launched in November 2020, was described as well-intentioned but too slow in implementation. Earlier schemes in Northern Ireland and England had started months prior. Evidence submitted highlighted how economic necessity led many to avoid testing to avoid losing income. 'I remember people saying, 'I can't test because if I test and I'm positive, I can't work,'' one person told the Inquiry. Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, will give impact evidence later this week, speaking on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Infrastructure dismantled Lord Bethell, who had responsibility for TTI at UK level, warned that the UK is now less prepared than ever for a future pandemic, with testing labs dismantled, data systems shut down, and public health infrastructure 'weaker than ever.' The Inquiry continues this week with further evidence from bereaved families, scientists, and public health experts from across the UK. Lady Hallett opened the TTI hearings on Monday (Pic: Covid Inquiry)
Pembrokeshire Herald
14-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Covid Inquiry: Welsh Government's pandemic response under fire
Inquiry told failures in testing and tracing cost lives and left Wales unprepared THE UK Covid Inquiry has begun its latest public hearings with stark criticism of the UK and devolved governments' handling of testing, tracing and isolation strategies during the coronavirus pandemic. On the opening day of Module 7, which focuses on 'Test, Trace and Isolate' (TTI) systems, serious concerns were raised about the Welsh Government's effectiveness, coordination, and long-term preparedness. Covid pandemic: Council staff in Tenby in 2020 (Image: File) Sophie Cartwright KC, lead counsel to the Inquiry, laid out a damning picture of systemic disarray across the four nations, including Wales. She highlighted that despite early warnings and international advice, the Welsh Government did not fully roll out its Test, Trace, Protect strategy until mid-May 2020, by which time the virus had already swept through communities. The Inquiry heard that on 12 March 2020, all four UK nations, including Wales, stopped community testing and contact tracing—despite the World Health Organization's call to 'test, test, test.' Professor Chris Whitty, the Chief Medical Officer, told a COBR meeting that day that mass testing and tracing would no longer be pursued, even as infections surged. The result was, as Cartwright put it, a 'disastrous blind spot' in surveillance and control. While countries like South Korea and Japan avoided national lockdowns through robust test-and-isolate systems, the UK suffered repeated waves. Professor Anthony Costello estimated that over 180,000 deaths might have been prevented had the UK adopted similar strategies. Emotional testimony: Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, who gave emotional evidence, represents Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. She spoke on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Her testimony underscored the human impact of delays in testing, isolation support and communication failures. Lack of preparedness and ignored lessons Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, criticised the Welsh Government for failing to act on pandemic preparedness plans. She highlighted that Exercise Shipshape, a 2003 SARS simulation involving Wales, had already identified the importance of being able to test, trace and isolate effectively. Yet, none of those lessons were implemented. Marsh-Rees said there was a clear failure to build resilient infrastructure and no meaningful contingency planning, despite numerous simulations and warnings. Testing failures and wave two disaster Marsh-Rees gave a stark account of the absence of routine and repeat testing during the second wave of Covid-19 in Wales. She revealed that repeat testing of patients wasn't introduced until January 2021, and even then only every five days—compared to every three in England. Worse, healthcare workers were not regularly tested until February or March 2021, despite lateral flow tests being available from November 2020. She stated bluntly that this oversight contributed to Wales having the highest rate of hospital-acquired (nosocomial) infections in the UK, calling it one of the group's most heartbreaking concerns. A sense the Welsh Government didn't want to know In her closing remarks, Marsh-Rees accused the Welsh Government of appearing as though it did not want to know if people were testing positive, implying that awareness would have triggered obligations to act. She pointed out that 178 people had contracted Covid in Welsh hospitals just last week, five years into the pandemic. 'Testing has been forgotten—or proactively not undertaken,' she said. 'It's like a concerted effort not to find out.' Her testimony called for an internationally informed overhaul of public health strategy and an end to political point scoring in future pandemic response. Missed opportunities in Wales Wales launched its Test, Trace, Protect plan on 13 May 2020. Then Health Minister Vaughan Gething promised increased capacity and localised response. But the Inquiry was told that testing capacity remained limited, with many key functions outsourced to UK-wide services like Lighthouse Labs and delivery partners like Amazon, rather than utilising existing NHS and university laboratories in Wales. A submission from the Royal College of Pathologists noted that many NHS and academic labs in the UK were sidelined, despite offering higher quality and faster results than the private facilities that were favoured instead. The Microbiology Society echoed these concerns, saying the government did not properly engage with universities and local experts in Wales and elsewhere. The Inquiry heard that by mid-2020, Wales had access to six drive-through test centres, eight mobile units and a handful of community testing sites—but by then the damage had already been done. Support for isolating 'too little, too late' The Welsh Government's Self-Isolation Support Scheme, launched in November 2020, was described as well-intentioned but too slow in implementation. Earlier schemes in Northern Ireland and England had started months prior. Evidence submitted highlighted how economic necessity led many to avoid testing to avoid losing income. 'I remember people saying, 'I can't test because if I test and I'm positive, I can't work,'' one person told the Inquiry. Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, representing Covid Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru, will give impact evidence later this week, speaking on behalf of families in Wales who lost loved ones due to what they describe as 'avoidable government failings.' Infrastructure dismantled Lord Bethell, who had responsibility for TTI at UK level, warned that the UK is now less prepared than ever for a future pandemic, with testing labs dismantled, data systems shut down, and public health infrastructure 'weaker than ever.' The Inquiry continues this week with further evidence from bereaved families, scientists, and public health experts from across the UK. Lady Hallett opened the TTI hearings on Monday (Pic: Covid Inquiry)
Yahoo
07-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anger over no Welsh national Covid anniversary events
Families who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 outbreak have said they are angry there will be no nationwide anniversary events in Wales. Communities will come together during a UK-wide day of reflection on Sunday 9 March, marking five years since the start of the pandemic. Campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru said it was baffling that Covid gardens of memorial had been created, yet no official events were planned for them. The Welsh government said events were being led by community groups to mark the day of reflection. Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, from the bereaved families group, called for more to be done, adding: "It's hugely important to take one minute to remember those who've lost their lives. "Please just let us have one day, one minute to remember our loved ones." Covid rules should have been same across UK - Hart Wales' top doctor during Covid pandemic steps down Some 12,300 people died due to the outbreak in Wales, with more than 43,000 people admitted to hospital. The campaign group was highly critical of the Welsh government's response, and called for a Wales-specific inquiry. When evidence from Wales was instead heard as part of a larger UK-wide review, members of the group said officials had been "caught with their trousers down" and "sat on their hands". As the fifth anniversary approaches, the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration recommended an annual UK-wide day of reflection "to offer communities across the country the opportunity to join together in commemoration of those who lost their lives". Events have been planned across the four nations by community groups in churches, woodlands and halls, with a minute's silence and walks for people to share their memories and remember those who died. "They have agreed to be part of a four-nation day of reflection, and we have been working with them on that," said Ms Marsh-Rees. "Our concern is that they have refused to hold events at the Covid memorial woodlands that they created. "It's just baffling to have created woodlands for the very purpose of Covid remembrance, but yet not hold events there, despite us asking." Ms Marsh-Rees became one of the founders of the group after her dad, Ian Marsh-Rees, died aged 85. He had been admitted to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, after initially being admitted for a gall bladder infection. There are two memorial woodlands in Wales - Ynys Hywel Covid Memorial Woodland in Caerphilly, and Hafod y Bwch Commemorative Woodland, in Wrexham. When they opened, then First Minister Mark Drakeford said they would be "a symbol of the strength the people of Wales have shown over the past two years". Ms Marsh-Rees said in the absence of any official events, she had created two "gatherings" at the woodlands to mark the occasion. "It had a pretty seismic impact... and it just seems completely baffling to us that that the Welsh government would not want to mark it in any way." She added the day was very important to her and it was an opportunity to remember those who died during the pandemic. "Commemoration after a mass fatality incident like that is absolutely vital in many ways. "To healing the bereaved, resilience in the community, to almost validate what happened," she said. Last December, First Minster Eluned Morgan released a written statement which said the Welsh government was working with the UK government and other devolved governments to "ensure that the day is marked appropriately, with the expectation that by 2026, a new Covid Memorial Trust will lead on commemorations". On Tuesday, North Wales Tory MS Mark Isherwood raised the issue in the Senedd, and said: "It's bad enough that the Covid bereaved have been denied a Wales inquiry and are almost invisible in the UK one, but to then ignore the day is truly insulting to all those that died and their families." In response, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt announced she would be attending the Ynys Hywel memorial in Caerphilly and government buildings in Cardiff would be illuminated. A memorial event is also being held at a stone heart-shaped memorial on the Bwlch mountain in the Rhondda valley. Bev Morris created it in March 2021, following the death of her mother Sheila Morris to Covid. She has been working to restore the stone, using funding from the UK government Covid Commemoration Commission, and said: "It was very important to restore it. "Time is not on our side and the weather. "This year - five years, we said let's get it back up. People have come to me, saying it's lovely to see the heart on the mountain. "People see it driving and it means so much to everybody." The Welsh government said: "This weekend we will mark five years since the start of the Covid pandemic, which had such a major impact on all our lives. "Those bereaved must be uppermost in our minds. "The Covid 19 Day of Reflection is an annual opportunity for people to come together to remember those who lost their lives in ways that feel meaningful to them. "In Wales, as across the UK, events are being led by community groups to mark the Covid 19 Day of Reflection on Sunday." The UK government has been asked to comment. NHS staff should have career breaks, says William Covid inquiry rejects last-minute bid from Michelle Mone Lockdown saved my life, says woman with OCD
Yahoo
06-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Anger over no Welsh national Covid anniversary events
Families who lost loved ones during the Covid-19 outbreak have said they are angry there will be no nationwide anniversary events in Wales. Communities will come together during a UK-wide day of reflection on Sunday 9 March, marking five years since the start of the pandemic. Campaign group Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru said it was baffling that Covid gardens of memorial had been created, yet no official events were planned for them. The Welsh government said events were being led by community groups to mark the day of reflection. Anna-Louise Marsh-Rees, from the bereaved families group, called for more to be done, adding: "It's hugely important to take one minute to remember those who've lost their lives. "Please just let us have one day, one minute to remember our loved ones." Covid rules should have been same across UK - Hart Wales' top doctor during Covid pandemic steps down Some 12,300 people died due to the outbreak in Wales, with more than 43,000 people admitted to hospital. The campaign group was highly critical of the Welsh government's response, and called for a Wales-specific inquiry. When evidence from Wales was instead heard as part of a larger UK-wide review, members of the group said officials had been "caught with their trousers down" and "sat on their hands". As the fifth anniversary approaches, the UK Commission on Covid Commemoration recommended an annual UK-wide day of reflection "to offer communities across the country the opportunity to join together in commemoration of those who lost their lives". Events have been planned across the four nations by community groups in churches, woodlands and halls, with a minute's silence and walks for people to share their memories and remember those who died. "They have agreed to be part of a four-nation day of reflection, and we have been working with them on that," said Ms Marsh-Rees. "Our concern is that they have refused to hold events at the Covid memorial woodlands that they created. "It's just baffling to have created woodlands for the very purpose of Covid remembrance, but yet not hold events there, despite us asking." Ms Marsh-Rees became one of the founders of the group after her dad, Ian Marsh-Rees, died aged 85. He had been admitted to Nevill Hall Hospital in Abergavenny, Monmouthshire, after initially being admitted for a gall bladder infection. There are two memorial woodlands in Wales - Ynys Hywel Covid Memorial Woodland in Caerphilly, and Hafod y Bwch Commemorative Woodland, in Wrexham. When they opened, then First Minister Mark Drakeford said they would be "a symbol of the strength the people of Wales have shown over the past two years". Ms Marsh-Rees said in the absence of any official events, she had created two "gatherings" at the woodlands to mark the occasion. "It had a pretty seismic impact... and it just seems completely baffling to us that that the Welsh government would not want to mark it in any way." She added the day was very important to her and it was an opportunity to remember those who died during the pandemic. "Commemoration after a mass fatality incident like that is absolutely vital in many ways. "To healing the bereaved, resilience in the community, to almost validate what happened," she said. Last December, First Minster Eluned Morgan released a written statement which said the Welsh government was working with the UK government and other devolved governments to "ensure that the day is marked appropriately, with the expectation that by 2026, a new Covid Memorial Trust will lead on commemorations". On Tuesday, North Wales Tory MS Mark Isherwood raised the issue in the Senedd, and said: "It's bad enough that the Covid bereaved have been denied a Wales inquiry and are almost invisible in the UK one, but to then ignore the day is truly insulting to all those that died and their families." In response, Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice Jane Hutt announced she would be attending the Ynys Hywel memorial in Caerphilly and government buildings in Cardiff would be illuminated. A memorial event is also being held at a stone heart-shaped memorial on the Bwlch mountain in the Rhondda valley. Bev Morris created it in March 2021, following the death of her mother Sheila Morris to Covid. She has been working to restore the stone, using funding from the UK government Covid Commemoration Commission, and said: "It was very important to restore it. "Time is not on our side and the weather. "This year - five years, we said let's get it back up. People have come to me, saying it's lovely to see the heart on the mountain. "People see it driving and it means so much to everybody." The Welsh government said: "This weekend we will mark five years since the start of the Covid pandemic, which had such a major impact on all our lives. "Those bereaved must be uppermost in our minds. "The Covid 19 Day of Reflection is an annual opportunity for people to come together to remember those who lost their lives in ways that feel meaningful to them. "In Wales, as across the UK, events are being led by community groups to mark the Covid 19 Day of Reflection on Sunday." The UK government has been asked to comment. NHS staff should have career breaks, says William Covid inquiry rejects last-minute bid from Michelle Mone Lockdown saved my life, says woman with OCD
