Latest news with #BevanCommission
South Wales Argus
6 days ago
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Bevan Commission welcomes new health and care priorities
Dr Helen Howson, director of the Bevan Commission, said: 'The focus on prevention, shifting care closer to home, and harnessing digital innovation strongly reflects the principles of prudent healthcare and the direction established in 'A Healthier Wales', which the Bevan Commission has informed and has long championed. 'For this vision to become a reality, we need everyone to share responsibility – people, professionals, NHS leaders, and staff must be supported to help them balance these competing demands and expectations. "The urgent, short-term targets must not inadvertently stifle the long-term transformation that will be essential to secure the health of future generations, consistent with the Well-being of Future Generations (Wales) Act.' 'We look forward to continuing to share our thinking on this and working with all partners to ensure we help navigate this difficult path, sharing ideas, skills, insights and resources, to achieve healthier people in thriving communities across Wales.'
South Wales Argus
03-07-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Bevan Commission launches second wave of health innovations
The Bevan Commission, backed by the Welsh Government, has launched its second Adopt, Spread & Embed scheme, designed to expand proven healthcare improvements across NHS Wales. The programme aims to reduce waiting lists, improve outcomes, and deliver better value by transforming planned care services. Helen Howson, director of the Bevan Commission, said: "For too long, brilliant innovations developed locally have remained isolated pockets of excellence. "Our Adopt, Spread and Embed programme is about changing that by systematically taking what works best and making it available to everyone in Wales. "We have seen the profound positive impact these projects have on patients, staff, and NHS resources. "Now, it is time to ensure these benefits are felt right across the country. "This is about delivering more prudent, value-based healthcare that is both sustainable and equitable." Seven Bevan Exemplar projects have been selected for wider adoption, each showing clear improvements in care quality, efficiency, and patient experience. These include perioperative care for older patients, improved radiology pathways, and community-based gynaecology services. The selected projects have already demonstrated reduced waiting times, cost savings, and improved service capacity. The programme aligns with the Welsh Government's Innovation Strategy, which calls for the translation of successful innovations into system-wide improvements. It also supports the five key change priorities for the health service outlined by First Minister Eluned Morgan and cabinet secretary for health and social care Jeremy Miles. The Bevan Commission will now work with health boards across Wales and the NHS Planned Care team to roll out the selected projects. The programme will use international adoption science to provide a structured approach for embedding these changes and building a culture of continuous improvement.
Pembrokeshire Herald
08-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Former Withybush director flays Welsh Government over ambulance delay
Retired doctor calls for emergency response to 'failing' NHS A FORMER Director of Withybush Hospital has launched a scathing attack on the Welsh Government after his ninety-year-old mother-in-law was left waiting seventeen hours for an ambulance. Dr Iain Robertson-Steele, who lives in Solva, told BBC Radio Wales's Breakfast programme this week that he had 'never seen the Welsh NHS in such a poor state.' He also criticised First Minister Eluned Morgan and the wider handling of health and social care by ministers in Cardiff Bay. Dr Robertson-Steele explained that after his mother-in-law suffered a fall, 999 was called – but the ambulance did not arrive until 2:00am. 'She was found on the floor,' he said. 'An ambulance arrived seventeen hours later at 2:00 in the morning, and, at 2:30am, she was taken to Withybush Hospital.' Baroness Morgan admitted the delay was 'unacceptable' and said the government was working to improve the system and address 'blockages' in the care pathway. But Dr Robertson-Steele said the situation required far more than promises. 'As a retired doctor, I've become increasingly aware of growing ambulance response delays — we're talking about heart attacks, broken necks, and femurs,' he said. 'It's completely unacceptable for critically injured or ill patients to remain at home for such long periods. They become cold, hypoglycaemic, and develop skin damage. All of these increase the risk of poor outcomes.' He was clear that frontline staff are not to blame. 'This isn't the fault of nurses, paramedics, doctors or hospital staff. It's a system that's inadequate, badly organised and clogged up. The Welsh Government has been in power for twenty-five years. Eluned Morgan can't just say she's 'working on it'.' Dr Robertson-Steele called for immediate action: 'The government has failed to deliver, failed to organise, and the NHS is frankly on the point of failure. That is bad for patients, bad for staff, and bad for the country. 'That is why I'm calling on the government to organise an emergency response to address the current crisis. And let's be clear — it is a crisis.' In response to Baroness Morgan's claim that delays in operations were due to her not being 'in every theatre,' he said: 'Delays in theatre are often because there are no beds for patients or there's a lack of staff. So it's a bad example for her to give. 'The real problem is delayed discharges. Patients are stuck in hospital waiting for social care packages to go home. Bed numbers have dropped over the years. The population has aged. The demands of the elderly are much higher than those of younger people.' He warned that superficial fixes would not solve the crisis. 'We've had the Bevan Commission. We've had report after report. We all know the answer is solving social care and elderly care. 'As the Senedd election nears, politicians will roll out magical solutions. But none of it will work unless we deliver, pay and organise staff properly — and most importantly, train enough doctors and nurses.' Turning to workforce issues, he added: 'We've seen the cut in nursing places at Cardiff University. We train doctors in Wales but don't retain them. We don't train enough, and we don't pay them well enough to keep them here. Many leave for Australia or New Zealand.' Dr Robertson-Steele concluded: 'It's naive of the government — and very naive of Eluned Morgan, the former Health Minister — to suggest this is just about poor organisation or management. The crisis is systemic, and the responsibility lies squarely with those in power.'
Yahoo
29-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Same-day mental health help pledge as demand rises
Same-day mental health support without the need for a referral is the aim of a new strategy after calls to an urgent hotline doubled in a year. A free NHS urgent mental health support phone line which launched in late 2022 gets an average of 6,000 calls each month, while the overall number of calls almost doubled between 2023 and 2024. The Welsh government's 10-year plan will focus on early intervention without delay and more social prescribing which connects people to community based activities. Minister for Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said the Welsh government was working to address factors that affect wellbeing. Analysis from health think-tank the Bevan Commission found the number of people with mental health issues could increase by a third over the next 20 years. Long waiting times to access specialist support, especially for children and young people were highlighted during a recent consultation, which also found that those from certain economic or ethnic minority backgrounds were disadvantaged. Simon Jones, head of policy at Mind Cymru, said: "Whilst the direction of travel is what we wanted to see, there must now be clear and consistent leadership to deliver on these commitments with urgency and long-term funding." Mental health 111 hotline launched in Wales Mental health service cut a huge risk - charity Better mental health support needed, charity says Under the plan, support would be given over the phone, at a GP surgery or local mental health service, who would then find appropriate help. That could involve social prescribing, where suitable activities in the community are recommended to avoid crises and preventative care. Sian McEvoy, 41, spends a few days a week volunteering at a community farm near her home in Swansea, which provides opportunities for adults and young people who face mental health challenges. The experience of being outdoors and working with animals has already started to improve her social anxiety which prevented her from finding employment. She said: "I got myself into a bit of trouble drinking. "I came out of detox in February and I wanted to get myself back into the community again because my anxiety around people isn't great, so I thought coming here with the animals would be good for me. "When I was drinking I didn't leave the house for three years so being out in the community around other people would tear me apart. "I decided to come here to improve my mental health and get my confidence up to go back working full-time." The farm's operations manager, Katharine Aylett, said: "Most people self-refer but some come here through their occupational therapist, or a social prescriber in a GP surgery and we have local area co-ordinators who refer people. "We've seen a huge differences in people. So many tell us about how it's changed their relationships with their families." Ms Aylett noted there were still challenges within the sector due to the lack of long-term funding for projects that can support wellbeing. Since becoming a volunteer at the farm, Steffan Thomas, 24, said the experience had made a "huge impact on my mental health". He said: "If I miss a week I feel a bit sad because I want to be here as much as I can. "If I need five minutes to myself I like to spend time with just the animals but I tend to like getting stuck in and helping others with their mental health." Since it launched at the end of 2022, the NHS Wales 111 "press two" mental health urgent support line has recorded an average of 5,969 calls each month. Prof Kamila Hawthorne who is a GP in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and a Bevan Commission commissioner, said: "We know that chronic ill health is rising, both mental and physical. "If we don't do something to prevent the onwards rise of prevalence then the NHS is going to be overwhelmed. "It's much better to prevent these things in the first place, enable people to grow up leading healthier lifestyles, having healthier approaches to what they want out of life and how they want to lead their day to day activities." She added: "I don't think people have really appreciated the power of social prescribing and how good it is to be able to help yourself and have the tools to prevent relapses later on." Murphy said: "When you go in and ask for help, you'll see somebody almost immediately to have that conversation and not be put on a waiting list for counselling. We're already seeing this in pockets and we need to build on that. "You want always have perfect physical health or perfect mental health but we're reducing that stigma and ensuring we have more compassionate and person-centred care exactly when people need it." She added: "We know that good mental health depends on much more than healthcare alone. "That's why we're working to address all the factors that affect wellbeing, from housing and employment to tackling loneliness and building stronger communities."
BBC News
29-04-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Mental health: Same-day help in Wales promised under new plan
Same-day mental health support without the need for a referral is the aim of a new strategy after calls to an urgent hotline doubled in a year. A free NHS urgent mental health support phone line which launched in late 2022 gets an average of 6,000 calls each month, while the overall number of calls almost doubled between 2023 and Welsh government's 10-year plan will focus on early intervention without delay and more social prescribing which connects people to community based activities. Minister for Health and Wellbeing Sarah Murphy said the Welsh government was working to address factors that affect wellbeing. Analysis from health think-tank the Bevan Commission found the number of people with mental health issues could increase by a third over the next 20 years. Long waiting times to access specialist support, especially for children and young people were highlighted during a recent consultation, which also found that those from certain economic or ethnic minority backgrounds were disadvantaged. Simon Jones, head of policy at Mind Cymru, said: "Whilst the direction of travel is what we wanted to see, there must now be clear and consistent leadership to deliver on these commitments with urgency and long-term funding." Under the plan, support would be given over the phone, at a GP surgery or local mental health service, who would then find appropriate help. That could involve social prescribing, where suitable activities in the community are recommended to avoid crises and preventative care. Sian McEvoy, 41, spends a few days a week volunteering at a community farm near her home in Swansea, which provides opportunities for adults and young people who face mental health challenges. The experience of being outdoors and working with animals has already started to improve her social anxiety which prevented her from finding said: "I got myself into a bit of trouble drinking. "I came out of detox in February and I wanted to get myself back into the community again because my anxiety around people isn't great, so I thought coming here with the animals would be good for me."When I was drinking I didn't leave the house for three years so being out in the community around other people would tear me apart."I decided to come here to improve my mental health and get my confidence up to go back working full-time." The farm's operations manager, Katharine Aylett, said: "Most people self-refer but some come here through their occupational therapist, or a social prescriber in a GP surgery and we have local area co-ordinators who refer people."We've seen a huge differences in people. So many tell us about how it's changed their relationships with their families."Ms Aylett noted there were still challenges within the sector due to the lack of long-term funding for projects that can support becoming a volunteer at the farm, Steffan Thomas, 24, said the experience had made a "huge impact on my mental health".He said: "If I miss a week I feel a bit sad because I want to be here as much as I can."If I need five minutes to myself I like to spend time with just the animals but I tend to like getting stuck in and helping others with their mental health." Since it launched at the end of 2022, the NHS Wales 111 "press two" mental health urgent support line has recorded an average of 5,969 calls each Kamila Hawthorne who is a GP in Mountain Ash, Rhondda Cynon Taf, and a Bevan Commission commissioner, said: "We know that chronic ill health is rising, both mental and physical."If we don't do something to prevent the onwards rise of prevalence then the NHS is going to be overwhelmed."It's much better to prevent these things in the first place, enable people to grow up leading healthier lifestyles, having healthier approaches to what they want out of life and how they want to lead their day to day activities."She added: "I don't think people have really appreciated the power of social prescribing and how good it is to be able to help yourself and have the tools to prevent relapses later on." Murphy said: "When you go in and ask for help, you'll see somebody almost immediately to have that conversation and not be put on a waiting list for counselling. We're already seeing this in pockets and we need to build on that."You want always have perfect physical health or perfect mental health but we're reducing that stigma and ensuring we have more compassionate and person-centred care exactly when people need it."She added: "We know that good mental health depends on much more than healthcare alone. "That's why we're working to address all the factors that affect wellbeing, from housing and employment to tackling loneliness and building stronger communities."
