Latest news with #HayleyThomas
Powys County Times
21-05-2025
- Health
- Powys County Times
Decision on Powys Hospital changes to be made in July
The final decision on whether changes to Powys hospitals will be made permanent will be made soon as the health board faces 'difficult options'. In a meeting of Powys Teaching Board, it was heard that the decision on whether keep controversial temporary changes implemented at the beginning of the year will be made in July. Changes were made to Bronllys Hospital and Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital with wards designated as 'Ready To Go Home' units while Brecon and Newtown have been changed to support patients 'who need more specialised inpatient rehabilitation'. The changes were highly controversial when they were implemented with Arwystli Medical Practice in Llanidloes being highly critical. In a post last year, a spokesperson for the practice said: ''Ready to go home' wards allow the health board to sidestep minimum nursing staffing levels. 'This means fewer nurses looking after our community hospital patients so when patients develop extra care needs or become unwell, there won't be the resources to provide the needed care or treatment.' The plans also saw a backlash in Powys with Glyn Preston, county councillor for Llanidloes, travelling to PTHB's headquarters in Bronllys with a busload of residents to hand over a petition signed by more than 2,400 people to the health board's chief executive Hayley Thomas. It was not indicated whether the changes would be made permanent as consultation on the effectiveness of the changes has not been completed and a 'full evaluation report' will be made ahead of the boards meeting in July. 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 This comes as the Powys Teaching Health Board are continuing to face further financial pressure with a estimated financial deficit this year of over £20 million. This is despite other controversial changes passed this year which will purposefully make patients wait longer for treatment in English Hospitals to lower costs. Further to this, there is currently a consultation being led by the health board to see what changes residents wish to see to services as part of its 'Better Together' plans. However chief executive Hayley Thomas admitted that there would be 'difficult options going forward' as the board tried to balance its budget and met its statutory commitments set out by the Welsh Government.
Yahoo
24-04-2025
- General
- Yahoo
Conyers couple faces heartbreak after fire claims home and beloved dog
The Brief While at the emergency room with their toddler Bennett, who had a high fever, the Conyers couple lost their home and dog in a fire. The fire engulfed their house, leading to the loss of their golden retriever/husky mix, Bella, and their home, which they had spent six years building. Hayley and Joel Thomas express gratitude for their family's safety despite the tragedy and receive community support, including a GoFundMe page to assist them. CONYERS, Ga. - A couple is trying to put their lives back together after they lose their dog and their home in a fire. The Conyers couple was at the emergency room with their toddler at the time. What we know Little Bennett Thomas had a temperature of 103 degrees on Saturday. So his parents, Hayley and Joel Thomas, rushed him to the emergency room. "Our 18-month-old started running a fever," Hayley Thomas said. "He was getting very lethargic. You get a gut feeling as a parent it was time to take him to the emergency room," said Joel Thomas. What they're saying As soon as they pulled up to the hospital, the couple got even worse news: "[A call] from 911, we knew instantly something wasn't okay. They said our house was on fire," Hayley Thomas said. The Rockdale County Fire Department confirms the flames erupted Saturday afternoon in the 700 block of Sage Lane NW. The couple hurried back home. Their golden retriever/husky mix, Bella, was still inside. "We screamed to get the dog out. But they said our house was completely engulfed in flames," Hayley Thomas said. Bella didn't make it. "Heartbroken. Our dog was my first baby, I had her before we even got married," Hayley Thomas said. Their house was a total loss, the couple's lives ripped out from under them. "It just feels like we've taken some steps back," Joel Thomas said. "We saw our last six years of hard work, pouring our life, what we've been working hard on be ripped from us." Hayley and Joel say they're devastated but thankful. "Thankful, thankful that my child I worked so hard for wasn't inside, thankful that my husband was standing next to me," Hayley Thomas said. "Despite what's going on, we're doing really good. We're blessed to have a family intact," Joel Thomas said. "I feel like a fever was given to my boy to get us out of the house." Bennett had an ear infection. The couple says he's doing fine. What we don't know The cause of the fire is under investigation. What you can do The couple thanks everyone who has helped them during this difficult time. There's also a GoFundMe page if you'd like to help: Fundraiser by Seth Bagwell : Help Hayley & Joel After Fire Tragedy The Source FOX 5's Christopher King spoke with Hayley Thomas, whose house burned down as she rushed her toddler to the hospital.
BBC News
29-01-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Powys patient delay plan for care in NHS England is dropped
Plans by a Welsh health board to ask the NHS in England to delay the care it gives to patients living in Wales to save money have been Teaching Health Board voted unanimously in favour of a recommendation to not implement the changes, as it tries to resolve a £10m budged deficit. There was strong opposition to the plan, which would have seen hospital waiting times extended by up to 11 weeks or longer for people living in Powys needing cross-border Welsh government previously said it wants all patients to be seen within 104 weeks by March. Wales saw record waiting times published in October, with the list passing the 800,000 mark for the first of the Welsh government's plans to tackle those waiting times involves more treatment from across the border with England. The U-turn by the health board comes after officials looked at the potential impact on an elderly population, those awaiting treatment who are unable to work and increased pressures on patients living in Powys receive treatment from NHS England because they live close to the border and the county does not have a district general hospital. The practice can be costly for the health board. At an extraordinary meeting in January, the health board said it needed more information on the impact of the proposal before making a final decided to abort the scheme at a meeting on Wednesday, noting that further discussions are needed to try and avoid a similar financial situation for 2025-2026.A freeze on staff recruitment within some vacancies and the limit on agency and locum usage continues. Chief executive Hayley Thomas said during the meeting that early discussions with the Welsh government were under way 'to assess our current and future commissioning process' during a time when the health board is 'in a serious financial situation.'
