Latest news with #LesleyGriffiths
Leader Live
4 days ago
- Leader Live
Wrexham Walking Festival returns in June with free walks
The 2025 festival, organised by volunteer ramblers, offers a series of free walks for all ages and abilities from June 7 to June 15. Wrexham's Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, a staunch supporter of the event, has once again partnered with Walkabout Wrexham & District. Ms Griffiths said: "From Coedpoeth to Corwen, the Wrexham Walking Festival not only promotes our region's picturesque surroundings, it also encourages people to live healthier lifestyles. "Over 550 people took part in last year's event, with walkers visiting our region from across the UK, and all are welcome to join the team this year." The festival features daily graded walks, with harder walks spanning at least six miles over rough terrain, necessitating a solid level of fitness. However, there are also shorter, less strenuous walks for those seeking a more relaxed experience. All walks are led by trained leaders and are free of charge. READ MORE: Paper mill supports Flintshire schools with donation and site visit Participants are reminded to dress suitably for the walk. There is no need to book in advance; simply show up at the designated meeting place on the day. For further details and updates, visit the Walkabout Wrexham & District website or contact Wrexham Visitor Information Centre on Chester Street. You can also email queries to walkaboutwrexham@
Pembrokeshire Herald
15-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
New ambition for the inclusion and participation of disabled people in Wales
SENEDD Members scrutinised health chiefs about years-long delays to digital transformation of eye care, with some services still relying on paper records and fax machines. Peter Fox, the newly elected chair of the Senedd's health committee, pressed witnesses about a lack of digital infrastructure 'holding back' improvement in eye care services. Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) was moved to level three on ministers' intervention framework in March due to concerns about its ability to effectively deliver major programmes. Helen Thomas, DHCW's chief executive, said: 'We know there are many opportunities that digital and data services can support… in terms of the challenges eye care services face. 'And we believe there is a way to go in terms of ensuring that they have the full digital infrastructure that is needed.' David Thomas, director of digital at Cardiff and Vale, said an electronic patient record system has been deployed in all ophthalmology sub-specialties in his health board area. But, asked about progress on digital stalling elsewhere, Ms Thomas told the committee DHCW hopes to complete a full national rollout after a current contract ends in early 2027. The digital eye care programme began in January 2020, with £8.5m allocated by ministers. A press release, published in March 2021, said: 'The project, being led by Cardiff and Vale university health board, has already commenced rollout across Wales.' Sam Hall, director of primary digital services at DHCW, said an electronic referral system was part of the original programme 'but hasn't yet been delivered'. Labour's Lesley Griffiths, a former health minister, pointed out that the 'OpenEyes' digital patient records project had an agreed deadline to be rolled out by March 2023. Labour MS Lesley Griffiths 'But this didn't happen,' said the Wrexham Senedd member. 'So, I wonder if you could explain why it didn't happen and what the current status is please.' Mr Thomas pointed to the impact of the pandemic during the meeting on May 14. Warning of problems getting people 'on the same page', he said: 'In hindsight, in terms of lessons learned, the engagement could have worked a lot better with other health boards.' He said OpenEyes is live in Cardiff and Vale, and one service at Cwm Taf Morgannwg, with plans to roll out the patient record system to all ophthalmology services within ten months. Mr Thomas told the committee that Welsh Government funding covered capital spending, leaving health boards to meet the everyday costs such as employing more staff. He explained additional funding has been requested, given wider financial constraints, to cover local implementation costs of around £50,000 for each health board, 'We do now have the buy-in from health boards to proceed,' he said. 'But we need to recognise that there was a period where things didn't progress as they should.' Emma Cooke, an executive director at Cardiff and Vale, added: 'We weren't demonstrating its value to the rest of Wales… that's the big thing I think we should have picked up quicker.' Michael Stechman – clinical director for ophthalmology at Cardiff and Vale, and a consultant general surgeon – warned of a Wales-wide shortage of ophthalmologists. He also raised concerns about the centralisation of services creating challenges – with major trauma, neurosurgery and vascular surgery all 'competing' for theatre space. Turning to Betsi Cadwaladr university health board, Mr Fox pointed out that about 40,000 patients in the area were waiting for ophthalmology outpatient appointments. Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr, replied: 'It's probably fair to say the health board has not made as much progress over the past four-five years as other areas. 'It's something for us to learn from.' Ms Shillabeer, who was appointed in 2023, outlined a focus on community ophthalmology services to free up capacity for secondary care teams to see the highest-risk patients. Pressed about underreporting of incidents, the chief executive emphasised the importance of transparency and candour due to potentially 'life-changing' levels of patient harm.
Pembrokeshire Herald
15-05-2025
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Health chiefs face questions over eye care digital delays
SENEDD Members scrutinised health chiefs about years-long delays to digital transformation of eye care, with some services still relying on paper records and fax machines. Peter Fox, the newly elected chair of the Senedd's health committee, pressed witnesses about a lack of digital infrastructure 'holding back' improvement in eye care services. Digital Health and Care Wales (DHCW) was moved to level three on ministers' intervention framework in March due to concerns about its ability to effectively deliver major programmes. Helen Thomas, DHCW's chief executive, said: 'We know there are many opportunities that digital and data services can support… in terms of the challenges eye care services face. 'And we believe there is a way to go in terms of ensuring that they have the full digital infrastructure that is needed.' David Thomas, director of digital at Cardiff and Vale, said an electronic patient record system has been deployed in all ophthalmology sub-specialties in his health board area. But, asked about progress on digital stalling elsewhere, Ms Thomas told the committee DHCW hopes to complete a full national rollout after a current contract ends in early 2027. The digital eye care programme began in January 2020, with £8.5m allocated by ministers. A press release, published in March 2021, said: 'The project, being led by Cardiff and Vale university health board, has already commenced rollout across Wales.' Sam Hall, director of primary digital services at DHCW, said an electronic referral system was part of the original programme 'but hasn't yet been delivered'. Labour's Lesley Griffiths, a former health minister, pointed out that the 'OpenEyes' digital patient records project had an agreed deadline to be rolled out by March 2023. Labour MS Lesley Griffiths 'But this didn't happen,' said the Wrexham Senedd member. 'So, I wonder if you could explain why it didn't happen and what the current status is please.' Mr Thomas pointed to the impact of the pandemic during the meeting on May 14. Warning of problems getting people 'on the same page', he said: 'In hindsight, in terms of lessons learned, the engagement could have worked a lot better with other health boards.' He said OpenEyes is live in Cardiff and Vale, and one service at Cwm Taf Morgannwg, with plans to roll out the patient record system to all ophthalmology services within ten months. Mr Thomas told the committee that Welsh Government funding covered capital spending, leaving health boards to meet the everyday costs such as employing more staff. He explained additional funding has been requested, given wider financial constraints, to cover local implementation costs of around £50,000 for each health board, 'We do now have the buy-in from health boards to proceed,' he said. 'But we need to recognise that there was a period where things didn't progress as they should.' Emma Cooke, an executive director at Cardiff and Vale, added: 'We weren't demonstrating its value to the rest of Wales… that's the big thing I think we should have picked up quicker.' Michael Stechman – clinical director for ophthalmology at Cardiff and Vale, and a consultant general surgeon – warned of a Wales-wide shortage of ophthalmologists. He also raised concerns about the centralisation of services creating challenges – with major trauma, neurosurgery and vascular surgery all 'competing' for theatre space. Turning to Betsi Cadwaladr university health board, Mr Fox pointed out that about 40,000 patients in the area were waiting for ophthalmology outpatient appointments. Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr, replied: 'It's probably fair to say the health board has not made as much progress over the past four-five years as other areas. 'It's something for us to learn from.' Ms Shillabeer, who was appointed in 2023, outlined a focus on community ophthalmology services to free up capacity for secondary care teams to see the highest-risk patients. Pressed about underreporting of incidents, the chief executive emphasised the importance of transparency and candour due to potentially 'life-changing' levels of patient harm.
Leader Live
14-05-2025
- General
- Leader Live
Support for adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse
Lesley Griffiths, MS for Wrexham, applauded the work of Wrexham-based Stepping Stones North Wales. The charity provides free counselling and support services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse across the six counties of North Wales. During a meeting at the charity's offices on King Street in Wrexham, members of the Stepping Stones North Wales team outlined the charity's work and the positive impact of its services for so many survivors. The team also highlighted that, although demand is continuing to increase across the whole region, securing the funds to meet increasing demand is becoming ever more challenging. Read more: "People who come to us are looking to be heard and believed" Ms Griffiths heard first hand from service users about the impact the charity has had on the lives of both themselves and their families of the charity's recent success in securing a prestigious GSK Impact Award and full accreditation of its services from The Survivors Trust. She commended the work of the whole Stepping Stones North Wales team during First Minister's Questions in the Senedd, and took the opportunity to highlight the importance of multi-year support from Welsh Government for charities in Wales. Ms Griffiths asked the First Minister Eluned Morgan: "Could I begin by paying tribute to the counsellors, volunteers and the whole team of Stepping Stones North Wales, which is an organisation based in my constituency of Wrexham? Read more: Riding centre appeal: 'Every pound buys us time but the clock is ticking' "It supports and provides free counselling and support services to adult survivors of childhood sexual abuse right across all the six counties of North Wales, and last year was the charity's fortieth year. It was a particularly challenging year in terms of finance and also a significant increase in the demand for their services." She added: "Sustainable funding is challenging, and when I met with the team members of Stepping Stones recently, they highlighted to me, whilst they greatly value the support from Welsh Government, the ability to strategically plan for the longer term is really essential. Read more: North Wales Freemasons' generous donation to mountain rescue charity "So, First Minister, whilst I appreciate the Welsh Government budget is allocated on an annual basis, do you agree with me that multi-year funding settlements would assist organisations, such as Stepping Stones, to enable better long-term planning and provide support to many more individuals? Diolch." The First Minister replied: "I recognise the importance of service providers like Stepping Stones. I'd like to congratulate the organisation—they won this year's GSK impact award. And we were very pleased to be able to give them an additional £102,000 this year to help reduce their waiting lists. "They are making a difference to thousands of people in north Wales, and it was great that you went to visit them. Read more: Vintage bridal boutique opens in Wrexham in aid of animal shelter in crisis The First Minister added: "Of course, in an ideal world, we'd like to see multi-annual funding. There are rules within our budgetary system that allows some of that to happen, but, obviously, up until very recently we've only had an annual funding settlement. "But the multi-year funding is a key consideration of the Welsh Government because we recognise the importance of delivery on a sustainable basis, and to make sure that people can keep their jobs and keep the skills that are so critical in an area like this." Stepping Stones North Wales CEO, Phil Eastment, said: "The whole Stepping Stones North Wales team is hugely grateful to Lesley Griffiths for meeting with us to discuss the challenges we face in meeting increasing demand for our services and to hear first-hand about the team's recent successes in securing a GSK Impact Award and accreditation from The Survivors Trust. Read more: Appeal to support church in 'heart of community' launched by local football club "It was a huge honour, as always, to highlight the inspirational commitment and dedication of our counsellors, our support team, and our volunteers who provide such crucial support across North Wales. "We are particularly grateful to Lesley for highlighting the work of our charity during First Minister's Questions and for raising the crucial issue of potential multi-year funding support." • To learn more about Stepping Stones North Wales or to donate to the charity visit
Yahoo
14-02-2025
- Politics
- Yahoo
Ex-minister quits ahead of Wales' 2026 election
Former Welsh government minister Lesley Griffiths has announced she will not be standing at the next Senedd election. She becomes the ninth Labour MS to announce their intention to step down in 2026. In a statement on Friday, the Wrexham MS said it had been "an absolute privilege" to represent the constituency. Meanwhile the cabinet secretary for transport, Ken Skates, announced he was hoping to be selected as a Labour candidate in the new, enlarged constituency of Wrexham. Quarter of Labour Senedd members stepping down Ex-minister Antoniw to leave Senedd next year Minister to quit ahead of Wales' 2026 election First elected to Cardiff Bay in 2007, Griffiths has served as the Welsh government's minister for rural affairs, health, local government and culture, as well as business manager and minister for north Wales. Last July, she was one of four cabinet members who resigned from government, prompting the resignation of First Minister Vaughan Gething. In her Facebook statement on Friday, Griffiths said: "I have today informed Wrexham Constituency Labour Party that I will not be seeking re-election at the 2026 Senedd election. "To the electorate of Wrexham, it has been an absolute privilege to represent you as the Welsh Labour Member of the Senedd since 2007 and I look forward to continuing to do so to the best of my ability until the next election." Skates has represented Clwyd South in the Senedd since 2011, however that constituency will no longer exist at the next election. "It's been a massive honour to have served Clwyd South and it saddens me deeply that the constituency will cease to exist from next year," he said. Announcing his intention to stand in Wrexham, he said: "It would be the thrill of a lifetime to serve the newest and greatest city in our country." Misbehaving Welsh politicians may face recall vote Labour risks Senedd election kicking - ex-minister Mark Drakeford to quit Senedd at next election
