Press Release RE Ageism

On October 1 – the international day of older persons, which celebrates to amazing contribution made by older people across the world – the Older People’s Commissioner for Wales wants you to join her and Say NO to Ageism.

Mike Hedges AM said….. I am pleased to support this campaign against ageism. With an aging population, people are going to work until later in life, and will also find other ways to make a contribution to their local communities in to later life. We should judge people through the contributions they make, not by their age.’

Older people across Wales regularly share their experiences of being treated unfairly because of their age with the Commissioner and her team, while research shows that over a third of older people – that’s over a quarter of a million older people in Wales – have experienced some form of ageism.

You’ve no doubt seen for yourself the stereotypes of older people that are still so common, or the derogatory and disrespectful language that is still used so often to describe people once they reach a certain age.

 

The Commissioner’s position is clear: this is simply not acceptable.

If you agree, then join the Commissioner on October 1 and Say NO to Ageism!

Press release RE new drugs for Hepatitis C

Mike Hedges AM and David Rees AM welcome news that New advanced drugs available on Welsh NHS with £14m investment

Patients in Wales will have access to new drugs that treat Hepatitis C and those with a rare life-threatening disorder of the immune system after the Welsh Government announced almost £14m of funding.

The £13.8 million, announced by Finance Minister Jane Hutt, will allow the Welsh NHS to treat more patients with a number of medicines approved by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) and the All-Wales Medicines Strategy Group earlier this year.

Mike Hedges AM said….. ‘ I welcome this news which makes these lifesaving drugs available to people in need of treatment. I have met people who have contracted Hepatitis C through blood transfusions and these treatments will allow them the greatest chances to improve their conditions.

David Rees AM said…. I agree with my colleague Mike Hedges in welcoming these new treatments to the NHS. I welcome the Welsh Governments commitment to supporting new but relatively expensive treatments such as these’

They include sofosbuvir, which is used in the treatment of hepatitis C. This new, oral treatment avoids lengthy courses of injections and has a very high cure rate and will help thousands of people including those infected through contaminated blood transfusions.

The new investment will also give patients access to eculizumab a treatment for the extremely rare life-threatening immune disorder atypical Haemolytic Uraemic Syndrome, known as aHUS, reducing the need for dialysis or kidney transplants in these patients.

In January, the NHS drug advisory body NICE ruled that eculizumab could give people with a rare life-threatening immune disorder an extra 25 years of life. Initial estimates indicate there may be up to 14 patients in Wales who could benefit from the treatment which costs around £340,000 per patient per year.

Three further hepatitis C treatments, daclatasvir, simeprevir, and ledipasvir will also be made available through this major investment..

Health and Social Services Minister Mark Drakeford said:

"I am pleased to announce this significant new investment, which will give patients in Wales access to these advanced treatments.

"Patients with hepatitis C virus will now be able to access new treatments that in many cases will cure the individual.

"Those suffering with the extremely rare aHUS will now have access to the high-cost but life-changing eculizumab, which will improve their quality of life dramatically."

"These drugs will make a real difference to the lives of those affected by these distressing and potentially life-threatening conditions."

　

Notes to editors:

Nice decision on Eculizumab:

https://www.nice.org.uk/guidance/hst1/chapter/2-The-condition

　

New Treatments for Hepatitis C

Four new medicines have been appraised by NICE and the Welsh appraisal body, All Wales Medicines Strategy Group (AWMSG), and recommended for use in the treatment of hepatitis C.

The medicines are:

daclatasvir (Daklinza®)


simeprevir (Olysio®)


sofosbuvir (Sovaldi®)


Ledipasvir/sofosbuvir (Harvoni®)

Mike Hedges welcomes news that the Wales Retail Relief scheme extended and enhanced

Welsh Labour’s Economy Minister Edwina Hart has announced that the Welsh Labour Government has extended and enhanced the Wales Retail Relief scheme for 2015-16 which will help retail businesses cut up to £1,500 off their rates bill.

Mike Said…. I welcome the news that the Wales Government has extended the retail relief scheme; this scheme enables small retailers and food outlets to reduce their rates bill. I would urge any business who have not already done so to check if they are eligible.

Last year more than 10,500 retailers across Wales benefited from the scheme which cut annual rates bills by up to £1,000. Eligible retail, food and drink businesses are being encouraged to take advantage of the additional savings offered in the current financial year by the Wales Retail Relief scheme.

The relief is available to properties that have a rateable value of £50,000 or less, that are wholly or mainly being used as retail premises - shops, restaurants, cafes and drinking establishments. It is available until 31 March 2016 and offers up to £1,500 subject to state aid limits. Business that benefited from relief last year can also apply for the current relief.

The announcement comes during High Street Week, the highlight of the Welsh Government’s ‘Support Your High Street’ campaign, which encourages people to make use of the excellent shops and businesses available on their doorstep. Events and fun family activities are taking place across Wales this week, such as food and craft fairs, children’s activities, vintage days and street parties

　

　

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Press release on House Building in Wales

Mike Hedges WELCOMES NEWS that Housebuilding on the up in Wales

　

Welsh Labour’s Housing minister, Lesley Griffiths, has welcomed new figures which have revealed another significant rise in house building activity in Wales.

Mike said……. I welcome the news that the number of new houses in Wales is on the increase. I am aware that there is a significant shortage of both family homes and homes for single people. These new homes will begin to close that gap.’

　

The latest statistics show that during the period April to June 2015 a total of 1,750 new homes were built in Wales - a rise of ten per cent on the same quarter last year.

　

The figures also reveal a continuing positive trend in house building activity in Wales. During 2014-15 a total of 6,955 new homes were started - a rise of 20 per cent on the previous year. This 20 per cent increase in new starts was the highest increase since 2007-08.

　

During April-June 2015, most new dwellings completed were three bedroom properties, accounting for 42 per cent of all completions.

　

The Welsh Labour Government’s successful £170 million Help to Buy-Wales scheme is playing a key role in kick-starting housebuilding in Wales. As well as helping people progress up the property ladder, the scheme has also proved to be great news for the housing industry, with 187 builders of all sizes now offering Help to Buy - Wales shared equity loans. Earlier this year, the Welsh Labour Government also set out its intention to extend the Help to Buy – Wales scheme to beyond 31 March 2016, to continue supporting buyers and builders throughout Wales.

　

The figures can be found here.

Press release on Pan Wales library cards

Mike Hedges WELCOMES PLANS for all-Wales library card

The Welsh Labour Government has announced plans for an all-Wales library card, which would allow users to access library services wherever they are in Wales and could save local authorities up to 70% on current spend.

Mike said……. ‘I am pleased with this announcement which when implemented will allow people to use any library in Wales, rather than be stuck with just one local library. It will mean people in rural areas can use libraries in their closest large town even if they live in a different authority and it will also help people who live on the border of different authorities where they have to travel a distance to their nearest library within their home authority, where as there is one nearby in a different one. ‘

A single library card across Wales would mean users could borrow and return books in any library across the country. It would also open up access for people to take advantage of free computer use in libraries no matter where in the country they are and create a national e-books and e-zines service with free seamless downloads.

The plan is a step closer today as the Welsh Government awarded a single-supplier framework contract to SirsiDynix, one of the largest library management system vendors in the world, with customers in 70 countries.

Currently library users can only use public library cards within the local authorities they are registered. The system would provide a new and modern approach, which will benefit customers, for example those who work in a different local authority to which they are registered, and widen choice.

The move could also save local authorities up to 70% on current costs, with all local authorities adopting one single system rather than each having individual ones, as is the current practice.

　

　

　

　

Press release pn Refugee Collection

Mike Hedges AM supports efforts by local people to collect items for refugees in Calais.

Mike Hedges has offered support to Swansea people collecting items to support refugees living in make shift camps in Calais. The Campaign which began with an appeal on Facebook has attracted support of over 3000 people in little over 24 hours. People can drop off food and clothing items to various collection points around the City including his office at 97 Pleasant Street, Morriston.

Mike said……. ‘ like everyone else I have been deeply affected by the events of this week and the picture of 3 year old Aylan Kurdi on the beach in Turkey. I welcome the efforts of these Swansea People in helping people in the Camps in Calais, and am happy to offer my office as a collection point.

Items of clothing, old camping items such as tents and sleeping bags etc will be gratefully received and passed on to the main collecting point.

We need to remember that the people in ramshackle camps in Calais are Human Beings and treat them accordingly.

Facebook page - https://www.facebook.com/groups/1487942441500475/

　

　

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Press release on restictions for gambling outlets

Mike Hedges AM supports fellow AM in calls for restrictions on new gambling outlets

Mike Hedges AM has joined calls from Mick Antoniw, AM for Pontypridd, in calling for greater restrictions on new gambling outlets and support for people with gambling problems.

Mike said…… ‘The number of people affected by Gambling and associated problems are growing year on year; I see the effects of this in my surgeries and visits around the Constituency. This is a problem that affects all sections of society, young and old, men and women. Recent research suggests that 3000 teenagers in Wales have what is defined as a moderate gambling problem. I welcome and support my fellow AM Mick Antoniw’s intervention on this topic through his article for The Bevin Foundation, Gambling; Wales Public Health Iceberg.

We are agreed that Gambling is the hidden blight affecting people’s health and wellbeing in Wales. I join Mick in calling for local authorities to exercise their powers to control new venues and support calls for The National Assembly to be given greater powers for items such as fixed odds gambling machines, such as is proposed for the Scottish Parliament.

I would urge anyone with gambling problems or affected by family members who have a gambling problem to seek support and advice from Gambling Anonymous at –

http://gamblersanonymous.org.uk/

　

　

　

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