Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that Wales announces largest ever flu vaccine programme

Mike Hedges MS welcomes news that  Wales announces largest ever flu vaccine programme   Speaking from his Morriston Office, Local MS Mike Hedges said… ‘ I welcome the news that the Welsh Government is going to be funding the largest ever flu vaccination program in Wales. The crucial thing now is going to be to encourage people to actually have the vaccination as in the past take up of the vaccine’s on offer for flu has been sluggish.   PLEASE IF OFFERED A VACCINE, ATTEND AND GET VACCINATED’ Wales largest-ever flu campaign, which will see more people benefit from the free flu vaccine programme has been announced this week by Welsh Labour's Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething MS. The potential for co-circulation of COVID-19 at the same time will make this year’s flu vaccination programme even more vital. Alongside extending the programme it’s important that those in the existing eligible groups including those aged over 65 years, pregnant women and people with medical conditions are vaccinated first. Increasing uptake in health and social care workers will also be a key priority this season. Subject to confirmation by the UK Government, that additional vaccine supply will be available, those who will additionally be included in this year’s flu programme include: households of people in the shielded group lowering the eligibility age from 65 to over 50-year-olds – who will be vaccinated in a phased approach The NHS will get in contact with those who are eligible. You can read more about this announcement here.

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Use of wild animals in circuses to be banned in Wales after Bill passed.

Mike Hedges welcomes news that Use of wild animals in circuses to be banned in Wales after Bill passed.   Speaking from his Morriston Office, Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said… ‘ I am really pleased that this Bill has now passed through the Senedd and is about to become law. While we all remember going to see Circus as children, we cant really justify the use of animals for live performances in the 21st century. Animals belong in the wild and not in the circus ring and this law will go a long way to ensure that this will be the case in Wales after December 1st.’   A Bill to ban the use of wild animals in travelling circuses in Wales has been passed by the Senedd. The Bill was introduced just over a year ago, following a consultation which saw thousands of members of the public make their views known. There were more than 6,500 responses to the public consultation on the draft Bill, with 97% of respondents supporting the introduction of a ban. Third sector organisations have also overwhelmingly lobbied for the ban. Subject to Royal Assent, the ban will come into force on December 1. You can read more about the announcement here.

 

 

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRIPLE THERAPY TO BE AVAILABLE IN WALES

MIKE HEDGES AM WELCOMES NEWS THAT  CYSTIC FIBROSIS TRIPLE THERAPY TO BE AVAILABLE IN WALES





Speaking from his Morriston Office, Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said…. ‘ I welcome this news that this new therapy is going to be available for patients in Wales; this will hopefully lead to better  treatment for people with this difficult condition. I have met people with the condition and their families who live in my constituency and I know they will be so relieved that new treatments are being made available.’

WRITTEN STATEMENT 

BY

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT

TITLE	Access to Cystic Fibrosis Triple Therapy
DATE	22 July 2020
BY	Vaughan Gething, Minister for Health and Social Services

On 30 June, I provided an update on access to Vertex’s triple therapy Kaftrio (elexacaftor, tezacaftor, ivacaftor) following the announcement by NHS England that they had reached an agreement to make the therapy available later this year.

Following my statement, that I expected the detailed agreement between NHS Wales and Vertex Pharmaceuticals to be finalised urgently, I am very pleased to confirm we have reached agreement with Vertex on the main elements of the agreement today following a period of constructive negotiations. 



Importantly, this four-year deal will mean the more than 400 people with Cystic Fibrosis in Wales will be able to access the most appropriate CF medicine for their needs including the much anticipated, ground-breaking triple therapy Kaftrio at the earliest opportunity.  Our aim has always been to ensure that each patient for whom Kaftrio is appropriate, will be able to be considered for treatment from the point at which it receives its European marketing authorisation later this summer.  



I can also confirm that patients under 12 years of age will continue to benefit from the agreement reached last year giving them continued access to Orkambi, Symkevi and Kalydeco where clinically appropriate, with access to Kaftrio to follow if approved by the European Medicines Agency (EMA).  The agreement also means patients with rare mutations, which fall outside of the scope of the EMA approval, will be able to benefit the range of treatments where they and their clinicians agree treatment is appropriate.

Whilst the commercial terms of the agreement are confidential, I am content that the agreement reflects equivalent terms to those agreed between Vertex and NHS England and importantly, reflects the value of these innovative CF medicines to the NHS.

I know this will be a significant, and emotional, day for patients and their families.  I am delighted this announcement alongside our wider investment in CF services will contribute to a healthier and positive future for the CF community in Wales. 

This statement is being issued during recess in order to keep members informed. Should members wish me to make a further statement or to answer questions on this when the Senedd returns I would be happy to do so.

Mike Hedges MS welcomes announcement of funding to help town centres recover from the Coronavirus pandemic

Local Member of the Senedd, Mike Hedges, has welcomed the announcement that the Welsh Labour Government has made millions of pounds available to support town centres as they recover from the Coronavirus pandemic.



Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Housing and Local Government, Hannah Blythyn has announced that up to £5.3 million from the Transforming Towns programme will be used to fund adaptions in town centres to support traders and improve public safety in response to coronavirus.



The £5.3m fund will complement other support targeting town centre recovery including:

·         £15.4 million Local Sustainable Transport fund to provide better active and sustainable travel infrastructure to make it safer and easier for people to get around their local town.

• Funding to support the running costs of Business Improvement Districts’ for three months.

Welcoming the new fund Member of the Senedd for Swansea East, Mike Hedges , said: 



“I welcome this funding announcement from the Welsh Labour Government. We know that our town centres and high streets are facing huge challenges in light of the Coronavirus pandemic. This fund will be crucial in supporting our town centres and high streets to not just recover, but to build back better.”



The £5.3m repurposed capital funding from the Transforming Towns programme will be used to fund adaptions in town centres to facilitate trading and public safety in response to Coronavirus. This will include improvements such as outdoor awnings, seating, heating, screening, small green infrastructure schemes, electricity supply and lighting as well as the temporary use of vacant buildings and the establishment of local markets.



Mike Hedges  MS added:



“These actions will provide a sense of wellbeing, safety and confidence to encourage people to return to the high street.”



The announcement comes the day before the second meeting of the Ministerial Town Centre Action Group which looks at how best to use existing funds and prioritise further actions and resources to bolster town centres in the short and long term.



ENDS



Notes 



The £90m Transforming Towns fund, announced in January, set out a package of support for town centres building on the £800 million investment in town centres by Welsh Government since 2014.



This investment is delivering:

• Major capital projects which are repurposing empty property and land in town centres across Wales.
• Additional £10m loan funding to tackle empty and underutilised properties in town centres, which has just been opened for applications.
• £15.2 million and industry leading expertise for local authorities to address the issue of empty and neglected properties that blight our high streets.
• Green infrastructure schemes worth £9 million across Wales which will make town centres greener, more attractive and safer.
• Support for our Coastal Towns and Communities through the Coastal Communities Fund.
• funding for local authorities to introduce innovative local initiatives to boost town centres – these include a focus on marketing and branding (including shop local campaigns), master planning, embracing digital and tackling empty properties.

Mike Hedges MS welcomes New Covid-19 testing strategy for Wales published

Mike Hedges MS welcomes New Covid-19 testing strategy for Wales published

Wales’ new coronavirus testing strategy has been published today [Wednesday 15] by Health Minister Vaughan Gething. 

Speaking from The Senedd, Swansea East MS, Mike Hedges said… ‘it is good to be back in Cardiff Bay after a gap of four months. I am pleased that one of the first things I heard this morning was the news of the new testing strategy. I welcome it as it enables people to access tests quickly and have the results back quickly too. It also provides clear direction for testing of future testing and for working to test all patients of residential homes on a weekly basis. I am glad to see the Welsh Labour Government putting people’s health at the heart of its virus response’

Over the past three months, the Welsh Government and Public Health Wales have worked together to build a national testing infrastructure, which means that anyone who displays coronavirus symptoms can get a test quickly and easily. 

Today’s new strategy builds on the latest scientific evidence and focuses on four priority areas: 

1. Contact tracing - to prevent the spread of the disease among the wider population. 
2. Delivering NHS services - to support the safety of staff and patients.
3. Protecting vulnerable groups - to safeguard groups at greater risk of Covid-19.
4. Developing future delivery - to use surveillance and new technologies to improve our understanding of the virus. 

There are currently two different forms of testing in Wales; the antigen virus detection test which shows if someone currently has the virus, and the antibody test which is used to determine whether a person has been previously infected.

The new strategy also looks at the role and purpose of asymptomatic testing and determines that this will continue to be used where there is the greatest risk - such as among our older populations and health and care workers. 

It has also been confirmed the weekly testing programme for care homes will continue for another 4 weeks, with the data on prevalence rates closely monitored. If prevalence rates remain at the current low levels then the testing cycle will move to fortnightly.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething, said:

“This strategy sets out the way forward for testing as we emerge from lockdown, with the prevalence of Covid-19 reducing from the peak we saw just a few weeks ago. It also makes preparations for a possible second wave of coronavirus in the autumn.

“We now have a national testing infrastructure that means anyone who needs a test can access one. This enables our contact tracing system to help control the transmission of the disease as lockdown measures are eased. 

“Our NHS Wales Test, Trace, Protect service is fundamental to helping us to find a way to live with the disease until a vaccine or treatment is available.

“There are still areas where we know we need to improve and we are working hard to ensure more test results are returned within 24 hours. Over the weeks and months ahead, we’ll make the most of new testing technologies and be ready to seize the opportunities that these offer.”

ENDS

Notes:

https://gov.wales/covid-19-testing-strategy

https://llyw.cymru/strategaeth-profi-covid-19

MIKE HEDGES PAYS TRIBUTE TO KEV JOHNS AND THE SUNDAY HOTLINE AS THE CURTAIN FALLS ON POPULAR SUNDAY MORNING PHONE IN PROGRAM

MIKE HEDGES PAYS TRIBUTE TO KEV JOHNS AND THE SUNDAY HOTLINE AS THE CURTAIN FALLS ON POPULAR SUNDAY MORNING PHONE IN PROGRAM

Speaking from his Morriston Office, Swansea East MS said…. I want to pay tribute to Swansea Sound for the Hotline program they have broadcast on Sunday Mornings for around 40 years and to the presenter for the last 20 years, Kev Johns. Over the whole of this period, the Sunday hotline has been a fixture in the stations coverage of news and current affairs and I have appeared on the program on numerous occasions including when I was leader of the Council 20 years ago. This was a no holds barred grilling from the people of Swansea and the host set the tone with some searching opening questions. For all public representatives of the last 40 years, The Sunday Line has been compulsory listening on a Sunday Morning.

For the last 20 years the show has been presented by Kevin John who has dealt with all of the callers with his inimitable charm and has on occasion dealt with some very emotional calls with sympathy and kindness; I am aware that he has taken up some cases off air to ensure that people received support they needed.

It is a real shame that the new owners have seen fit to discontinue to Sunday Line as part of their revamp of the station.

I would like to pay tribute to the station and to the presenter for the way they have conducted the hotline phone in program over the years. Sunday Mornings will not be the same without the Hotline!

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT NON CONTACT SPORTS CAN COMMENCE FROM 13TH JULY AND WISHES YNYSTAWE, MORRISTON AND LANDORE CRICKET TEAMS GOOD LUCK FOR THEIR TRUNCATED SEASON.

     

MIKE HEDGES MS WELCOMES NEWS THAT NON CONTACT SPORTS CAN COMMENCE FROM 13^TH JULY AND WISHES YNYSTAWE, MORRISTON AND LANDORE CRICKET TEAMS GOOD LUCK FOR THEIR TRUNCATED SEASON.



Speaking from his Morriston Office, local MS Mike Hedges said ‘ I know how frustrated local cricket people have been during the coronavirus period. Now the wait is over and play can commence! I am pleased Mark Drakeford has announced that non contct team sports can commence from Monday and I am sure local teams will be anxious to play as soon as possible. An extra word of thanks to people who have been doing work on the grounds to get them ready to play over the past few weeks.



 I am sure local clubs will follow the new guidelines which will apply to cricket



I look forward to visiting the local cricket grounds in the coming weeks’



Note from Welsh Government Briefing

We are making changes to the regulations to allow larger gatherings outdoors of up to 30 people where these are organised and supervised by a responsible person. This will allow sports and leisure activities, such as fitness and dance classes, to take place outdoors, as well as collective worship. This will include charities, businesses, and sports clubs and a risk assessment will need to be carried out.