NHS Wales 'in need of urgent attention and turnaround', review finds
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Powys County Times
2 hours ago
- Powys County Times
Over 130 full-time nursing positions in Powys unfilled
Over 100 full-time nursing positions in Powys remain unfilled according to recent statistics. According to information released by Powys Teaching Heath Board, a combined 133 full-time nursing positions were unfilled as of the end of June. The data shows that there is particularly difficulty with entry level nurses with over 75 band-five nursing roles left unfilled. There are also struggles to fill senior staff nursing roles with a further 34 band-six level positions unfilled. Around 17 band-seven roles – which are usually required advanced clinical expertise and managerial responsibilities – also remain unfilled. Powys Teaching Health Board confirmed that the lack of nurses was part of a nationwide trend with NHS Wales having 4,300 unfilled roles as of 2023. A spokesperson for Powys Teaching Health Board said: 'Sadly, these challenges are not unique to Powys. Across the NHS, we are working together to develop sustainable, deliverable workforce plans for the future. 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 'Here in Powys, we already have successful programmes in place. We've been proud to welcome new nurses from overseas and are grateful to our communities for helping them feel at home in our beautiful county. 'We're also about to launch the next round of our 'earn while you learn' programme, which supports healthcare support workers and apprentices to train as registered nurses. 'But we must also look ahead. Our population is ageing, with more people living longer and managing multiple health conditions, while the working-age population is shrinking. 'That's why we've launched our Better Together programme – a long-term conversation with the people of Powys about how we shape safe, high-quality health services for the future. 'We encourage everyone to get involved. Our current survey is open until 27 July 2025 at
The Independent
4 days ago
- The Independent
Shops legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children
Shops are legally selling addictive nicotine pouches to children just weeks after single-use vapes were banned in an effort to cut their use among young people, Trading Standards has warned. Trading Standards officers said they had found shops displaying the pouches – often in child-friendly sweet flavours and with eye-catching packaging – in plain sight at the front of counters during visits to check they were no longer selling single-use vapes. Nicotine pouches, commonly known as 'snus', are small pouches similar in shape to teabags containing nicotine, flavourings and sweeteners. Users place them under their upper lip, allowing nicotine to be absorbed into the bloodstream through the gum. They are available in flavours similar to those of vapes including Tropical Mango, Very Berry and Cherry Ice. Trading Standards said the pouches currently 'fall between the gap' of regulation of either a tobacco or a nicotine product, meaning shops can legally sell them to a child of any age. There is increasing concern about the rising popularity of nicotine pouches among school-aged children in the UK as they can easily go undetected by teachers and parents due to their discreet placement on the gum. A YouGov survey commissioned by the charity Action on Smoking and Health (Ash) found a growing awareness of nicotine pouches among under-18s – rising from 38% in 2024 to 43% in 2025. Almost 4% of teenagers also report trying the pouches, according to the poll of 2,746 youngsters aged 11 to 17. The Tobacco and Vapes Bill that is currently making its way through Parliament makes the sale of these nicotine products illegal to anyone under the age of 18. It will also introduce powers to restrict the use of child-appealing flavours, packaging and advertising as well as dictate where they can be placed in shops. The Chartered Trading Standards Institute (CTSI) is calling for the bill to be moved up the Parliamentary timetable to ensure it can be swiftly implemented. CTSI lead officer for tobacco and vapes Kate Pike said: 'We are getting increasing reports from concerned parents and teachers that shops are marketing and selling nicotine pouches to children. 'It is incredibly frustrating that there is nothing we can currently do to prevent them. 'We have been asking for an age of sale on nicotine pouches for some time and were delighted when this measure was included in the Tobacco and Vapes Bill. 'We would urge Government to ensure the bill is prioritised in the parliamentary calendar to enable it to be finalised so we can start taking action against those who either deliberately or uncaringly risk children getting hooked on a highly addictive product.' Ash chief executive Hazel Cheeseman said: 'The government has all the tools needed to address youth appeal and use of nicotine pouches in legislation before parliament. But parliamentary time has not been found to progress this legislation since April. 'In the meantime, companies, who know their marketing practices will eventually be restricted, are continuing to heavily promote pouches in ways that appeal to children. 'While they are likely to be very much less harmful than smoking, they contain nicotine which is addictive, and the long-term health impacts are not known.' A Department of Health and Social Care spokesman said: 'Our landmark Tobacco and Vapes Bill will ban the sale of nicotine pouches to under-18s and stop vapes and nicotine products from being deliberately promoted and advertised to children. 'The Bill will place nicotine pouches under the same advertising restrictions as tobacco and provides powers to regulate their nicotine limits, flavours, packaging and how they are displayed. 'It will stop the next generation from getting hooked on nicotine and put an end to the cycle of addiction and disadvantage.'
Rhyl Journal
6 days ago
- Rhyl Journal
Bowel cancer survivor backs research into new AI tool
John Keryakoplis, a 69-year-old grandfather from Flintshire, is backing a new Cardiff University study exploring how AI could identify which bowel cancer patients may not need life-altering surgery. Mr Keryakoplis, has two grandchildren, was diagnosed with stage one bowel cancer in January 2020 after taking part in the NHS Wales bowel screening programme. John Keryakoplis with his wife (Image: Supplied) He said: "It didn't feel great to be told I had cancer, but I was very reassured when the doctor said it was in its early stages and very treatable." He underwent a week of radiotherapy in May 2020, followed by surgery in November 2021 to remove the tumour. As part of his treatment, Mr Keryakoplis had a stoma fitted, which he named "George" after his father. He said: "George the stoma even came with me to Menorca. "I wore swimming shorts pulled up so high I looked like Simon Cowell." Despite his diagnosis and treatment, he continued to swim throughout, and has now been cancer-free for five years. He has also raised more than £1,000 for Cancer Research UK through swimming challenges. Mr Keryakoplis said: "I try to live as healthily as I can after my diagnosis. "This new research sounds really promising. "It would be brilliant for bowel cancer patients to have a more accurate and personalised treatment plan, which could prevent people from having surgery if they don't need it." Cardiff University's Professor Spezi has received a grant to develop an AI tool to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer (Image: Matthew Horwood) The research he is supporting is led by Professor Emiliano Spezi at Cardiff University. Professor Spezi has received a £500,000 Stand Up To Cancer grant to develop an AI tool to improve the diagnosis and treatment of rectal cancer, a type of bowel cancer. Current treatment decisions are often based on invasive biopsies, but Professor Spezi's AI algorithm analyses 3D medical images to extract detailed data that could help doctors decide on the most effective treatment. He said: "This research could lead to significantly improved and personalised treatment plans for patients in the future. "We want to extract quantitative information from images that can't be seen with the naked eye. "It could be transformative in the way rectal tumours are assessed and treatment is allocated. "We should be able to identify a subgroup of patients for whom surgery is essential – and those for whom it may not be necessary – ultimately improving quality of life." The technology can assess tumour volume and shape, distinguish between healthy and cancerous tissue, and identify complex patterns using deep learning. Professor Spezi is collaborating with Professors Campbell Roxburgh and Joanne Edwards at the University of Glasgow. The research is supported by Stand Up To Cancer, a joint fundraising campaign by Cancer Research UK and Channel 4, which aims to accelerate breakthroughs in cancer diagnosis and treatment. Around 20,200 people in Wales are diagnosed with cancer each year. Visit to support the Stand Up To Cancer charity.
