MS for Delyn provides several updates in this weeks column
Last week in the Senedd, I paid tribute to those at the heart of our communities during Volunteers Week – volunteers, groups and organisers who work tirelessly behind the scenes.
Whether it's Mold Community Clubhouse & Gardens, hospital leagues of friends or Walk & Talk Today in Ffynnongroyw, their work matters and makes a difference – and, during Pride Month, let's also celebrate the people powering our local Pride events, such as the first ever Flint Pride last year and Prestatyn Pride last weekend.
In the Senedd debate, I called on the Welsh Government to build on its support for volunteers not just with funding, but through creative partnerships that help more people get involved.
You watch all my questions in the Senedd on my Facebook page at www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.
The NHS matters to us all.
Last week in the Senedd I talked about the challenges that remain for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, but also the positive progress that we are seeing being made – two-year waits are down by 67 per cent over the last three years, more than 12,000 patients have come off the two-year wait list and the new Llandudno orthopaedic hub is on track to make a difference when that opens later this year.
This demonstrates the difference additional funding makes, thanks to having two Labour governments working together.
But investment alone isn't enough, it also takes system change and that won't work without our incredible NHS workforce.
That's why during a debate in the Senedd last week, I called for reassurance that staff on the ground will be fully supported and involved in shaping the improvements we all want to see.
NHS staff are key to turning around the health board – I am hopeful that we are heading in the right direction, but of course there is a lot more work to do.
It was a real pleasure last week to attend the North Wales Police and Crime Commissioner Community Awards ceremony on Thursday evening.
The awards recognise individuals and organisations who are making a difference and making life better for victims, for communities and supporting the police in their work right across North Wales.
It was especially lovely to see the work of Louise Rudd and Heather Williams and all the team at Walk & Talk Today in Ffynnongroyw rightly recognised in the Community Champion Award.
A few years back now, I joined them at the opening of their first premises and, since then, I've seen them go from strength to strength, making a real and lasting difference to the village and surrounding area. Llongyfarchiadau Walk & Talk Today!
Regular readers will know that I'm passionate about amplifying young people's voices – young people are truly the future of Wales and politicians aren't always good at listening to what they have to say.
Here in Wales, we have the Welsh Youth Parliament which gives young people the chance to represent their communities from their own perspectives and recently I discovered a podcast entitled 'Get Informed and Get Involved', which has been made by the Youth Voice Network for Wales.
If you like podcasts, it's worth a listen – the young presenters tackle how young people can navigate social media, how to tell the difference between reliable information and misinformation and give tips on how to get involved in democracy.
I recently met with campaigners from the League Against Cruel Sports and Animal Aid to discuss the urgent need to end the caged breeding of game birds in Wales.
Every year, tens of thousands of pheasants and partridges are kept in tiny, wire-mesh cages and are denied the ability to move freely.
There are currently no specific regulations protecting these birds and no routine inspections of game bird farms in Wales – despite public opposition and clear welfare concerns, progress has stalled for years.
Residents from across my constituency have been in touch about this issue asking for real action.
Wales must follow through on its commitments to animal welfare and ban cages for breeding game birds.
Finally, I had the chance on Friday to visit Theatr Clwyd to see Tick, Tick… Boom, the first performance in the newly-transformed theatre which will run until June 28 – the venue is operating a phased return so that it could stay open longer during the building work.
The transformation was made possible with support from Flintshire County Council, the Arts Council of Wales and £22m of Welsh Government funding and I have to say it's a stunning building which will continue to serve our communities here in North East Wales for many years to come – the new-look theatre, restaurant, community facilities and landscaped areas around it will make the theatre even more of an asset to our area.
As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don't hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales.
You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythyn.
Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don't need to wait for an advice surgery.
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The Sun
20 minutes ago
- The Sun
My rotting nipples went black and a chunk of one fell off after Turkey boob op – don't make my mistake
WITH her self-esteem at rock bottom, mum-of-four Chloe Roiser decided there was only one way to take back control of her body - a breast op. But the 31-year-old's journey to regain her confidence turned into a living nightmare, after surgery abroad left her with rotting nipples and in "indescribable" pain. 6 6 Chloe, from Wymondham, Norfolk found her self-worth at an all-time low following years of being in an abusive relationship at a young age. While she now lives with a loving partner and four children, in 2014 she sadly lost her son, who was only 13 days old, to Group B strep, and was launched into the throes of grief - one of the hardest parts of her life. Before her surgery, Chloe was an ample 34F cup size. But after pregnancy and breastfeeding, she found that her breasts had sagged and changed shape. She tells Sun Health: "I felt deeply uncomfortable in my own body. "Being in an abusive relationship at a young age took a huge toll on my self-worth. "The surgery felt like a way to rebuild myself." Turkey to access what seemed like a well-reviewed and affordable procedure. But she wasn't prepared for what followed. She explains: "In the UK, it would have been far more expensive. I was left with wonky nipples after 'botched' Turkey boob job - the doctor totally freaked me out just before I went to sleep "The procedure cost me £3,500. I found the clinic, HappyYouHealth, through Instagram, where they posted lots of 'before and after' results. "It looked professional and reassuring." Chloe flew out in April of this year for the surgery, and while she was nervous, she was also hopeful. She decided to travel alone for the first trip. Chloe recalls: "The doctors seemed friendly and confident. The surgery was a breast uplift with implants. "It lasted a few hours and I was changed from a 34F to a 34D - although that wasn't the outcome I expected. "I didn't feel I was properly consulted about sizing or options. "But I was told it had gone well and was discharged quickly with minimal aftercare advice." 'I knew something was badly wrong' Chloe headed back to the UK to recover, but within a couple of weeks, she noticed the skin around her nipples was turning black - a sign of necrosis when body tissue dies from lack of blood flow. Chloe explains: "The area became infected, painful, and began to break down. "I messaged the clinic and sent photos, but felt I wasn't being taken seriously. "They said it looked fine and to just keep using antibiotic cream. "But I knew something was badly wrong." She contacted the NHS for help, but they were limited in what they could do, as it was a private overseas procedure. Necrosis is considered a potential complication of breast surgery, though the overall risk is relatively low. Chloe had no choice but to return to Turkey. She says: "I flew back on June 3, less than six weeks after the first surgery, this time with my partner and daughter who has autism, as she didn't want to leave my side. "I needed support, and I was also scared to go alone after what had already gone wrong. "I went back to the same clinic and they cleaned the wound under local anaesthetic, removed dead tissue, gave me antibiotics, and restitched the area. "But the damage was already done - I lost most of my nipple. "It was very serious. If left untreated, it could have spread. "I caught it just in time, but the result is permanent damage. "It was a real battle, physically and emotionally. "I cried when I spoke to my children on the phone, and I carried an unbearable amount of guilt being away from them." 'Deeply traumatised' Chloe returned to the UK after 10 days. While she's undergone basic treatment to manage the infection, she'll likely need further corrective surgery in the UK due to the loss of part of her nipple, the scarring, and the damage from the necrosis. She says: "While I wasn't charged directly for the second procedure, I paid over £3,000 for flights, accommodation and medication. "The corrective surgery in the UK will come at even more of a cost to me. "The infection has been treated and the wound is now healing, but the physical and emotional damage is far from over. "I'm relieved to be home, but I've been left deeply traumatised by everything that's happened." 6 6 Chloe adds: "I know I'm not the only one who has gone through something like this. "Sharing my story might just help someone else think twice or ask more questions before making a decision like this - and with any luck, it might also get me the support I so desperately need right now." "I absolutely regret going abroad for treatment. I wish I'd saved and had the surgery in the UK, even if it meant waiting longer. "No discount is worth this kind of trauma." Chloe's message to others is not to risk your health to save money. "Research thoroughly and don't just rely on Instagram photos," she says. "If I could go back, I'd have waited and had it done in the UK. "No amount of money saved is worth risking your life or your children's well-being. I have huge regrets." Haydar Dogruoz, general manager at HappyYou Health, tells Sun Health: "Following her recent breast surgery, she experienced a postoperative complication known as tissue necrosis. "As with any surgical procedure, such complications, although rare, can occur and require close medical attention. "We would like to emphasise that Ms. Roiser has been under our continuous care. The affected area has been carefully treated — including debridement of the necrotic tissue, followed by a new round of suturing and regular wound care. "We are committed to our patients' safety and well-being and are doing everything necessary to support Ms Roiser's recovery." Going abroad for medical treatment IF you're thinking about having medical treatment in another country, it's important to understand how it works and the risks involved. Going for medical treatment abroad is not easy and a GP or NHS England can only do so much to help you. You'll have to make the arrangements yourself, including finding a healthcare provider and making all the travel arrangements. This means it's important to do some research and gather enough information to make an informed choice. You should consider: any language barriers whether you know enough about the people who'll treat you and the facilities available communication between medical staff abroad and in the UK, such as exchanging medical records and arranging aftercare back home how to make a complaint if things go wrong – the NHS is not liable for negligence or failure of treatment You'll need to be aware of how your aftercare will be provided when you return home and understand the conditions under which you'll be treated abroad. You should also ensure you have adequate insurance. Most travel insurance policies will not cover you for planned treatment abroad, so you may need specialist cover. Follow the treatment abroad checklist from the NHS: Think about your reasons for going abroad: Make sure your decision is based on the quality of the medical care you would like to receive and not on how appealing the destination seems for a holiday. Know the warning signs: Think carefully before booking any treatment abroad if there is a hard sell, lack of information, pressure to make a quick decision, no discussion of possible complications, and no mention of aftercare. Get a second opinion: A doctor can give you a valuable second opinion as well as advice about treatment options and whether it's necessary. Do your research: Have you checked the qualifications of the medical team treating you? Have you been able to ask them questions about your treatment? Are you satisfied with the facilities and standards at the clinic or hospital where you'll be treated? Check if you can get funding for treatment abroad: Before considering paying for treatment abroad yourself, find out if you're eligible to receive funding for planned treatment in Europe. Aftercare and possible side effects or complications: Make sure you understand the possible complications and side effects that could arise from your treatment. Do the maths: If your main reason for going abroad is to save money, make sure you've factored in fluctuating exchange rates, the possibility of extending your stay if necessary and the cost of possible return trips. Check you're sufficiently insured: Before travelling abroad for treatment make sure you have appropriate travel insurance and tell your insurer about your plans to have treatment abroad. Source: NHS
Daily Mirror
43 minutes ago
- Daily Mirror
One year in power - charts show how Labour have lived up to election promises
Twelve months on from the General Election on July 4, 2024, we have examined Keir Starmer's record against key pledges made by Labour before it went into Government Keir Starmer celebrates his first full year in No10 tomorrow, but has he delivered on the promises which won Labour a landslide victory? Twelve months on from the General Election on July 4, 2024, we have examined the Government's record against key pledges in the Labour manifesto. Surveys show that the Government's approval ratings have fallen more in the first year than any other since John Major 's in 1992/93. Opinion polls have even put Labour behind Reform UK, which has just five MPs. The prime minister insists that Labour is on track to deliver its manifesto, here we show what the official data shows to some of the pledges in the manifesto and the 'first steps to change'. Only the pledges that can be tested against publicly available data have been included. NHS During the 2024 general election, Keir Starmer revealed his 'first steps for change' - six key promises alongside a picture of him with his shirt sleeves rolled up. The first of those was to 'deliver economic stability', while the second was to 'cut NHS waiting times'. The health service had fallen into a state of permanent crisis under the Conservative government. Every month there were 10s of thousands of patients waiting in A&E for over 12 hours to be treated, while waiting lists repeatedly reached record highs. So how are things 12 months on? A&E waiting times Back in June 2024, the last month of the Tory government, only 60.5% of attendances at Type 1 major A&Es in England waited less than four hours from arrival to admission, transfer or discharge. That was up from 59.7% in May. In May of this year - the latest for which figures are available - 61.2% of attendances at major A&Es were seen within four hours. A small improvement over the course of the year but still a long way short of the 79.1% in May of 2019 (the last May before the pandemic), and even further behind the 91.4% of May 2015 when the Conservative government came to power. Waiting lists NHS waiting lists have been steadily falling under the Labour government. There were a total of 7.62 million on the waiting list when Keir Starmer came to power. That's since fallen to 7.39 million. The waiting list had reached as high as 7.76 million under the Tories in September 2023. That's compared to 4.45 million just before the pandemic, and 3.37 million in May 2015 when the Conservative government came to power. Verdict NHS waiting times have fallen. However, whether they've fallen by enough for voters to feel the benefit is another matter. The government will no doubt be hoping to see more improvements before the next election. VAT on private school fees Labour's pledge to put VAT on private school fees came into effect in January 2025. There were a total of 582,477 pupils in private schools in England during the 2024/25 academic year, according to the Department for Education's annual census. That's 11,000 fewer than a year earlier. That's higher than the government's prediction of 3,000 pupils in the first year. The number of pupils attending private schools is now higher than before the pandemic though. A total of 576,857 attended independent schools in the 2019/20 academic year. Private school pupils now make up 6.4% of the total school population, a slightly lower proportion than last year, when it was 6.5%. This is the first time since the Covid-19 pandemic that independent school pupil numbers have fallen, however they had been steadily falling in the years leading up to the pandemic. The number of pupils in independent schools fell by 6,411 between 2017/18 and 2019/20 academic years. Verdict Pledge met House building Labour pledged to build 1.5 million new homes over the course of the parliament. That works out at around 300,000 a year, or 25,000 a month. The latest official house building data shows that a total of 86,000 new homes have begun to be built during the first three quarters of the Labour government, which covers from July 2024 to March 2025. That works out at an average of 9,555 a month, less than half the rate required to meet the target. The number of houses that have started to be built under the Labour government is much higher than in the same period of 2023/24 under the Conservatives. Between July 2023 and March 2024, just 62,860 new homes were started. Verdict Some progress but improvement needed Small boats Another of Labour's 'first steps for change' was to launch a new Border Security Command with hundreds of new specialist investigators and use counter-terror powers to smash criminal boat gangs. There's no public data available for these staff numbers, or the number of gangs being 'smashed', but we can see how the number of people crossing the Channel has changed compared to previous years. Data on small boat crossings suggests all is not going to plan, however. There have been 19,982 arrivals by small boats as of July 2 this year. That's more than at the same point of any of the previous seven years for which we have data. By 26 June 2024, a total of 13,195 people had made the perilous journey across the Channel, which had been the previous record. At the same point in 2023 the total was 11,278, and in 2022 it was 12,206. Verdict Needs improvement Reduce backlog of rape cases Labour said during the campaign that they would 'fast-track rape cases, with specialist courts at every Crown Court location in England and Wales.' Despite this though, the number of rape cases in the Crown Court backlog has continued to grow. There were a total of 1,294 cases of rape in the Crown Court backlog in England and Wales before the Covid-19 pandemic hit the country. That shot up during lockdown, doubling to 2,580 cases by March 2022. It has only continued to rise ever since. By the time Labour came to power there were 4,686 outstanding Crown Court cases in England and Wales. That has since increased to 5,486 cases at the end of March, the latest month for which figures are available. It's a similar story too for all offences, not just rape. There were a total of 40,903 cases in the Crown Court backlog in March 2020. By the time Labour came to power there were 70,978 outstanding Crown Court cases, and a total of 76,957 as of March 2025. Verdict Needs improvement 2030 ban on petrol and diesel car sales There were almost 1.3 million fully electric cars registered on UK roads at the end of December 2024. That's almost 200,000 more than before the general election. However, the number of electric cars on our roads has been steadily increasing for some time. Back in January 2022 there were just 441,200 on our roads, three times fewer than today. The availability of public charging points could become an issue, with some parts of the country far better served than others. There were a total of 193,098 public electric vehicle charging points across the UK in January, according to figures from the Department of Transport. Just 49 public electric vehicle charging points in the whole of the East Hampshire local authority, which works out as 33 vehicles per charging point. That's a higher rate than in any local authority in the UK. Meanwhile, Melton in Leicestershire has 29 per charging point, as do North Kesteven and St Albans. Meanwhile, London has the most electric car-friendly infrastructure in the country. Three of the capital's boroughs have more than one public charging point for every electric car registered there. Hammersmith and Fulham has more public electric charging points than any local authority in the UK - 2,668 - which works out at 0.6 cars per charger. Southwark has 0.8 cars per charger, as does Hackney. Coventry is the most electric car-friendly council outside of the capital. The city's 2,272 public charging points works out as 0.6 cars per charger, the joint lowest rate in the country. Verdict Making progress
Scottish Sun
an hour ago
- Scottish Sun
Mounjaro warning over common prescription mistake that puts thousands of Brits ‘at risk of deadly organ failure'
More than one million Brits are using weight loss jabs including Mounjaro and Wegovy JAB ALERT Mounjaro warning over common prescription mistake that puts thousands of Brits 'at risk of deadly organ failure' BRITS using the fat jab Mounjaro could be at risk of deadly organ failure due to a common mistake, an expert has warned. Branded the 'King Kong' of weight loss injections, Mounjaro can now be prescribed by GPs on the NHS. 2 As millions of Brits turn to fat jabs to shed pounds, one nurse has warned those taking Mounjaro - the strongest of the jabs - that a common mistake could lead to deadly complications Credit: Alamy But while more than three million Brits are thought to be eligible to take tirzepatide - the active drug in Mounjaro - only around 220,000 people are likely to get them prescribed on the NHS by 2028. With demand soaring for the 'miracle' drugs that health chiefs hope will turn the tide on England's obesity crisis, thousands of Brits have opted to pay for the jabs privately. Like all medications the weight loss jabs come with the risk of side-effects, ranging from milder symptoms like nausea, diarrhoea and constipation to more severe complications. Among the most dangerous is the potentially life-threatening condition, pancreatitis, which medics say could be avoided with a simple blood test. Rachael Joy, nurse and chief clinical officer at SheMed, a private healthcare provider, told the Mail Online: "The safest way for people to use these jabs is through mandatory blood screening. "These blood tests help identify any underlying health issues that need to be managed before a patient starts the programme, or if the treatment is entirely unsuitable." Blood tests can screen for a host of health issues including thyroid problems, uncontrolled pre-diabetes, and high levels of harmful fats called triglycerides in the blood. These come from foods, including butter, oil and fats, certain levels of these fats are needed for good health but high levels increase the risk of heart disease. If someone has really high levels of these fats they may be at risk of pancreatitis, Ms Joy warns. Pancreatitis is an inflammation of the pancreas, a gland located behind the stomach. I went on fat jabs but the hair loss was unbelievable so I quit - I'd rather be chubby with hair than skinny and bald There is a relatively high survival rate for pancreatitis but it can trigger organ failure. In a few cases of severe acute pancreatitis the organ can lose its blood supply and turn necrotic. This in turn can cause a deadly sepsis infection and cause other organs to fail. Severe acute pancreatitis can also trigger a systemic inflammatory response which causes other organs, like the lungs and kidneys, to fail. Officials are now looking into whether jab users affected by pancreatitis have a genetic trait that leaves them at greater risk of side-effects. 2 Mounjaro, dubbed the King Kong of weight loss injections, could trigger pancreatitis. Nurse Rachel Joy has warned without regular blood tests to check for the condition, people could be at risk Credit: Alamy Ms Joy has said this could be flagged by a simple blood test. She is urging healthcare professionals, both private and public, to reconsider rolling out the weight loss jabs without strict guidance in place. SheMed have made blood tests a mandatory part of their programme before prescribing the revolutionary jab. The UK medicines regulator launched a probe into the safety of the jab last month after hundreds of patients developed pancreatitis, and ten people died. The Medicines and Healthcare products Regulatory Agency (MHRA) said it received more than 560 reports of people developing an inflamed pancreas after taking so-called Mounjaro injections since they were launched. The MHRA is now asking for users who are admitted to hospital with pancreatitis to report the side-effect via it's Yellow Card scheme. Healthcare staff can also report the side-effect on a patient's behalf, which involves providing further information and submitting a saliva sample. Researchers hope this will enable doctors to use rapid genetic screening tests before prescribing drugs. It is predicted that adverse drug reactions could cost the NHS more than £2.2 billion a year in hospital stays alone. Most side effects linked to the Mounjaro are gastrointestinal including nausea, constipation and diarrhoea. But Ms Joy has warned that the weight loss jab can also cause severe dehydration, especially in people with diabetes. It can cause headaches and dizziness and if not treated quickly can lead to seizures and kidney failure and even be fatal.
