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ITV News
25-06-2025
- Business
- ITV News
Wales' universities 'in crisis', unions warn
Wales' universities are in 'crisis' and risk being brought 'to their knees' - the warnings of two unions working in the sector. There has been a series of job losses and course closures announced in recent months as higher education institutions try to deal with a funding shortfall and mounting debts. Representatives of Unison and the Universities and College Union (UCU) have been giving evidence to the Senedd's Children, Young People and Education Committee today (Wednesday.) In its written evidence, Unison - which represents support staff - wrote that, 'Welsh universities are in crisis. Hundreds of job losses are expected with a catastrophic effect on staff, institutions, students, communities and the Welsh economy. 'It's dishonest for universities to talk about enhancing the student experience when this is significantly undermined by the scale of job cuts. 'There's an urgent need for Welsh government to decide what it wants the HE sector to deliver and for this to be properly funded. It must produce a detailed industrial strategy which outlines the skills and number of graduates Wales requires for the future across a range of jobs and ensure universities have the capacity to train these young people.' Meanwhile, UCU, which speaks for academic staff, wrote that 'UCU Cymru notes that Higher Education has suffered systematic failure and neglect which, combined with the recent hike in operating costs, risks bringing many Welsh institutions to their knees.' During the committee meeting Gareth Lloyd of UCU said 'The danger is, if we're not careful, this is going to have a really detrimental effect on students who don't want to go there. And that really, really worries me.' Speaking to ITV Wales after the meeting, Dan Beard of Unison, said that he fears that the job losses won't solve the problem and could make it far worse. He said that, 'My worry is we're going to see a real reduction in capacity and more job losses, perhaps even the collapse of certain universities.' The political focus on higher education will continue this afternoon in Westminster, when MPs belonging to the Welsh Affairs committee will question the Vice Chancellors and other leaders of all nine universities in Wales.
Wales Online
20-05-2025
- Business
- Wales Online
University staff and students to protest as jobs go and compulsory redundancy notices served
University staff and students to protest as jobs go and compulsory redundancy notices served Compulsory job losses "a red line" that will affect students too, said staff at Cardiff Metropolitan University Staff and students are joining forces to protest against compulsory job losses at Cardiff Metropolitan University. The rally at the Llandaff campus on Thursday May 22 is the start of an "escalating campaign" against the cuts, the UCU union, representing staff said. The UCU said that despite getting a £1.73m funding boost from the Welsh Government in February, Cardiff Met still aims to cut up to 14% of its teaching workforce with compulsory redundancy notices served in April. The proposed compulsory redundancies come on the back of three rounds of voluntary severance.. "Collective consultation closed on Monday May 19th and despite calls from the union, Cardiff Met continues to threaten compulsory redundancies for up to 61 academic staff members across the university, with over 100 put on notice of being at risk," the UCU said. Gareth Lloyd, UCU Wales official said:'This is very disappointing. The Minister for FE and HE made it clear that the additional cash should be used to cover operating costs and take pressure off staff budgets. Whilst we are keen to work in partnership and find solutions, compulsory redundancies constitute a red line which cannot be crossed. When it comes to saving money, we will never let managers see our members' jobs as the path of least resistance'. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . Llandaff campus, Cardiff Metropolitan University He said staff are worried not just for those whose jobs are at risk but also the workload for potential remaining staff and the effect on next year's students. Owen Stickler, senior lecturer in animation, said: 'We are all concerned that redundancies would impact on staff workload and morale as well as being detrimental to the student experience.' Article continues below Most of the academic jobs on the line are 'student facing' with implications for learners as well as staff, the union said. The cuts will inevitably involve larger classes and less one to one contact time for students, staff warned. Jan Huyton, programme director at the university, said: 'Obviously the student experience will be affected as services are put under strain, because we are not currently over-staffed on service delivery to students.' UCU negotiators at Cardiff Met have submitted their counter proposal outlining how the university can move forward without compulsory redundancies. A branch spokesperson from Cardiff Met UCU said: "We realise that these are tough times for universities, but cutting front line staff is not the way forward. We have met with all of the members at risk, and the institutional loss of academic knowledge would be substantial". Staff morale is said to be "at rock bottom". Those who have been identified are equally perplexed as many of them are previously valued staff with excellent track records. One member of staff affected said: "I find it deeply concerning that we are in this position, especially because of the contribution we have made to all aspects of academic life over the past few years; excellent student reviews, high quality research and increasing innovation, without a hint of management unhappiness. "It appears very unfair and unjustifiable that we have suddenly been targeted as being at-risk of redundancy. This situation is affecting morale and good will among the staff, something which has always considered to be very important working at Cardiff Met.'] A Cardiff Met spokesperson said: 'Cardiff Metropolitan University, like many universities across the UK, is working hard to safeguard its long-term financial sustainability in the face of changing contexts for higher education in the UK. We are doing this so that we can continue to make a positive difference to individuals and communities in Wales and the wider world through our progressive and distinctive teaching, research and innovation. 'We know that this is an uncertain and difficult time for all staff, and especially for those who are directly affected. We value the relationship that we have with our recognised trades unions and the contribution that they make to our university, and we fully respect the rights of trades unions to act on behalf of their members. "We are committed to open, constructive dialogue and will continue working closely with all recognised trade unions and their representatives throughout this challenging period.' Cardiff Met currently employs 1,600 permanent and fixed term staff and has more thanr 31,000 students from 130 countries enrolled on programmes located in Cardiff and at 12 "collaborative partners" around the globe. It said the £1.73m funding was provided to universities across Wales from Welsh Government earlier this year was to help them meet capital costs associated with estate maintenance and digital projects to reduce operating costs as well as improving environmental sustainability. "This work, when undertaken, will allow us to make more savings in the future," the spokesperson added. Thursday's planned rally follows protests at Cardiff University over proposed job losses and department closures there. Job cuts are also planned at the University of South Wales and Bangor. Cardiff University last week issued an update on redundancies with 650 staff still under threat of losing their jobs there and you can read details of that here. Bangor University staff also received a message from their Vice Chancellor, Professor Edmund Burke last week, saying a further 78 jobs will go there. Bangor announced 200 job cuts earlier this year saying it needed to make savings of £15m. The University of Wales Trinity Saint David announced plans in January to end undergraduate teaching at its Lampeter campus, the University of South Wales have also announced job cuts and Swansea University is carrying out a "curriculum review".. Official estimates from Universities Wales puts the joint combined deficit of all universities here at £70+ by the end of this academic year. Only UWTSD and Wrexham University ended last academic year not in deficit. Article continues below MPs are due to hear from Vice chancellors of universities in Wales when they appear before them to discuss the ongoing financial pressure and challenges for higher education. The Welsh Affairs Committee hearing next month will look at what the UK Government and the Welsh Government could do to "ensure a sustainable future for the sector" amid widespread job and course cuts.
Yahoo
14-04-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Major supermarket reduces bags of vegetables to just 8p ahead of Easter
With just a week to go until the Easter weekend, many shoppers will be looking to get their hands on the best deals they can to save on their weekly food shop. In time for the bank holiday weekend, one major UK supermarket has announced that they will be reducing the price on some bags of vegetables from Monday 14 to Sunday 20. Over the next week Morrisons will reduce a selection of their seasonal vegetables to 8p for Morrisons More Card Holders. READ MORE: Full list of DWP and HMRC benefits to be paid early this week - including Universal Credit, Child Benefit, PIP and more READ MORE: UK drivers warned to check licence as 2.3 million face £1,000 fine if they don't act The deal will give Morrisons shoppers with a More Card the opportunity to get their hands on carrots, parsnips and swedes for 8p, up until Easter Sunday. Morrisons shoppers will also see a selection of the supermarket's meats at a discounted price over the next week, as well as Morrisons' 'The Best' potatoes reduced to half price at £1.10. On Facebook, Morrisons posted a selection of their discounted meats and vegetables with the caption, 'Get ready for a delicious Easter feast! From fresh veggies to the main event - we've got you covered'. Morrisons shoppers have since taken to the platform to express their excitement for the store's latest Easter deal, as customer Hazel Douglass wrote: 'Bought the veg this morning, cooking as we speak.' Gareth Lloyd, Head of Marketing Events at Morrisons, said : 'Easter is a time for families to come together and enjoy great food. We're proud to offer our customers quality, fresh British produce at prices that help make their celebrations affordable. 'With these huge savings, we're making it easier for everyone to enjoy a traditional Easter meal without compromising on quality.' He added: 'These vegetable price cuts are part of Morrisons ongoing commitment to deliver quality and value, particularly during key seasonable moments when food plays an even bigger role within our customers' households.' The supermarket's latest deal also follows a number of other UK supermarket retailers who have reduced the price of groceries in the run up to the Easter weekend. Morrisons' price drop follows Lidl's own announcement that they would cut the price of six seasonal vegetables to 15p as part of the store's Easter Pick of the Week Deals. Aldi shoppers have also seen discounted Easter deals with the supermarket also announcing they would also be reducing the price of five popular grocery items to 15p. Morrisons' reductions on selected veg in the run up to Easter also comes after the store announced that they would be giving away free breakfasts to families over the school holiday for the third year. Morrisons Café Senior Buying Manger, Chris Strong, said: "The breakfast club partnership with Kellogg's has proved incredibly popular with our customers and we are delighted to bring it back for a third year. "We have helped many families across the UK since it was first introduced and will continue to do so during schools' Easter holidays.'
Yahoo
12-03-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Royal United Hospitals Bath pays out more than £4 million for errors
The hospital serving the west Wiltshire area has paid more than £4 million in compensation to patients who suffered 'surgical errors', according to NHS figures. Data obtained via a Freedom of Information request by Medical Negligence Assist in December last year shows the RUH paid out £4,018,826 between 2019 and 2024 to patients who had lodged claims following a surgery error. According to Medical Negligence Assist, surgical errors are unexpected mistakes or accidents that occur during procedures and they are classed as 'never events' as they are errors that should not have happened in surgery. The highest annual pay-out was in 2021/22 when £1,878,645 was paid in damages to 9 claimants. In 2019/2020, eight claims against the RUH resulted in £778,428 being paid out, while in 2022/23, the statistics show six claims saw a total of £1,090,383 in damages paid. In 2023/24, figures show five claims resulted in a total of £271,370 being paid out in damages. Speaking to Medical Negligence Assist, who compiled the data, medical negligence solicitor for JF Law, Gareth Lloyd, said: 'The chances of a patient suffering a surgical error are remote, yet every operation carries with it a number of risks, and if something goes wrong, there can be lifelong consequences.' Mr Lloyd continued: "Although they appear on the surface to be straightforward cases, surgical errors are much more complex than that and can cover a number of situations and outcomes. 'For example, an operation to remove your gallbladder carries with it risks of damage to the bile duct, blood vessels, bowel and intestines. 'If one of these complications happens during the operation, nine times out of ten, there is no case, however, that doesn't mean that there is no case at all, it just makes it more difficult to prove. 'I once had a case involving a patient undergoing a gallbladder removal, and during the operation, one of the veins in his abdomen was damaged, which is a known risk and therefore wasn't seen as a surgical error. 'However, when I got the medical records, it transpired that the performing surgeon had completely severed the client's hepatic artery, which isn't a known complication, hence a successful case.' Responding to the Wiltshire Times regarding the total paid out since 2019, an RUH spokesperson said: 'We aim to ensure all our patients get the highest standards of care at the RUH. 'We are sorry for the rare occasions that this falls short. "We are committed to learning so that we consistently deliver the best experience and outcomes for the people we care for.'
