Latest news with #Mark.Isherwood
Leader Live
7 days ago
- Health
- Leader Live
North Wales MS Mark Isherwood introduces Sign Language Bill
As I said 'too often, Deaf people are unable to access vital public services because they cannot communicate in their first language. This denies them their rights, and places them at a significant disadvantage - whether in healthcare, education, employment, transport, or otherwise. The Bill aims to address this by introducing a legal requirement to promote and facilitate the use of BSL in Wales'. If passed, this will be the most progressive BSL law in the UK. BBC Radio Wales also interviewed me about my Bill. Questioning the First Minister, I spoke of the substantial sum of Shared Prosperity Funding allocated to communities throughout North Wales by the previous UK Government, and said it is vital that changes to the way this funding is allocated by the current Labour UK Government do not result in North Wales losing out. Questioning the Health Secretary about the temporary closure of St David's Hospice's in-patient beds in Holyhead, I highlighted the financial difficulties Hospices throughout Wales are facing, and their need for support to deliver more for individuals, families and the NHS. Speaking in the Debate on 'the Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee Report' as Chair of the Senedd's Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, I said that the Committee have agreed to lead the scrutiny of gaps identified by the soon to be disbanded Wales COVID-19 Inquiry Special Purpose Committee in relation to the UK Inquiry Module 1 'to ensure that some scrutiny of these important matters is done within this Senedd, rather than none'. Meetings included Cross-Party Group for Funerals and Bereavement, at which I was re-elected as its Chair; Cross-Party Groups on Diabetes and on Dementia; Autism support Charity 'Your Space Marches' AGM; Bipolar UK; counsellor training provider Chrysalis, to discuss how qualified counsellors can support local mental health objectives; and 'STAND North Wales' (Stronger Together for Additional Needs and Disabilities), regarding their Petition to the Welsh Parliament Petitions Committee, 'Make Blue badge Applications Lifelong for individuals who have a lifelong diagnosis'. Engagements included UK Covid Inquiry Special Briefing by Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru; Jonathan's House (a sanctuary for men after experiencing abuse); and the Senedd's Y Farchnad, where I visited Welsh NHS Confederation, Competition and Markets Authority, Two Rhythms, Royal Mail, Welsh Cross Party Group on Beer and Pubs, Wales & West Utilities, Severe ME Difrifol Cymru, and BookTrust Cymru. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
Leader Live
09-07-2025
- Politics
- Leader Live
North Wales MS calls on Government to stabilise sector
MS for North Wales I called on the Welsh Government to ensure that funding is directed toward stabilising the charitable social care sector, referring to my meeting with the Chief Executive of a charity providing 24-hour supported living for 140 adults with learning disabilities across North Wales, who told me that charitable social care providers are compromised by increases to National Insurance contributions and the National Living Wage, and that without urgent financial support, there is a real risk that the vital services they provide will cease by year-end. Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, I highlighted a new report by Oxford Economics evaluating the economic contributions of the civil nuclear sector across the UK. This found that if a new nuclear power station is built at Wylfa on Anglesey, North Wales could see an economic contribution comparable to that experienced in South-West England, where Hinkley Point C is located and Nuclear GVA reached £4 Billion in 2024, up 50% since 2021. I therefore asked how the Welsh Government is working with UK Government and industry stakeholders to ensure North Wales benefits from the economic and employment opportunities this could bring. It was a pleasure to sponsor and speak at Disability charity Scope's Celebration of Disability Pride Month 2025 at the Senedd/Welsh Parliament. As I said, Disability Pride 'isn't just about celebration, it's about change. It's about removing barriers, transforming attitudes, and creating a society where disabled people can thrive'. I was also glad to speak at the launch of a new suicide prevention programme designed for males in the construction industry in Wales, held at the New Welsh Medium Primary School site in Oakenholt, Flint. The programme was developed in partnership between the Construction Industry Training Board (CITB) Wales and NHS Wales. According to the Office for National Statistics, male construction workers are nearly four times more likely to die by suicide than the national average. I Chaired meetings of the Senedd Cross-Party Groups on Deaf Issues, at which I was re-elected as its Chair, and on STEMM (Science, Technology, Engineering, Mathematics and Medicine); and met with Covid-19 Bereaved Families for Justice Cymru. Other Senedd engagements included 'ShopKind Campaign Week 2025'; Association of British Pharmaceutical Industry, to discuss the importance of health data in Wales; and 'Remembering Srebrenica' memorial reception, marking the 30th anniversary of the Srebrenica genocide. Other North Wales engagements included a catch-up with award-winning Enbarr Enterprises in Queensferry and the Opening Ceremony for newly developed Theatr Clwyd, Mold. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
Leader Live
02-07-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
MS for North Wales shares thoughts on health and transport
MS for North Wales Speaking in the Debate on Allied Health Professionals, I emphasised the key role they have to play in improving the health and wellbeing of the population in Wales, and said 'As the Allied Health Professions Federation Cymru Manifesto 2026 states, the vital contributions of Allied Health Professionals to population health and wellbeing are too often overlooked. As demand for healthcare services continues to grow, the need for them has never been more urgent. Without a coordinated National Workforce Strategy, these professions risk becoming unsustainable, leading to unsafe staffing levels and preventable harm to patients'. Questioning the First Minister, I noted that the Welsh Government's 'Network North Wales' Transport Plan, announced last month, has also been described by them as a 'vision', which 'is only hoping that something will happen', and asked, 'What specific commitment, including funding, are you therefore able to announce now, or would the people of North Wales be right to consider this an un-resourced, pre-election sweetener?' Leading the Debate on the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee's report on 'Public Appointments', I said the response from the Welsh Government 'is of serious concern, given there is no indication whether any of our recommendations have been accepted, rejected, or even accepted in principle or part'. Questioning the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and Rural Affairs, I raised concerns that there is no obligation to implement SSSI (Sites of Special Scientific Interest) Management Plans in Wales. Engagements included Policy Briefing by Disability Wales about the Welsh Government's proposed 10-year Disabled People's Rights Plan, which I sponsored; Reserves Day Employer Reception; Wales Young Farmers' Clubs; Tenovus Cancer Care; and British Veterinary Association Welsh Dinner. I Chaired the Cross-Party Group for North Wales and, as Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Fuel Poverty and Energy Efficiency, had a catch-up meeting with the Group's Secretariat from National Energy Action Cymru. My other meetings included Cross-Party Group on Older People and Ageing, Nuclear Energy Senedd Cross-Party Group, and a visiting group of recent Canadian graduates who have spent the last year interning in the Ontario provincial Parliament. I also visited St. David's Catholic Primary School in Mold, which is facing threatened closure, learning more about its excellent and cost-effective provision, the wellbeing it provides for pupils and staff, and the current and future need for the school in the area; and met the Chief Executive of threatened North Wales charity Anheddau, which provides 24 hours supported living to 140 adults with learning disabilities. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
Leader Live
18-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Mark Isherwood MS for North Wales questions ministers
MS for North Wales Questioning the First Minister, I referred to the Joseph Rowntree Foundation and Bevan Foundation 'Poverty in Wales 2025' report, which found little progress in reducing poverty in Wales over the last 20 years and warned that if no action is taken, child poverty in Wales could reach 34 per cent by 2029-30, again making it the highest rate of all UK nations. Questioning the Health and Social Care Secretary, I spoke of the postcode lottery for dementia services across North Wales identified by people living with dementia and their carers during my recent visit to the Wrexham Dementia Hub, and asked how the Welsh Government's new Dementia Action Plan will meet their needs. Speaking in the Debate on the Equality and Social Justice Committee report, 'Anything's Achievable with the Right Support: Tackling the Disability Employment Gap', I spoke of the impact of the closure of the Work and Health Programme, referring to the sector's evidenced concern that the new Programme 'will dilute and therefore reduce support for the many Disabled and Autistic People who want to work'. Senedd engagements included Carers Week 2025, Motor Neurone Disease Association, Cross-Party Group for Co-operatives and Mutuals 'Building a Resilient Food System for Wales', NFU Cymru, Save the Children Cymru's youth-led research project 'Power of Voice'; Cancer: Project Zero and a meeting of the Chairs' Forum of Senedd Committee Chairs. As Chair of the Public Accounts & Public Administration Committee (PAPAC), I met with the Committee's Clerking Team ahead of PAPAC's next meeting on June 18th.. I also met the Welsh Parliament's Legislation Team to discuss the actions required before the formal introduction of my British Sign Language (Wales) Bill and the Explanatory Notes to accompany this (I intend to introduce the Bill on 14th July), and tabled a 'Statement of Opinion' to coincide with World Elder Abuse Awareness Day (June 15th). Other engagements included a visit to Holywell Community Hospital for a meeting with the Head of Adult Audiology and the Clinical Director of Audiology at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, and a visit to their new Audiology Van; and meeting Nuclear Restoration Services, to discuss nuclear decommissioning in Wales and the potential benefits for North Wales from their management of the Wylfa and Trawsfynydd sites. It is concerning that the Chancellor's Spending Review only announced £445 million over 10 years for rail infrastructure in Wales, around a third of the £1.4billion invested by the previous UK Conservative Government over the last 10 years. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
Leader Live
11-06-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
North Wales MS shares his time at Wrexham Maelor Hospital
MS for North Wales June 8th marked the 10th anniversary of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board first being placed in special measures. Speaking in the Welsh Conservative Debate calling on the Welsh Government to initiate a Public Inquiry into the Health Board, I referred to my own experience as a patient at Wrexham Maelor Hospital, 'where the staff were brilliant, but the system was clearly breaking', and said 'Llais North Wales, the people's voice in health and social care, told me two weeks ago that the Health Board remains the primary concern reported to them'. As Chair of the Cross-Party Group on Disability I met the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice ahead of her Statement on the Welsh Government's Disabled People's Rights Plan. Responding to the Statement in the Chamber later, I quoted the Chair of the Disability Rights Taskforce's Housing and Community Working Group, who said the draft document was 'a smokescreen' rather than a Plan, and asked how the Welsh Government will ensure that this leads to real change rather than becoming, as he put it, 'a collection of vague intentions dressed up as progress. No targets. No teeth. No real-world accountability'. I asked the Cabinet Secretary for Finance to respond to the concerns of Wales' disability sector that the UK Government's proposed reforms to disability benefits risk further disabling people in Wales by compounding poverty and exclusion. Responding to the Statement on 'Volunteers' Week' by the Cabinet Secretary for Social Justice, I praised voluntary sector organisations but expressed concern at the 'avalanche' of cuts in the sector following the Welsh Government's failure to protect the funding for the vital services they provide, thereby generating false economies and far higher cost pressures for statutory service providers. I Chaired a meeting of the Senedd Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee, which included an evidence session with the Welsh Government on Active Travel in Wales. Other engagements included meeting Ukrainian frontline journalists and Ukrainian war crimes investigators from 'Truth Hounds'; Polish Heritage Days 2025 Celebration; Gylfinir Cymru/Curlew Wales meeting, as Wales Species Champion for the Curlew; and 'Transforming Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease (COPD) Diagnosis in Wales'. I also met the Chief Executive Officer of Rhyl-based not-for-profit organisation RCS, Wellbeing for Work; met the All-Wales Deaf Mental Health and Wellbeing Group (AWDMHWG) and Dr. Christopher Shank from Bangor University, to discuss the AWDMHWG Deaf Health Project through Bangor University; visited The Vale Grocer at Denbigh Farmers Market; and. watched 'Tick, tick…Boom!' at wonderful Theatr Clwyd, Mold. For help, email or call 0300 200 7219.
