(Title Image: Wales Online)
Mass Covid-19 testing rolled out in Merthyr Tydfil
All residents and workers in the county of Merthyr Tydfil will be offered tests for Covid-19, regardless of whether they have symptoms or not, from this Saturday (21st November 2020).
While the number of cases is distorted by the small population in the local authority area, Merthyr Tydfil has one of the highest rates of cases-per-100,000 people in the UK. The roll-out of the mass testing programme is being assisted by the UK military and is based on a mass testing pilot in Liverpool.
The service will also be the first deployment of Covid-19 lateral flow devices in Wales, which work similarly to a pregnancy test and offer a quick turnaround of results.
Further information on how the mass testing system will work is available from Merthyr Tydfil Council.
New digital authority for the NHS to be established
The Welsh Government has announced that a new special health authority dedicated to digital infrastructure in the NHS will be spun-out from Velindre NHS Trust. In the last few years, there’s been heavy criticism of the state of NHS IT services and the government has started a reform process.
Digital Health & Care Wales (DHCW) will be operational from 1st April 2021 and former Chief Executive of Public Health Wales, Bob Hudson OBE, has been appointed interim chair.
Health Minister, Vaughan Gething (Lab, Cardiff S. & Penarth) said: “There remains much work to be done between now and April 2021 but I am confident, DHCW will be in place and able to make a positive impact in Wales from next year and to play its part in delivering better outcomes for patients and health professionals. “
Mental health focus for International Men’s Day
This year’s International Men’s Day (19th November) focused on men’s mental health.
Minister for Mental Health & Wellbeing, Eluned Morgan (Lab, Mid & West Wales) said: “I recognise how difficult it is for people to talk about their mental health – particularly for men. We have set out a range of actions in our Together for Mental Health Delivery Plan and our suicide prevention strategy, Talk to Me Two, to reduce stigma and encourage people to seek help for their mental wellbeing.”
Conservative MS starts legal action against his own constituency branch
Shadow Finance Minister, Nick Ramsay MS (Con, Monmouth), has started legal proceedings against his constituency branch after facing de-selection for next year’s Senedd election.
He claims the branch hasn’t acted within the party’s rules – a suggestion which has been rejected by the Monmouth Conservative Association’s chair.
Nick Ramsay had been put forward for automatic re-selection, but a petition from local members called for that decision to be reversed. It’s the second time this year that Nick Ramsay has taken undertaken legal action against the Conservatives.
