Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has welcomed the announcement of changes at GP surgeries which will help to end the 8am scramble to book an appointment.
Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, announced the measures as part of an agreement to change the current GP contract. The changes, which are backed by £12m of extra investment from the Welsh Labour Government, will help end the morning scramble to book an appointment. The revised contract will make it clear the practice of releasing appointments daily at 8am is no longer acceptable. Instead, the new GP access commitment will help ensure people are triaged appropriately and if an appointment is needed, people will receive one which is right for their clinical needs. Where appropriate, people may be signposted to another service – or healthcare professional – who can help or support them. The new General Medical Services (GMS) contract deal will also include an uplift to pay for GPs and practice staff and extra funding to increase capacity and staffing to help to respond to winter pressures. Welcoming the new changes, Rebecca Evans MS said: “I am very pleased that the Welsh Labour Government has agreed a new contract with GPs which significantly improves the way in which appointments are currently handled. “These new changes will allow practices to better manage patient needs, and will put an end to the 8am bottleneck where patients have to telephone numerous times in an attempt to secure an appointment. “I am also glad that the agreed changes also reward all staff working in general practice with a pay rise.” The £4m of extra funding will be made available to GPs for the next three financial years to ensure the retention of the additional capacity and in support of the commitment made around access to services. Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has welcomed the announcement from the Welsh Labour Government that every household in Wales will be offered a free tree to plant to help tackle climate change.
This bold new policy will give residents in Gower the chance to choose a tree of their own to plant or opt to have a tree planted on their behalf. Welsh Labour’s Deputy Minister for Climate Change, Lee Waters MS, has confirmed that the Welsh Government has partnered with the Woodland Trust to deliver this campaign. The first trees will be available to collect from March, from one of five regional community hubs that will be established. The Welsh Government aims to set up a further 20 hubs across Wales by October 2022. Welcoming the announcement, Rebecca Evans MS said: “Trees really make a difference to our everyday life – they keep our air clean, and they are essential to tackling the nature emergency, improving biodiversity, and tackling climate change. “We all have a part to play when it comes to successfully tackling climate change, so I’m glad that our Welsh Labour Government is going to offer every household in Wales a free tree to plant. “I’m also pleased that they have recognised that it will not be possible for some households to plant a tree themselves and are instead offering the option of having a tree planted ‘for me’ – this will ensure that everyone benefits from the campaign.” The Deputy Minister also revealed that a consultation would launch early in 2022 on plans to create a National Forest for Wales. Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has welcomed a new £7m package of support for unpaid carers, in recognition of the vital support they provide to the people they care for.
The new support package will allocate £5.5 million to local authorities to provide targeted support to unpaid carers, while allocating £1.25m for the Carers Support Fund, which last year successfully helped almost 6500 unpaid carers to cope with the financial impact of Covid 19. £20,000 is being provided to fund online mental wellbeing support sessions, alongside £230,000 for the Family Fund to support over 600 further low-income families with seriously ill or disabled children. The Welsh Government previously committed £3 million in 2021-22 to allow more carers to take a break from their caring role, bringing the total additional funding support for unpaid carers this year to £10 million. Welcoming the fund, Rebecca Evans MS said: “Having been an unpaid carer myself for a number of years when I was younger, I know that the physical and emotional impact that caring can at have. With the additional challenges of caring during these difficult times it’s vital that we continue to improve the help and support that is available to our unpaid carers.” Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has welcomed the launch of the Welsh Labour Government’s Young Person’s Guarantee.
The Young Person’s Guarantee, one of Welsh Labour’s key election pledges, will help ensure there is no lost generation in Wales following the COVID-19 pandemic by providing everyone under 25 with the offer of work, education, training, or self-employment. The comprehensive package is designed to provide the right support at the right time and meet the diverse needs of young people across Wales. This includes new user-friendly services to help young people find opportunities more easily. Phase one of the Guarantee will provide young people aged 16 to 24 in Wales with access to: one simple route to access the Young Person’s Guarantee via the Working Wales service - support and advice from advisers will be provided in a range of ways, including virtually, on the high street and through improved outreach facilities across Wales; self-employment advice and support; traineeships which provide work experience and training; training and wage incentives via the ReAct programme; a place on one of the Welsh Government’s outreach Community Employability programmes; help to find an apprenticeship; a new course search platform, for those wanting to enter further education or higher education, to make it easier to find their choice; a referral to one of the programmes funded by other partners, such as DWP and Local Authorities. Welcoming the ambitious plans, Rebecca Evans MS said: “At the Senedd election in May I stood on a platform that promised to ensure that no young person would be left behind as a result of the pandemic, so I’m really pleased that our Welsh Labour Government is already delivering on this key commitment to the people of Wales. “This support is crucial to young people as they navigate their way into the world of work and decide what they want to do next – we know that they hold the key to Wales’ future success. “It is more important than ever that young people are supported to gain the skills and experience they need to succeed, whether that’s in employment, education, or starting their own business. The Young Person’s Guarantee will make a real difference.” As part of the plan, Working Wales (https://workingwales.gov.wales/) has become the single gateway for every 16 to 24 year old in Wales to access the Guarantee. This builds on the already strong and successful model of delivering careers guidance and signposting support. They are also trialling a new Job Matching service, to assist young people with securing employment and to help employers fill vacancies. The Welsh Government has said the next steps in the development of the guarantee will include: Regional Skills Partnerships will hold engagement events to shape the provision of the Young Person’s Guarantee within their area of responsibility; and a series of focus groups will be held with young people between now and December to help understand how they view the support available, what they want to see and the barriers they face. Welsh Labour’s Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, has welcomed a new five-year plan which aims to ensure a good quality of life for all animals in Wales.
The Animal Welfare Plan for Wales, published by Welsh Labour’s Minister for Rural Affairs, Lesley Griffiths MS, builds on what has already been achieved by the Welsh Government since it gained powers to legislate on animal welfare in 2006. It outlines how the Welsh Labour Government will take forward its election pledges in this area and put in place other measures to further improve animal welfare. Welcoming the plan, Rebecca Evans MS, said: “As a long-term campaigner for higher animal welfare standards, I’m very proud of what Welsh Labour has achieved so far in Wales on animal welfare but there is more to do on this. My long term ambition is for every animal in Wales to have a good quality of life and I am glad that the Welsh Labour Government’s plan outlines steps towards achieving that ambition. “The Minister has confirmed that the Welsh Government will work with partners to take forward these ambitious commitments – partnership working will be key to the success of the plan. “Achieving a good quality of life for all animals is ambitious, but that is what the Welsh Government must aim for.” The plan also includes a broad range of ongoing animal welfare policy work, including statutory guidance for existing regulations, licensing of animal exhibits, welfare of animals in transport, and Codes of Practice. Finally, it describes how the Welsh Government will work collaboratively with the other UK governments to further the animal welfare agenda, for example through the forthcoming Animal Welfare (Kept Animals) Bill. The Programme for Government commitments in the plan are: To develop a national model for the regulation of animal welfare, introducing registration for animal welfare establishments, commercial breeders for pets or for shooting, and animal exhibits; To Improve the qualifications for animal welfare inspectors to raise their professional status; To require CCTV in all slaughterhouses; and to restrict the use of cages for farmed animals. Rebecca Evans MS, Member of the Senedd for Gower, is welcoming the announcement that more than two million people in Wales have now had one or more Covid-19 vaccines.
The official figures also show that almost three million total doses of the vaccine have been administered in Wales in just six months. Rebecca Evans MS said: “This announcement is great news and means 80% of all adults in Wales have received their first vaccine and one in three adults have received their second dose to complete the course. This really is a wonderful achievement and I offer my thanks to the NHS staff, military personnel and volunteers who have made this possible. "Vaccinations play a huge part in us combating this virus, and with each vaccine given we are one step nearer to the return of more freedoms and more interactions with others, and towards keeping the infection rates minimal.” “I am immensely proud that Wales continues to lead the UK’s efforts to vaccinate as much of the population as quickly and as safely as possible, and I encourage all those who are called to receive the vaccine do so.” Vaccines are the best way out of this pandemic and provide strong protection against Covid-19. Wales continues to be on target to achieve the aim of offering vaccination to all eligible adults by the end of July. Welsh Government Ministers have announced an additional £24m package of support to revitalise Wales’ town centres, with the City and County of Swansea receiving £6 million.
Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS said: “This funding for Swansea is very welcome and will make a vital difference. With this Welsh Government support, we will be able to bring back to use a number of long-term empty buildings. “Supporting business and town centres has always remained high on the Labour Welsh Governments agenda. The pandemic has challenged town centres in a way never seen before, but with the support of funding such as this, we can look towards a positive future for our wonderful city.” Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is joining Swansea Council, Citizen’s Advice Swansea, Age Cymru West Glamorgan, Swansea Carer’s Centre, and Care and Repair Western Bay, in raising awareness of Pension Credit take-up.
Rebecca Evans MS: “If you are over State Pension age, you may be eligible to be in receipt of Pension Credit to assist with the daily costs of living. You could be entitled to this even if you have a pension, savings or your own home. For those who are eligible for Pension Credit, assistance can also be available for payment of rent, a free TV license, NHS costs such as travelling to and from appointments, dental and eye needs, and council tax and heating bills.” The aim of this campaign is not only to maximise benefit income in relation to Pension Credit but to look at all the benefits that someone aged 66 and over may be entitled too. Rebecca Evans MS added: “Across the UK people are missing out on £3 billion in unclaimed benefits every year, with 2 out of 5 people not claiming the Pension Credit they are entitled to. I encourage residents of Gower to call the helpline and find out if they are entitled to this extra help.” To check eligibility and for further information, call the helpline for free on: 0800 112 4763, Monday – Thursday, 10am – 3pm. Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is once again backing Safer Internet Day, which will take place on 9th February 2019 with the theme 'Together for a better internet’.
Safer Internet Day is celebrated globally in February each year to promote the safe and positive use of digital technology by children and young people. This year the focus is on creating an internet that can be trusted. Rebecca Evans MS has a long track record of campaigning on internet safety and has championed the issue in the Senedd. Rebecca Evans MS said: “The internet is a wonderful, valuable resource. It can be an enriching learning environment, helping develop knowledge, skills, ideas and global citizenship, as well as being a forum for socialising and entertainment. “But there is also a darker side and this why we need this day each year. It reminds us of the importance of speaking with children about internet use, and what they are accessing. Safer Internet Day assists in empowering children and their parents to know how to keep themselves safe online, increases awareness of when and where to report inappropriate content, and highlights where to go to for help. “The theme this year is timely as there has been a stark increase in the inaccurate information seen across the internet in response to the current pandemic. It is vital that the internet is monitored to ensure, true, reliable and clear information is provided.” In the Senedd, Rebecca Evans has highlighted the challenges and dangers posed to children and young people online by cyberbullying, online grooming, easy access to explicit adult material which may be extreme or violent, and the pressures of modern trends such as sexting. Member of the Senedd for Gower, Rebecca Evans MS, is pleased to share the announcement that the Welsh Government has pledged an extra £9.4 investment in children and young people’s mental health services.
Rebecca Evans MS said: “The Welsh Government is committed to ensuring support is available to meet the changing mental health needs of the children and young people of Wales. “This additional funding, which has been announced at the start of Children’s Mental Health Week 2021, recognises the effect being away from school and regular support networks has had on young people during the pandemic”. The Welsh Government has demonstrated that it is committed to addressing the issue of mental health across society and spends more on this than any other aspect of the NHS – with a protected minimum spend of £783m for 2021-22, representing an extra £42m additional funding into mental health support. Rebecca Evans concluded: “In my role as Finance Minister, in light of the pandemic, it was vital that I provided an increase in financial support to respond to mental health needs of the children and young people as part of the 2021-2022 Budget. I have seen first hand the impact the pandemic has had on the mental health of children and young people and the concerning rise in anxiety, depression and self-harm during these difficult times. Our children and young people have been through so much in the last year, and we in the Welsh Government will continue do all we can to assist them, through these challenging times and beyond.” |
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