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PRESS RELEASE : Significant milestone reached as extra 2 million scans, tests and checks delivered to bust the COVID backlogs [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Department of Health and Social Care on 11 October 2022.

Community diagnostic centres across the country have now delivered over 2 million vital tests, checks and scans since July 2021, helping to bust the COVID-19 backlogs and speed up access to services for patients
Landmark milestone comes as Health and Social Care Secretary approves 10 new sites which will deliver CT scans, MRIs and X-rays across England
This forms part of the government’s ambition to roll out up to 160 centres across the country by 2025 to deliver millions more vital checks

Community diagnostic centres (CDCs) have delivered more than 2 million vital tests, checks and scans for patients, with a further 10 centres now approved, the Health and Social Care Secretary has announced today (11 October 2022). These centres are busting the COVID-19 backlogs by speeding up access to lifesaving tests.

The one-stop shops, backed by £2.3 billion in government funding, offer a range of services in the heart of communities, making tests more accessible for patients.

Based in community settings such as shopping centres and football stadiums, the hubs house a range of cutting-edge equipment, including MRI, CT, X-ray and ultrasound scanners and offer services including blood tests or heart rhythm and blood pressure monitoring. They are designed to speed up diagnosis of conditions from cancer to heart or lung disease.

As set out in Our plan for patients published in September, the government will prioritise rolling out up to 160 of these centres across England by 2025 to help bust the COVID-19 backlogs and enable the health service to deliver up to 9 million additional tests, checks and scans a year.

Later today, the Health and Social Care Secretary, Thérèse Coffey, will officially open a new community diagnostic centre in a shopping centre in North London. It will be open 7 days a week and deliver an additional 40,000 tests by spring 2023.

Health and Social Care Secretary Thérèse Coffey said:

My number one priority is delivering for patients and we’re getting on with the job of tackling the issues that affect people most – ambulances, backlogs, care, doctors and dentists.

Today I’m announcing the approval of 10 new community diagnostic centres which are helping to bust the COVID-19 backlogs by delivering vital tests, checks and scans in local areas.

They have delivered over 2 million checks over the past year, diagnosing conditions from cancer to lung disease – and we’re on track to open up to 160 centres across the country by 2025, delivering an additional 17 million checks.

NHS medical director for transformation, Vin Diwakar, said:

It is testament to the hard work of staff across the NHS that we have now delivered more than 2 million tests and checks at our one-stop shops, and latest figures show we have the lowest number of patients waiting for tests and checks since we published our elective recovery plan in February.

We know that rapid diagnosis saves lives, and it is great news that more of these centres have been approved to provide checks and scans in the heart of local communities, making services more accessible and convenient while also helping to improve outcomes for patients with cancer and other serious conditions.

The 10 approved new centres will be rolled out across the country, including in the Isle of Wight, Burnley and Medway in Kent. Once referred by a GP, pharmacist or hospital, patients can access CDCs in their local area and get any concerning symptoms checked out.

Thanks to these innovative approaches, significant progress has already been made on tackling waiting lists, with the NHS virtually eliminating waits of over 2 years for routine treatment as part of the first milestone in the elective recovery plan. The NHS plans to go further, including eliminating waits of over 18 months by April 2023, over 15 months by March 2024, and over a year by March 2025.

Background

The full list of approved new CDCs is as follows:

Island CDC (Hampshire and Isle of Wight ICS)
Burnley General Hospital Spoke (Lancashire and South Cumbria ICS)
Southport and Ormskirk CDC (Cheshire and Merseyside ICS)
Newmarket CDC (Suffolk and North East Essex ICS)
Merry Hill Health Centre (Black Country and West Birmingham ICS)
Castle Hill Institute of Technology (Black Country and West Birmingham ICS)
Rotherham Spoke CDC (South Yorkshire ICB)
Warrington and Halton CDC (Cheshire and Merseyside ICS)
Medway CDC Hub (Kent and Medway ICS)
Swale CDC Spoke (Kent and Medway ICS)

The total number of tests carried out per region in England is below.

Region	Total tests
London	260,043
South West	293,015
South East	396,757
Midlands	370,543
East of England	198,196
North West	300,885
North East and Yorkshire	200,422
Total	2,019,861

October 11, 2022

PRESS RELEASE : Tony Blair backs fusion for energy security and climate change [October 2022]

The press release issued by the UK Atomic Energy Authority on 11 October 2022.

Former prime minister, Sir Tony Blair, underlined his continued support for fusion energy and its role in addressing energy security and climate change for generations to come.

During a recent visit to UK Atomic Energy Authority (UKAEA) in Oxfordshire, Sir Tony was briefed by fusion leaders on the progress of STEP – the UK’s prototype fusion plant being built at West Burton, Nottinghamshire, to demonstrate the ability to put net electricity on the grid.

Sir Tony said: “Fusion promises to be a safe, low carbon and sustainable part of the world’s future energy supply and it is critical that we keep striving forwards to tackle one of the greatest scientific and engineering challenges of our time.

“It was fantastic to see and hear about the progress being made by UKAEA today and to meet the people who are working towards making fusion energy an environmentally responsible part of the world’s future energy mix.”

Fusion energy has the potential to provide ‘baseload’ power, complementing renewable and other low carbon energy sources as a share of many countries’ energy portfolios.

Tony Blair Institute For Global Change has previously championed pivot-support-programmes to harness the technology transfer from fusion to adjacent sectors.

Ian Chapman, UKAEA CEO, said: “The UK has a huge opportunity to become a global exporter of fusion technology, which promises to be a part of the low carbon energy mix in the second half of the century.

“Sir Tony was very interested in discussing the work we are doing at UKAEA, which will help address global challenges as well as create jobs and drive economic growth in fusion-focused and adjacent fields.”

As part of the visit, Sir Tony experienced a close-up of UKAEA’s Joint European Torus (JET) facility which produced landmark results announced earlier this year.

He also met with scientists and engineers for a behind-the-scenes tour of materials science and robotics facilities.

October 11, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Appointment of Dean of Canterbury [11 October 2022]

The press release issued by 10 Downing Street on 11 October 2022.

Her Late Majesty The Queen approved the nomination of The Very Reverend Dr David Monteith, Dean of Leicester, for election as Dean of Canterbury, in succession to The Very Reverend Dr Robert Willis following his retirement.

Background

David grew up in County Fermanagh, Northern Ireland. He was educated at St John’s College, Durham, and trained for ministry at St John’s College, Nottingham. He served his title at All Saints’, Kings Heath, in the Diocese of Birmingham, and was ordained Priest in 1994.

In 1997, David was appointed Curate at St Martin-in-the-Fields, in the Diocese of London, and in 2000 he became Associate Vicar. From 2002, David served as Priest-in-Charge at Holy Trinity, Wimbledon, in the Diocese of Southwark, additionally serving as Area Dean of Merton from 2004.

In 2009, he was appointed Team Rector for Merton Priory Team Ministry and additionally went on to serve as Canon Chancellor of Leicester Cathedral. He took up his current role as Dean of Leicester in 2013. He was awarded an Honorary Doctor of Laws in 2016, from the University of Leicester, which acknowledges his role in the community including overseeing the re-interment of King Richard III in Leicester Cathedral in 2015.

As Dean of Leicester, David has chaired the St Philip’s Centre for Interfaith Dialogue and led and chaired the Bishop of Leicester’s Rural Commission. He currently chairs the Church of England College of Deans.

David shares his life in a Civil Partnership with David Hamilton, a palliative care and bereavement counsellor.

October 11, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Ukraine’s civilians are paying the price for Russia’s barbaric actions – UK statement to the OSCE [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Foreign Office on 11 October 2022.

Ambassador Neil Bush condemns Russia’s intense barrage of missile attacks on Kyiv and across Ukraine, including Lviv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia.

Thank you. In our statement to this Council last week, we highlighted evidence of war crimes and instances of the unspeakable suffering and devastation Russia has inflicted on Ukraine’s civilians. Evidence this Council is sadly all too familiar with, following the findings of two Moscow Mechanism reports.

Now we gather here again, not a week later, to condemn Russia’s intense barrage of missile attacks on Kyiv and across Ukraine, including Lviv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia. We are reminded once again, that Ukraine’s civilians are paying the terrible price for Russia’s barbaric actions.

In Kyiv for the last two mornings, residents were woken to the sound of air raids, forced to take shelter for nearly six hours in fear of their lives. But even before the horrific attacks of yesterday, October is proving to be a deadly month for Ukraine. From 1 to 9 October 2022, the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights recorded 373 civilian casualties, including 97 killed.

In Kyiv, Lviv, Dnipro and Zaporizhzhia, more civilian infrastructure has been severely impacted in the these latest attacks. There have been multiple power blackouts, with areas cut off from water supply and communications. A playground, a pedestrian bridge and the National Philharmonic have been hit. Either the missiles missed their targets, or the Russian military were intentionally targeting cultural sites and areas where children may have been present.

Sadly, these are just the reports that have emerged so far. Over the coming days, as the destruction left by these missile strikes becomes clearer, we will not allow the casualties of this senseless violence to be forgotten.

Let us be clear: Russia has taken these actions in full knowledge of what would ensue: destruction, injuries and death. This is a pattern we have seen repeatedly from the Russian government and Russian military following their premeditated, unprovoked invasion of Ukraine. Deliberate attacks on civilians and civilian infrastructure are not only abhorrent, they are war crimes and a blatant violation of international law. Russia’s behaviour continues to directly contravene the OSCE principles we have all committed to, including refraining from the threat or use of force, the peaceful settlement of disputes and respect for human rights and fundamental freedoms.

Once again, we call on Russia to cease the indiscriminate use of weapons against the civilian population in civilian areas and to withdraw all Russian troops from Ukraine now.

There can be no justification for Russia’s behaviour. We will continue to work with Ukraine and international partners to hold those responsible to account. Such egregious violations of international law will not go unanswered for.

The UK remains deeply concerned by the safety of nuclear facilities in Ukraine, including the Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant, which must be able to operate safely. It is alarming that on Saturday the IAEA Director General, Rafael Grossi, reported that the security situation had deteriorated further after overnight shelling temporarily cut all external power. Zaporizhzhia Nuclear Power Plant is on Ukrainian sovereign territory. Russia must immediately return any and all seized Ukrainian nuclear facilities to the competent Ukrainian authorities.

Mr Chair, as my Foreign Secretary stated: Russia’s recent missile attacks are a demonstration of weakness by Putin, not strength. The Ukrainian people have shown their courage and conviction will not be suppressed. Nor will the determination of its partners. The UK’s commitment to Ukraine and the Ukrainian people is unwavering. Putin must end this illegal war and withdraw Russian troops from Ukraine’s sovereign territory now.

October 11, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : From the Senedd to the classroom – First Minister takes questions from school pupils [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 7 October 2022.

The Leader Dialogue sessions are facilitated and hosted by The Politics Project, a not-for-profit, non-partisan, democratic education organisation and funded by Welsh Government. These sessions give opportunities for schools to support learners in realising one of the four purposes of the Curriculum for Wales, becoming “ethical informed citizens of Wales and the World.”

The four Senedd party leaders are all taking part in these Leader Dialogue sessions with 14-18 year olds from nine schools across Wales.

The sessions are part of Digital Dialogue: Wales, a wider programme of workshops and online events that have been taken place since the spring using digital platforms. Over 40 primary schools, secondary schools, and sixth form colleges took part, which saw politicians from all major parties across Wales speak to children and young people, giving them the opportunity to ask the questions that matter to them. Questions ranged from finding out about the politician’s journey into politics, how Wales can best tackle climate change and whether Wales can win the World Cup.

First Minister Mark Drakeford said:

It has been a pleasure to take part in this programme and to engage with our learners from across Wales. Engaging our young people in politics and helping them to understand their part in Wales and the world is so important. I was impressed by their thoughtful questions and who knows, maybe there is a future First Minister amongst them.

Minister for Education and the Welsh Language, Jeremy Miles said:

I’m delighted that we are offering these insightful sessions with party leaders to our pupils, giving them the opportunity to ask their burning questions to those at the heart of politics in Wales.

Our curriculum is designed so that each pupil benefits from a broad and balanced education, and one of its four purposes is for schools to support their pupils to become ethical, informed citizens of Wales and the world. These sessions are a fantastic way to engage pupils and give them the appetite to want to find out more.

Director of The Politics Project, Hattie Andrews said:

It is such an honour to facilitate these vital conversations between all the leaders of the Senedd parties and young learners across Wales. We are grateful to all the politicians, teachers, and learners who have put so much time and energy into making the very most of this opportunity. It is so important to support young people to learn about the role of the Senedd and their Senedd members and have the space to discuss the key issues in Wales. It has been fantastic to see politicians and young people learning from each other through discussion and debate about the issues that are important to Welsh learners.

October 11, 2022
Lynne Neagle – 2022 Speech on the Minimum Unit Price for Alcohol

The speech made by Lynne Neagle, the Welsh Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, on 6 October 2022.

On 2 March 2020, a minimum unit price of 50p was introduced for alcohol sold in Wales to help tackle alcohol-related harm by reducing the amount of alcohol drunk by hazardous and harmful drinkers.

We undertook to carry out a review of the minimum price for alcohol legislation after two years. This statement sets out how this will take place.

It will help us understand the current impact of the legislation, including the implications from the pandemic. It will also help us to understand whether the current pricing structure of 50p per unit is appropriate and is having the desired effects of reducing alcohol related harms.

We commissioned an independent evaluation of the Public Health (Minimum Price for Alcohol) (Wales) Act 2018, which will take the form of a contribution analysis. This has four distinct parts (lots).

Lot 1: Contribution analysis

The contribution analysis is a theory-based evaluation method, appropriate to the review of complex, multi-level programmes of work where direct causal attributions are not possible^[1]. This approach is appropriate for evaluating the impact of minimum pricing as an MUP will not be the only factor which may impact on alcohol consumption and alcohol-related harm.

The evaluation approach will take account of this and assess the contribution the policy has made to any observed changes in outcomes.

The contribution analysis will look at the wider context of alcohol policy and bring together the relevant datasets and the findings from the individual studies in Wales and evaluation work undertaken in Scotland to inform the assessment of the contribution that the introduction of minimum pricing has made to the policy objectives.

The report from this component of the evaluation can only be produced when the reports from the other three studies have been produced, as this brings all the elements together into the overall assessment.

Lot 2: Research into the impact on retailers

This element will assess the experience and impact of the implementation of the Act on retailers.

A baseline report from this element of the evaluation was published on 30 November 2021. It presents the first set of findings from longitudinal qualitative research with Welsh alcohol retailers undertaken before the introduction of the minimum price for alcohol in Wales.

The research explores retailers’ understanding and views of the minimum pricing policy prior to its introduction and their expectations for the effects of the policy. Interviews were conducted with 30 retailers from across five Welsh regions. The sample included independents and chains, large and small retailers, and a mix of alcohol licence types (on-trade, off-trade, and both). This baseline research will be followed by two further waves of interviews with retailers.

The report also incorporates the quantitative analysis plan, providing details on the methods to be used for evaluating the impact of the minimum price for alcohol on retailers, using Kantar data to make a quantitative assessment of the impact.

Lot 3: Work with services and service users

The aim of this qualitative research is to assess both the experience and impact of minimum pricing on services and service users (including exploring the extent to which switching between substances may have been a consequence of the legislation). An initial piece of work exploring this was commissioned to inform implementation of the Act. The report from this baseline work was published on 24 October 2019.

Data will be gathered though an online survey with service users and service providers. Interviews with both groups are also undertaken to explore findings in more detail.

Lot 4: Assessment of the impact of introducing minimum price for alcohol on wider population of drinkers.

The aim of this final component is to explore the impact of the minimum price for alcohol legislation on the wider population, including moderate, hazardous and harmful drinkers. A baseline report was published on 8 July 2021. The report focuses on data collected prior to the implementation of the policy in March 2020. The main aim of the study was to examine the potential impact of the new legislation on drinkers in Wales and to gather baseline information that can be used to monitor the impact of minimum pricing over the five-year study period.

Data were collected through online survey questionnaires which were completed by 179 drinkers recruited through social media advertisements and announcements on two Welsh university intranet websites. Interviews were conducted with 41 drinkers recruited through the National Survey for Wales, two universities, third sector organisations and the online survey.

A further report was published on 24 March 2022, presenting the results from a second wave of qualitative interviews from the longitudinal sample. The aim of this additional wave of interviews was to undertake a detailed qualitative study of the impact of the pandemic on the drinking behaviour of the longitudinal sample to provide context for future interpretation of the data.

Each of the four parts of the evaluation is undertaking fieldwork for an interim assessment of the implementation of the legislation. The findings from each of the four lots will be published during the autumn – the interim report from the contribution analysis is due in February 2023.

The findings of these evaluation lots will make up the two-year review. I will make a further written statement which will set out the key findings once the last of the evaluation reports has been published.

A further round of fieldwork will be undertaken for each component of the evaluation during autumn and winter 2023. These findings will contribute towards the final evaluation reports, which will be available during summer of 2024 and will inform the report on the operation and effect of the legislation, which Welsh Ministers are required to prepare under section 21 of the 2018 Act.

[1] Mayne, J. (2008) Contribution analysis: An approach to exploring cause and effect. The Institutional Learning and Change (ILAC) Initiative.

October 11, 2022
Jane Hutt – 2022 Statement on Funding for Tackling Food Poverty

The statement made by Jane Hutt, the Welsh Minister for Social Justice, on 4 October 2022.

As energy prices continue to rise and people struggle with the impact of rising inflation on their household income, local authorities, food banks and community support groups across Wales are reporting a rise in the number of people accessing food banks and other community food provision. In some areas, organisations have experienced more than 100% increase in demand for emergency food. At the same time, as a result of the cost of living crisis, organisations have experienced a drop in donations.

As part of our commitment to prioritise support for people affected by the cost of living crisis, today I am announcing a further £1 million for tackling food poverty. This additional funding builds on the £3.9 million allocated already this financial year by the Welsh Government to help alleviate food poverty and tackle the root causes of food poverty.

The funding will support community food organisations to overcome barriers to accessing sufficient supplies. It will enable them to purchase food, baby products such as milk and other essential goods such as period products and cleaning products which will help facilitate and maintain well-being, healthy diets and personal dignity.

The funding can also be used to support initiatives such as baby banks, clothes banks and uniform banks. It can also be used to purchase and distribute warms goods packs and equipment which will help keep vulnerable people warm this winter.

The funding can support initiatives which will help families save money on food by building their food knowledge and skills, for example, through the delivery of cooking sessions where households are provided with food and recipes as well as cooking equipment such as slow cookers or pressure cookers.

The funding can also be used to support action to maximise income and increase the uptake of benefits such as Healthy Start vouchers and initiatives which support households to pay essential bills such as our Welsh Government Fuel Support Scheme and our Fuel Voucher and Heat Fund Scheme.

The additional £1m will be distributed through local authorities in Wales in the coming weeks. Organisations that might wish to benefit from this support should contact their local authority to discuss.

October 11, 2022
Eluned Morgan – 2022 Comments on Reducing Bowel Cancer Screening Age

The comments made by Eluned Morgan, the Welsh Minister for Health and Social Services, on 4 October 2022.

It is great to see the next phase of our plan to widen access to bowel cancer screening come into effect.

We have previously introduced the more user-friendly test and started inviting those aged 58-59. This next phase of the programme widens access to those aged 55-57.

This move will help us to identity more bowel cancer cases early and support improvement in survival rates.

I’m also pleased to see that more people are taking part in the programme and that the uptake rate now meets the expected standard.
In future, we plan to continue to optimise the programme by lowering the age range to 50 and increasing the sensitivity of the test until we come into line with UK recommendations.

October 11, 2022
PRESS RELEASE : Bowel cancer screening age lowered to 55 in Wales [October 2022]

The press release issued by the Welsh Government on 4 October 2022.

The expansion will mean 172,000 more people in Wales will start to receive easy to use kits that test for the early stages of bowel cancer. The move is part of a phased approach to lowering the screening age to 50 by October 2024.

People aged 55, 56 and 57 will start to be invited for screening from Wednesday 5th October and will receive their home testing kits in the post. The programme will be rolled out to the newly eligible age group gradually over the next 12 months.

Part of a £16 million investment package by the Welsh Government, the funding has supported the introduction the new, easier to use, FIT (Faecal Immunochemical Test) at home testing kit. The new home testing kits have helped improve screening uptake to 65% and have improved sensitivity to better detect those at risk of bowel cancer.

More than 2,500 people were diagnosed with bowel cancer in 2019. Screening plays an important role in detecting cancer earlier and helps to improve cancer outcomes in Wales.

The lowering of the screening age is based on the recommendation by the UK National Screening Committee.

Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan said:

It is great to see the next phase of our plan to widen access to bowel cancer screening come into effect.

We have previously introduced the more user-friendly test and started inviting those aged 58-59. This next phase of the programme widens access to those aged 55-57.

This move will help us to identity more bowel cancer cases early and support improvement in survival rates.

I’m also pleased to see that more people are taking part in the programme and that the uptake rate now meets the expected standard.
In future, we plan to continue to optimise the programme by lowering the age range to 50 and increasing the sensitivity of the test until we come into line with UK recommendations.

Genevieve Edwards, Chief Executive at Bowel Cancer UK says:

This is a step in the right direction towards screening from 50 in Wales, which we’ve long campaigned for. Screening is one of the best ways to diagnose bowel cancer early, or in some cases prevent it from developing in the first place, and so inviting more people to take part is welcomed.

Offering the home test to more people is just one of the ways to improve bowel screening, however, the biggest barrier to improving early diagnosis, and offering a world-class screening programme, is the long-standing workforce shortage in endoscopy and pathology services. We now urgently need to address this through a comprehensive workforce plan that can support the bowel cancer screening programme in Wales to achieve its full potential.

Dr Sharon Hillier, Director of the Screening Division at Public Health Wales, said:

I’m delighted that we are expanding the bowel cancer screening programme to include those aged 55, 56 and 57 in Wales.

Bowel screening aims to find cancer at an early stage when treatment is likely to be more effective. Early detection is so important as at least 9 out of 10 people will survive bowel cancer if it’s found and treated early.

Bowel screening also detects and removes pre-cancerous polyps that if left in the bowel could develop into cancer.

The invitation and test kit will be arriving via post to those who are eligible over the next 12 months. The test kit is easy to complete and to send to our laboratory for analysis.

I would urge everyone who receives an invitation to take up their offer as it could save their life.

October 11, 2022
Jane Hutt – 2022 Statement on the Welsh Government and the Pakistan Floods Appeal

The statement made by Jane Hutt, the Welsh Minister for Social Justice, on 3 October 2022.

Following the devastating flooding that recently hit Pakistan, the Welsh Government has made a £100K donation to the Disasters Emergency Committee (DEC) Pakistan Floods Appeal.

The torrential floods submerged vast areas of land, leaving over 6 million people in need of urgent help. According to the government of Pakistan, a third of the country – equivalent to an area the size of the UK – is underwater, in what the UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres has called a “climate catastrophe”. Whole villages have been cut off, with rescuers struggling to reach them. At least 1,400 people have been killed and approximately 13,000 injured.

Huge areas of agricultural land have been affected, with crops swept away and three quarters of a million livestock killed, which will mean many people going hungry in the longer term. There is also a high risk from water-borne diseases spreading in affected areas.

The Welsh Government funds the Disasters Emergency Committee Cymru to help coordinate fundraising efforts in Wales and the Pakistan Floods Appeal was launched in September. The Disasters Emergency Committee brings together leading organisations in the UK to raise funds for overseas emergencies, coordinating an effective humanitarian response, getting aid quickly to people who need it in the most cost effective manner possible.

Mobile teams have been deployed to screen children for malnutrition and provide treatment. Cash grants are helping people buy stoves and a three-month supply of firewood and agencies are supplying winter clothing for families to stay warm. This £100K donation from the Welsh Government will support that activity.

October 11, 2022