Dawn Bowden AM Standing up for &

October 2019 | Assembly Report

£30 MILLION TO SUPPORT HEALTH & SOCIAL CARE SERVICES THIS WINTER Dawn Bowden has “welcomed an additional Of the £30 million, £17 million will be allocated funding of £30 million to support the delivery of to Regional Partnership Boards to promote frontline health and social care services this integrated, regional planning and £10 million to winter”. Following the announcement Dawn said: local health boards to support delivery of urgent and emergency care services in line with “In reality we have seen a growth in pressure the priorities identified for the winter. The all year round on our hospitals but there are remaining £3 million will be used for nationally actions the Welsh Government can take to try and targeted actions, consistent with the approach offset some causes of the Winter pressures. I taken last winter. welcome these plans as they will help to manage demands on our hard pressed Welsh NHS”. After the success of last year’s pilot schemes, the minister also confirmed the Emergency The money will help people access care closer to Department Wellbeing and Home Safe service, home and enable people to leave hospital when delivered by the British Red Cross, and the they’re ready, with appropriate ongoing care or Hospital to A Healthier Home service delivered support in place. by Care and Repair Cymru will continue over the winter period. Standing up for Merthyr Tydfil & Rhymney 250 JOBS LOST AT Welsh Government TRIUMPH FURNITURE scheme puts a smile Dawn, along with Gerald Jones MP, has expressed on Children’s faces her great sadness at the news that Triumph furniture has closed meaning 250 jobs have been Dawn Bowden has welcomed the news that lost in Merthyr Tydfil and Rhymney. In spite of talks “a scheme to improve children’s teeth in between the company and Welsh Government the has helped to achieve 35,000 fewer situation could not be saved due to a “catastrophic fillings, 6,000 fewer extractions and an overall downturn” in the orders received by the company. reduction in tooth decay”.

Dawn said: “Improving dental health and Dawn has called on the Welsh Government to see getting the right focus in preventing decay what lessons can be learnt from this collapse, and from an early age is important, but an even especially why the order book dried up so quickly, higher priority in communities in Merthyr including the suspension of significant orders by the Tydfil and Rhymney”. DWP and the impact of BREXIT. September 2019 marked the 10th anniversary of Designed to Smile, set up and IMPROVING AIR QUALITY & funded by the Welsh Government to target children in areas where levels of tooth decay PUBLIC HEALTH ALONG THE were highest. Tooth decay is one of the highest reasons for hospital admissions A470 among young children with them undergoing tooth extractions under general anaesthesia. Dawn has received a number of queries and comments about the new average speed cameras Before Designed to Smile launched in 2009 along the A470. Following questions to the Minister half of 5 year olds in Wales had tooth decay, for the Environment it is clear that this action is being since its introduction this has been reduced taken to improve air quality, reduce levels of Nitrogen to a third – around 4,000 fewer 5 year olds Dioxide and therefore the health of people who live having decay. alongside the A470 from Pontypridd to Upper Boat. The programme has also seen a 35% The air quality had deteriorated due to the volume of reduction in the number of children traffic and the engineers have reported that the undergoing dental procedures under general anaesthesia in the last 6 years. Resulting in introduction of the 50mph zone has already started 3,200 less children a year having to undergo to improve the quality of the air. treatment to remove decayed teeth.

Dawn said “I regularly travel this route myself and I Tooth decay is a particular problem for know it can feel inconvenient. However the science children from disadvantaged areas. Dental must lead our actions on this problem as we need to disease levels in children in Wales continue reduce the risk to human health for people living in to improve across the country. The latest that specific zone on the A470.” survey shows a 13.4% reduction in the proportion of children with decay, with 15% The monitoring of air quality will continue and a drop in disadvantaged areas. further report produced in March 2020. COMMITTEE ROUND UP In addition to continuing work on the Children, Young People and Education and Equality and Local Government Committees I have been made chair of the new standing committee on Assembly Electoral Reform. Here is a taste of recent issues in Committee.

Children, Young People and Education

Welsh Government has now published its response to our School funding inquiry and our recommendations were accepted. The Welsh Government now has work to carry out, largely with the Welsh Local Government Association, on the details of the funding formula for schools.

We have been scrutinising the Welsh Government’s Childcare offer, especially as the First Minister has pledged to review and extend the offer.

We have carried out follow up work on the ‘Mind over Matter’ report – this deals with mental wellbeing of children and young people.

We completed scrutiny on stage one of the Ending the Defence of Reasonable Punishment of Children (Wales) Bill.

Equality and Local Government

A report on Blue badge scheme is completed and the Welsh Government response received. Limited changes suggested in government response.

We had an Inquiry on empty properties in Wales and our report is now published.

We have conducted an Inquiry on devolution of the administration of welfare benefits.

Electoral Reform

The new standing committee on Electoral Reform will look at the report of the Expert Panel on a Parliament for Wales and report back to the Assembly by next Summer/Autumn.

I am honoured to be elected chair for the period of its work. Amongst the issues to be considered are the size of the Assembly and the method of election to the Senedd/Welsh Parliament. OFFICIAL OPENING OF SHARP CLINICAL IN RHYMNEY On a more positive note Dawn was pleased to attend the official opening of the new Sharp Clinical facility in Rhymney. The company was able to move to Rhymney with support from the Welsh Government.

Dawn said “New investment and jobs are always welcome and I was very pleased that Sharp Clinical chose Rhymney for their new facility. I wish the company well and hope they can expand their operations in the years ahead”. Dawn's photo diary

Visiting the Ymyl yr Afon housing scheme in Dawn spent time with volunteers at the Dawn , Gerald and Councillors supporting Merthyr Vale with Gerald Jones MP Cancer Research UK shop in Merthyr Tydfil Ysgol Idris Davies' Loan Shark campaign

Knocking doors in New Tredegar with Listening to George from the Alzheimer's Society Supporting Macmillan Cancer Support at the Gerald Jones MP and local Councillors at Prince Charles Hospital Quakers Yard Coffee Morning WELCOMING SUCCESS SOME PROGRESS MADE AT BIKE PARK WALES ON MATERNITY

Dawn recently visited Bike Park Wales to discuss SERVICES – BUT STILL their continuing success and plans for the future. MORE WORK TO DO Dawn attended a detailed briefing by the Cwm Dawn said “In a few short years this attraction Taf maternity services overview panel that was has become a local, regional and national tasked by the Health Minister with helping the success. Visitors travel long distances to take health board to improve the local maternity advantage of the facilities on offer and we know services used by women and families. The Panel a number of local businesses have benefitted as have now reported on the first quarter of their a result. work.

The attraction has plans for expansion and this Dawn spoke in the Assembly debate stressing is the type of attraction that can bring increasing that women and families must continue to numbers of visitors to our Valleys. As a member receive all appropriate support as they work with of the Valleys Taskforce I welcome their success the review panel, and also help to achieve future and wish them well with their future plans”. improvements in services.

Dawn was encouraged to note that the panel reported progress has been made in completing what are called immediate “make safe” measures, but that some other issues will take longer to complete. The longer term issues include improving attitudes towards people using these maternity services and in reducing the number of clinical interventions that were more frequent in Cwm Taf than in other areas.

The Panel has decided that the review of past experiences will be expanded to cover 150 cases at this point. This will help to decide what lessons emerge about past care, midwifery and/or clinical practice in the Cwm Taf maternity services.

Dawn has also noted that a number of wider changes are taking place in the new Cwm Taf Morgannwg health board to ensure fresh leadership, a review of procedures and especially the handling of complaints and concerns expressed by the users of all services.

Further information on the work of the Independent Panel can be found at: https://gov.wales/independent-maternity- services-oversight-panel; Dawn's diary highlights

Monday 23rd September 2019 Thursday 10th October 2019 Dawn met the Forever Young Group in merthyr Attended the official opening of Sharp Clinical in who have received £5,239 National Lottery Funding. Rhymney.

Friday 27th September 2019 Friday 11th October 2019 Dawn visited Ysgol idris Davies to support the Dawn visited Heddlu Bach at Bryn Awel Primary work they're on Loan Sharks. School.

Attended the Macmillan Coffee Morning in Monday 14th October 2019 . Visit to Merthyr Tydfil Fire Station.

Saturday 28th September 2019 Attended a meeting with staff from the DWP at Supported the Macmillan Coffee Morning in Merthyr Tydfil Job Centre. Quakers Yard. Dawn visited the Taf Fechan housing co-op with Helped knock doors in Troedyrhiw. Merthyr Valley Homes.

Monday 30th September 2019 Held a drop-in advice surgery at Rhymney Library. ADVICE SURGERIES

Monday 21st October 2019 | 3.30 - 4.30pm Dawn visited the Ymyl Yr Afon Project with Merthyr Dowlais Library, Church Street, Dowlais, CF48 3HS Tydfil Housing Association and Lovells.

Friday 4th October 2019 Friday 25th October 2019 | 3.30 - 4.30pm Dawn attended the Aberfan Memorial Garden Elim Community Church, Waterloo Terrace, Pontlottyn, Re-Dedication Service. CF81 9RG

Met with representatives from Bike Park Wales to Friday 1st November 2019 | 3.30 - 4.30pm discuss the local economy and jobs. Cwm Golau Integrated Children's Centre, Pentrebach, CF48 4BN Saturday 5th October 2019 Held a drop-in advice surgery at the constituency Saturday 2nd November 2019 | 10 - 11am office. (Appointment Only) Dawn Bowden’s Office, 110 High Street, Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8AP Attended the Treharris Male Choir Annual Concert. Friday 8th November 2019 | 2 - 3pm Monday 7th October 2019 Tabernacle Baptist Church, Road, Visited the Cancer Research Shop in Merthyr Tydfil. Merthyr Tydfil, CF47 8LS

Dawn hosted a Macmillan Coffee Morning at the Friday 22nd November 2019 | 3.30 - 4.30pm High Street Baptist Church. Community Library, Bedlinog Primary School, CF46 6RG Contact Dawn Bowden AM

01685 386 672 [email protected]