'Held a public transport forum at Flint Town Hall'

MS for Delyn

The NHS matters to all of us – it’s made a difference to so many lives, including my own. But we know it faces significant challenges, particularly here in our corner of the country. Last week in the Senedd I welcomed the announcement of £50m in additional investment to tackle the longest waiting times – something that has been raised in my Our Home, Our Health survey in recent months. I was able to share this with the Welsh Government when asking a question in the Senedd, alongside raising the need for transparency on how the additional funding will be allocated by our health board. I also made clear the importance of involving the NHS workforce in shaping change – the people delivering care every day are best placed to advise on how to improve services. You can still complete my Our Home, Our Health survey at www.hannahblythyn.cymru/get-involved-our-home-our-health-survey.

On the subject of the NHS here in North Wales, it’s also worth noting that the North Wales Medical School in Bangor has officially opened and the first intake of medical students has already started. The school took 80 students this year with numbers increasing to reach 140 a year from 2029-30, and this is particularly good news for our area of North East Wales – the training, recruitment and retention of staff within the NHS in North Wales is an essential part of driving the future of care in our area and it’s hoped the medical school will make a huge difference.

Also in the Senedd last week, I raised the question about the future of the Welsh steel sector during an Economy, Trade and Rural Affairs Committee meeting. While the immediate focus is rightly on Port Talbot, we must take lessons from current challenges to proactively sustain the industry for the long term. I asked the Secretary of State about what strategies are in place to future-proof Welsh steel and how we can ensure innovative downstream sites like Shotton are not left behind. We have a proud industrial heritage in Wales, one that I am deeply rooted in – my Taid worked at the Point of Ayr and my grandfather at Shotton Steel. Steel is vital to our economy and communities and we must ensure a sustainable, innovative future for the sector.

It was a privilege to join a range of inspiring speakers at a North Wales Federations of the WI event in Llandudno last weekend, an event which formed part of the White Ribbon ‘Not in my Name’ campaign. The White Ribbon campaign is a powerful and poignant part of the WI’s important work to support and empower women – campaigning to eliminate violence against women by raising awareness of its nature, extent and impact. We all have a part to play – I have a responsibility to use my position to stand up and speak up, to challenge and change and to advocate and educate. Education is one of the greatest tools we have to tackle violence against women and the behaviours that are the roots of it – it starts in schools and extends to workplaces and right across communities. I’m proud to support the White Ribbon campaign and I hope that one day campaigns such as this will no longer be necessary.

If you read my Leader column last week, you will have seen I held a public transport forum at Flint Town Hall on Friday which included representatives from Network Rail, Transport for Wales, Arriva Bus, Flintshire County Council, Avanti West Coast, Unite the Union and Sustrans to discuss the future of public transport in Flintshire. It was an interesting event in which local residents were able to find out more about what’s being done in Flintshire to improve public transport and to give their views on what they’d like to see change – many thanks to all who took the time (and battled the snow!) to take part in the event. I also had the chance to visit Flint Station before the forum to take a look at the work Transport for Wales has been doing there to improve accessibility.

Finally, the weather in the last week has been very cold and it’s worth remembering that many vulnerable people struggle with colder weather and icy conditions, so if you can spare a little time to check up on your neighbours I’m sure it will be appreciated. Many people are still struggling with the cost of living and especially the extra cost of energy during cold snaps – a lot of people are unaware they may be entitled to benefits that could offer them the support they need during winter, so it’s worth remembering that help is at hand. If you are unsure about what benefits you can claim, Advicelink Cymru can help you check and claim what’s yours. Find out more at www.citizensadvice.org.uk/wales/about-us/information/advicelink-cymru or call 0800 702 2020.

As always, if you would like advice and/or support, please don’t hesitate to get in touch on any of the following contact details – 52 High Street, Mold, Flintshire, on 01352 753464 or by email hannah.blythyn@senedd.wales. You can also keep up to date via my Facebook page – www.facebook.com/HannahBlythynForDelyn. Constituents are, of course, welcome to contact my office to arrange an appointment to see me, you don’t need to wait for an advice surgery.