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Yahoo
15 hours ago
- Climate
- Yahoo
Wales' papers: A55 tunnel fire chaos and burglar's brazen plea
Tunnel fire under control as major incident declared New wind farms' impact to be 'felt for generations' Ingle defies injury to win Wales call for Euros Western Mail Daily Post South Wales Evening Post The Flintshire Leader South Wales Echo The Wrexham Leader South Wales Argus Abergavenny Chronicle Monmouthshire Beacon Brecon & Radnor Express Cambrian News Tenby Observer Barry and District News Penarth Times Free Press Series
Yahoo
3 days ago
- General
- Yahoo
Wales' papers: Medics failed student who died
Western Mail Daily Post South Wales Evening Post The Flintshire Leader South Wales Echo The Wrexham Leader South Wales Argus Abergavenny Chronicle Monmouthshire Beacon Brecon & Radnor Express Cambrian News Tenby Observer Barry and District News Penarth Times Free Press Series
Wales Online
4 days ago
- Business
- Wales Online
DWP confirms £110 payment and full list of 87 medical conditions that qualify
DWP confirms £110 payment and full list of 87 medical conditions that qualify The DWP gives personal independence payments to those who have a long-term illness, mental health condition, physical or learning disability PIP changes are set to affect thousands (Image: Western Mail ) The Department for Work and Pensions (DWP) is urging people to check if they're eligible for a regular support payment of up to £110 per week. Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is designed to help individuals who live with long-term physical or mental health conditions, disabilities, or learning difficulties. It supports those who need help with daily living tasks, particularly people of State Pension age who want to maintain their independence at home. PIP is a non-means-tested, tax-free benefit that will pay either £73.90 or £110.40 per week during the 2025/26 financial year, depending on the level of support needed. On April 7, 2025, these rates increased by 1.7% in line with inflation, aiming to help households cope with rising living costs. Payments are typically made every four weeks, which means eligible claimants will receive either £295.60 or £441.60 per pay period. Over the course of the year, this adds up to a maximum of £5,740.80. Earlier this year, the DWP announced proposed changes to PIP that are expected to take effect from November 2026, impacting both new and existing claimants. For money-saving tips, sign up to our Money newsletter here Under the new rules, thousands of people are expected to lose their entitlement to PIP—a decision that has drawn widespread criticism. Article continues below Here's everything you need to know about PIP, including who qualifies and the health conditions that make you eligible. What are personal independence payments (PIP)? Personal independence payments (PIP) are provided to individuals with long-term illnesses, mental health conditions, or physical or learning disabilities. It is usually paid every four weeks. Eligibility for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) is not determined by National Insurance contributions and it's not means-tested. This means that even if you're employed, have savings, or are receiving other benefits, you can still qualify. PIP consists of two parts – a daily living rate and a mobility rate – and you could be eligible for one or both at the same time. Both these rates offer a standard rate and an enhanced rate. The benefit is tax-free and the amount you receive is not influenced by your income or savings. What is the value of PIP? These are the new weekly rates, but it's crucial to remember that PIP is paid every four weeks: Daily living component: £73.90 (lower weekly rate) £110.40 (higher weekly rate) Mobility component: £29.20 (lower weekly rate) £77.05 (higher weekly rate) These rates imply that if, for instance, you qualify for both the enhanced daily living and enhanced mobility components of the payments, you will receive a total of £749.80 every four weeks. If you qualify for both the standard daily living and standard mobility components, you will receive £412.40 every four weeks. Which medical conditions make you eligible for PIP? According to the Daily Record, there are 87 musculoskeletal conditions that qualify for Personal Independence Payment (PIP) support. This assistance can help with daily living, mobility needs or a combination of both. It's important to note that this list is not exhaustive, so if your condition does not appear, don't be discouraged from making a claim. The award for PIP is based on how the condition affects you, not the condition itself. Here is the full list: Osteoarthritis of Hip Osteoarthritis of Knee Osteoarthritis of other single joint Primary generalised Osteoarthritis Chronic fatigue syndrome (CFS) Fibromyalgia Pain syndromes - Chronic - Other / type not known Ankylosing spondylitis Arthritis - Psoriatic. Arthritis - Reactive. Inflammatory arthritis - Other / type not known. Juvenile chronic arthritis (Still's disease). Rheumatoid arthritis. Crystal deposition disorders - Other / type not known. Gout. Pseudogout. Osteochondritis. Osteonecrosis. Osteomalacia. Osteoporosis. Other metabolic and endocrine disorders of musculoskeletal system. Paget's disease. Rickets. Achondroplasia. Epiphyseal dysplasia - multiple. Genetic disorders, dysplasias and malformations - Other / type not known. Hereditary multiple exostosis (diaphyseal aclasis). Hypermobility syndrome. Marfan's syndrome. Osteogenesis imperfecta. Tumours of bone - benign. Compartment syndrome (Volkmann's ischaemia). Fracture complications - Other / type not known. Sudek's atrophy. Generalised musculoskeletal disease - Other / type not known. Adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). Rotator cuff disorder. Shoulder disorders - Other / type not known. Shoulder instability. Elbow disorders - Other / type not known. Golfers elbow (medial epicondylitis). Tennis elbow (lateral epicondylitis). Carpal tunnel syndrome. Dupuytren's contracture. Tendon lesions. Tenosynovitis. Wrist and hand disorders - Other / type not known. Cervical disc lesion. Cervical spondylosis. Neck disorders - Other / type not known. Whiplash injury. Back pain - Non specific (mechanical). Back pain - Specific - Other / type not known. Kyphosis. Lumbar disc lesion. Lumbar spondylosis (OA spine). Schuermann's disease. Scoliosis. Spinal stenosis. Spondylolisthesis. Dislocation of the hip - congenital. Hip disorders - Other / type not known. Perthes disease. Slipped upper femoral epiphysis. Bursitis. Chondromalacia patellae. Knee disorders - Other / type not known. Ligamentous instability of knee. Meniscal lesions. Osgood schlatters disease. Osteochondritis dissecans. Patellar dislocation - Recurrent. Ankle and foot disorders - Other / type not known. Club foot (talipes). Fore foot pain (Metatarsalgia). Hallux valgus /rigidus. Amputation - Lower limb(s). Amputation - Upper limb(s). Amputations - Upper and Lower limb/s. Abdomen - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of. Lower limb - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of. Multiple - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation. Pelvis - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of. Spine - Injuries/Fracture/Dislocation of. Thorax - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of. Upper limb - Injury/Fracture/Dislocation of. Musculoskeletal disease - Regional / Localised - Other / type not known. How do I apply for PIP? To be eligible for the benefit, you'll need to undergo an assessment by an independent healthcare professional. This will help the DWP determine the level of assistance you require. The assessments can take place face-to-face, via video call, over the phone, or through paper-based evaluations. The method of assessment is determined by the DWP and you won't have a say in this. For more information on PIP click here. Article continues below
Wales Online
11-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Wales Online
Wynne Evans issues update and admits he's 'a bit smug'
Wynne Evans issues update and admits he's 'a bit smug' The Welsh TV and radio star made the announcement on Instagram weeks after confirming he would not be returning to his BBC show Wynne Evans has announced he is engaged in a post to fans on his Instagram (Image: Western Mail ) Wynne Evans has announced he is engaged in a post to fans on his Instagram. The Strictly contestant and opera singer, 53, proposed to his girlfriend Liz Brookes last weekend during a romantic getaway to Marrakesh in Morocco. Announcing the news to his 92,400 followers on Instagram, Evans joked his partner had "excellent taste in men" and admitted he was feeling "a tiny bit smug" after popping the question. He said: "Big news… I got engaged! "This weekend in Morocco, somewhere between the couscous, the camels, and me limping around the souks like a man with no spatial awareness, I proposed to Liz — and she said yes! (No take-backs, I've checked.) "She's clever, she's kind, she's got excellent taste in men. Absolutely no idea how I pulled that off, but here we are. "Feeling very lucky, very happy, and just a tiny bit smug." Content cannot be displayed without consent Article continues below It comes following a turbulent few months for Evans after it was confirmed he had been axed from his popular BBC radio show months after he was caught making a controversial joke during his time preparing for the Strictly tour in January. The opera singer confirmed the BBC would not be renewing his contract, saying at the time: "It breaks my heart to say the BBC has decided not to renew my contract so I won't be returning to my radio show. I'm gutted." Evans maintains that his remark was a nickname for his Strictly co-star Jamie Borthwick, and not a derogatory or sexual term used towards professional dancer Janette Manrara. Liz Brookes, Evans' now-fiancée, is a business owner from Cardiff. Her business is Grapevine Event Management which organises corporate events across Wales. For the latest TV and showbiz gossip sign up to our newsletter The pair are believed to have met each other in early 2024. She often sat in the audience for the Strictly Come Dancing live shows last year and shared a sweet snap with him after one show, saying she was "proud." Evans was inundated with messages congratulating him and his partner after the announcement. One fan said: "Wow wow wow this is amazing news! llongyfarchiadau." Another added: "Congratulations, some happy news after a tough start to the year." Article continues below
Wales Online
03-06-2025
- Health
- Wales Online
'Enough is enough' as fears grow over future of Welsh hospital
'Enough is enough' as fears grow over future of Welsh hospital The health board has launched a public consultation looking at potential changes after classifying nine key services as 'critical' Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest (Image: Western Mail ) Concerns are mounting over potential service cuts at Pembrokeshire's Withybush Hospital following proposals from the health board that include transferring patients requiring specialist critical care to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. Hywel Dda University Health Board initiated a public consultation on May 29, which will run until August 31, regarding possible changes. The board has categorised nine key services as 'critical', asserting that immediate reorganisation is essential. The identified services include critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology. There will be no alterations to how individuals access emergency care (A&E) or minor injury care. This has sparked worries that some services currently offered at Withybush Hospital may be moved to other hospitals within the health board's jurisdiction. For our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation, sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here . In terms of critical care, three options include intensive care units remaining at Bronglais and Glangwili, an enhanced care unit being established at Withybush and Prince Philip, or patients at Prince Philip or Withybush requiring specialist critical care being transferred to Glangwili. At present, full emergency general surgery services, including surgical operations, for adults are provided at Glangwili, Bronglais and Withybush. Patients from Prince Philip are transported to Glangwili. The consultation presents two options in this area. Article continues below Consultant surgeons specialising in emergency general surgery will be stationed at Bronglais and Glangwili hospitals to provide comprehensive emergency services, including surgical procedures. Patients from Withybush requiring surgery will be transferred to Glangwili for their operations and then brought back to Withybush to recuperate when they are well enough. The arrangement for emergency general surgery consultants will see them based at Bronglais and alternating between Glangwili and Withybush weekly to carry out surgeries. Local Senedd Members Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have emphasised the crucial role of Withybush Hospital. Paul Davies, who has consistently opposed the reduction of services at Withybush, commented: "This consultation is the latest in a long line of consultations that have all resulted in vital services being cut at Withybush hospital – and enough is enough. "It is not acceptable for the people of Pembrokeshire to have to travel further for vital health services and I will be fiercely campaigning against Hywel Dda University Health Board's latest proposals. "Withybush Hospital has been under attack for years because of the health board's ideological pursuit of a shiny new hospital elsewhere in west Wales. Withybush Hospital and the people it serves deserve support and investment, not more cuts. The Welsh Government should intervene and ensure that services stay put at Withybush hospital." The proposed new 'super hospital' is not anticipated to materialise in the forthcoming decade, as previously indicated by the health board. Sam Kurtz MS, a native of Withybush, expressed his concerns: "The loss of vital services at Withybush, including SCBU, consultant-led maternity, and children's A&E, remains deeply felt by local people. The removal of one service often renders others unviable." He further warned: "If any further service loss were to threaten the viability of the A&E department, that would be wholly unacceptable and would be a red line. It would be met with fierce opposition from the community, and I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with them in that fight." On financial matters, Pembrokeshire cabinet member, Councillor Alistair Cameron, who has voiced worries about the proposals at full council sessions, stated: "We all know the health board is struggling to deliver many of its services and it has described nine of its services as fragile." Regarding the health services' future, he added: "It has now issued a 44-page summary document on the future of these fragile services. The board needs to clearly explain the options it is looking at and make sure everyone gets a chance to have a say." Councillor Cameron also raised concerns about patient accessibility to treatments: "I can see some options involve patients having to travel further for essential treatments and that will be a major concern. There will be 11 consultative events in West Wales plus online events. However, the board needs to reach out to those who cannot make the events and do not have access to a computer." Article continues below During the May 29 meeting, medical director Mr Mark Henwood stated: "No decisions have been made on the options presented, and there are currently no preferred solutions. The changes we are looking to make are to ensure we have safe, high-quality services and affordable healthcare in the future, and have at their heart the best interests of the people of west Wales and their patient experience."
