You have just a few days to complete Peter Black’s health survey, if you have not already done so.  

ABMU health board is proposing to replace the out-dated GP facilities at Resolven and Glynneath, consolidating services at a rented, but purpose-built, facility on the site of the old Aberpergwm washery. More information is here: http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/863/news/20900. Cadoxton is not directly affected, so far as I can see, but residents may have family or friends who are. […]

There was a seminar in Port Talbot Civic Centre yesterday morning at which representatives of the Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board (ABMU) presented their plans for the immediate future. Deputy leader Cllr Peter Rees, in the absence of leader Ali Thomas, introduced Ed Roberts, vice-chairman of the board and well-known to members, and chief […]

The Welsh Assembly Government is looking to appoint volunteers to serve on CHCs, which are the public’s independent watchdog in the National Health Service in Wales. With the reduced size of the democratic contribution to the recently modernised NHS in Wales, CHC members are very important. I would hope that WAG appoints people with good […]

I couldn’t resist linking to this vintage Pathé 1945 general election short, even though it has no local interest (apart from the Welsh dragon flag in the background!). It is of Sir Archibald Sinclair, the Liberal leader in 1945, reminding the voters of the progressive policies which the Liberal Party had introduced – the secret […]

On Wednesday, the council will decide on the mayor and deputy mayor of the county borough for 2009/10. The Mayor will be inaugurated at the Princess Royal Theatre in Port Talbot on Friday 15th May. St John the Baptist Church, Neath Abbey, will welcome the great and good of Wales next Sunday, 3rd May* at […]

The Welsh Assembly Government Health Minister, Edwina Hart, has put forward proposals to “strengthen” the CHCs. Basically, the idea is to reduce the number in line with the reduction in the number of Local Health Boards. The detailed proposals, and request for individual comments, are here. Neath Port Talbot council has also been requested to […]

There is a website which displays current and historic pollution data from several sites in the county borough. The industrial hot-spots are well covered, though one wonders whether there ought to be a monitoring station in one of the Neath districts, if only for the purposes of comparison.

Assisted by Neil and Stacy, the county borough’s scrutiny officers, and Martin Hamilton, visiting from Cardiff City, the Social Services Health and Housing Scrutiny Committee decided today to go forward with a more pre-emptive form of scrutiny. Up until now, we have tended to react to papers about to be presented to cabinet, usually to […]

There was a useful presentation to members of the county borough council by Charlotte Morgan, Neath Port Talbot’s Health and Safety Officer. The council leads in obtaining independent certification for its H&S policy. Ms Morgan confirmed that not only council employees, but also contractors working on behalf of the council, were bound by NPTCBC’s health […]