People who can’t, or don’t feel comfortable with accessing the internet should not miss out on essential advice and services, says Rhun ap Iorwerth AM.

Rhun used an individual member’s debate in the Senedd this week to highlight that more and more services are only available online and that this can lead to digital exclusion, and people losing out on deals when it comes to shopping or choosing utility suppliers.

Speaking in the Senedd yesterday, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“This isn’t some old-fashioned opinion; we’re not rejecting new technology. I’m more than comfortable, myself, using online services, and like so many people, technology of this kind has certainly made my life easier in very many ways.

“But as more and more services do go online—banking services, postal services, bus pass renewal systems, even the courts—more and more people are at risk of being excluded. And I do see from casework in my own office that this can cause real anxiety for some people, particularly older people.”

He referred to the recent example by Welsh Government of people having to apply to renew their bus passes online. An unwise decision, says Rhun, especially given the target audience for this.

“It became clear very early on by speaking to constituents, that people were deeply concerned about having to do this online, and many didn’t know where to start. And we heard stories about people losing sleep as they were so concerned about how they were going to renew their bus pass because they were so reliant on buses.

“My office therefore offered to help people to make their online application, and since September, my office has dealt with over 300 bus pass renewal applications through the Transport for Wales website. Three hundred people who either didn’t feel comfortable in making the application themselves or didn’t have access to the internet in order to do that had they not come to my office.”

He also referred to banking services and to the many examples across Wales of bank branches closing, forcing people to do their banking online:

“You will hear the bank saying, ‘Well, don’t worry, people can use the branch in the next town’, but then they’ll close that one too. And in addition to that, you have the situation that we saw with Barclays saying, ‘Well, our customers can’t withdraw funds from the post office either.’ I was very pleased that we had managed to put pressure on them to scrap that particular idea. But it does demonstrate the lack of commitment among the major banks to think about their customers, particularly older customers, and specifically in rural areas.

“That’s why I’m calling on Government to speak with banks, businesses, services and other organisations to make sure that customers are not isolated if only online services are offered.”

Responding on behalf of the Government, Deputy Minister for Health and Social Service Julie Morgan:

“Although we recognise that not everyone is comfortable with the internet, we want to support people to make informed choices about how they participate safely in a world that is increasingly digital. So, we do want to encourage people to use the internet, because we know that the advantages are there, but we must provide for those people who don’t want to use the internet or are not able to use the internet. So, we are taking efforts to encourage the use of the internet: Digital Communities Wales’s digital heroes initiative has trained over 5,000 young volunteers to help older people in hospitals and care homes get online, and another innovative project is the Vale tablet loan scheme, which is allowing residents across the Vale of Glamorgan to borrow internet-enabled but secure iPads from local libraries almost as easily as they would a book.

“I think the key principle of all this is that we should design public services around the needs of the end user, and typically this will mean a service that works digitally but also meets the needs of end users who are digitally excluded, and that is what the Welsh Government wants to do.”

Closing the debate, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“Technology is racing forward. A huge amount of good comes from changing and developing technology, obviously, but there do come some risks too. One of those risks is that people are, from time to time, left behind. We can’t let that happen. So, as I say, I trust our message has been heard here today and we’ll keep a close eye on firmer Government action on this in months and years to come.”

Rhun ap Iorwerth calls for an urgent government debate to discuss waiting times at Ysbyty Gwynedd

Ynys Môn AM Rhun ap Iorwerth this week asked for an urgent debate in Government time to discuss the very real crisis that exists in terms of waiting times for orthopaedic surgery in Ysbyty Gwynedd, and the concern that that crisis has become something far worse.

Speaking at the Senedd yesterday, Rhun said:

“In May, which was the last time I asked for waiting time figures for orthopaedic surgery at Ysbyty Gwynedd, there were 2,200 people waiting at that point for 110 weeks. Now, since I received that last response from Betsi Cadwaladr health board, over the past few weeks that figure has gone up to 2,900 people with a waiting time of 115 weeks.

“Now, I don’t need to say that that is unacceptable. The chief executive of the health board has apologised in a recent letter to me and has accepted that this is unacceptable. But we’re not looking for apologies, but a system that allows patients in my constituency and nearby constituencies to receive treatment in a fair waiting time.

“There are two surgeons which are to be appointed from January, as I understand it. The truth is that this is too little and too late, and they are now dealing with a waiting list of 700 more people than if the decision had been taken six months ago to appoint when there was a real need for these surgeons. So, can we have an urgent debate on this, because, as I say, we were facing a crisis previously—it has gone beyond crisis now?”

Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth is urging people aged 65 or over, carers, pregnant women and those with certain chronic or long-term illnesses to get the free flu vaccine to protect themselves and those around them.

Influenza, more commonly known as the flu, is a respiratory illness, affecting the lungs and airways, and is the result of an infection caused by an influenza virus. As influenza circulates each year in the UK during the winter months (generally October to April), it is sometimes called seasonal flu and results from slight changes to the virus from the previous year which means that some people who encounter the new virus may no longer be fully immune.

Speaking after receiving his flu jab by Community Pharmacy Wales today, Rhun ap Iorwerth said:

“I urge those in at risk groups to make an appointment with their local GP or go to their community pharmacy and get the free flu vaccine. It takes a minute, lasts a year and could save a life.”

A vaccine is developed for each season which is offered free to some children, everyone aged 65 and over, people in certain ‘at-risk’ groups who are more likely to develop complications as a result of having flu and also those who look after people at increased risk.

For more information about protecting yourself against flu, visit https://phw.nhs.wales/services-and-teams/beat-flu/

Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth joined campaigners from across Wales taking part in a Cycle on the Senedd event today.

They were campaigning to increase expenditure for active travel in Wales to £20 per head per annum and for the Welsh Government to put in place a co-produced, evidence based active travel strategy. The event was supported by a wide range of organisations, including Beicio Bangor, British Heart Foundation, and British Lung Foundation.

Following the cycle, Rhun ap Iorwerth addressed campaigners on the Senedd steps.

Mr ap Iorwerth said:

“I really enjoyed the cycle to the Senedd today as part of an event to promote active travel.

“We’re already aware of the benefits of active travel – active travel to school can increase concentration by up to 4 hours, for example, as well as health benefits. We must now see an increase in active travel spending to make it easier and safer for people to make short daily journeys on foot or by bike. £20 a head is a very reasonable ask!”

Ynys Môn Assembly Member Rhun ap Iorwerth this week received an assurance from the Welsh Government’s Economy Minister that they are investigating the potential funding opportunities to deliver cruise berth improvements at Holyhead.

This comes following the disappointment when one cruise ship was turned away from Holyhead recently, after which Rhun raised the possibility of a more permanent dock for cruise ships with the Government.

During a discussion on ports in the Senedd yesterday, Rhun also asked the Minister about improvements to the link between the A55 and Holyhead port.

Speaking in the National Assembly for Wales yesterday, Rhun ap Iorwerth AM said:

“We agree on the significance of our national ports, and agree that we need our ports be a force for growing the Welsh economy.

“On potential European investment, I welcome the fact that there is a link between TEN-T – the European programme of investment in transport infrastructure – opportunities and the possibilities for the port of Holyhead. I wonder if I can use this opportunity to ask for an update on the work you have committed to do to link the A55 with Holyhead port, which is a very important project in the area.

“There is considerable excitement about the possibilities of the cruise industry in Wales. But questions have been asked in Holyhead recently following the occasion when one ship in particular was turned away.  May I ask whether the Minister has had the answers she was hoping to have in terms of what happened on that occasion, and whether she had been convinced that the future of the industry in Holyhead is safe as it is?  Secondly-and it is a question that I asked the Prime Minister in recent weeks-is she willing to commit to the possibility of developing a permanent site for cruise ships in Holyhead, and possibly towards feasibility work on that?”

In her response, the Minister for Economy and Transport Edwina Hart AM said:

“I think we’ll deal with the very positive point first in terms of a permanent cruise facility at Holyhead. The officials are investigating the potential funding opportunities to deliver cruise berth improvements at Holyhead. We are currently preparing a cruise development strategy for Wales, and this will include recommendations for any future cruise berth and port developments. Officials recently met with Stena, who provide marine charts for the port, which did actually identify a possible cruise berth development, which I think is quite important, and initial feasibility studies would be needed to identify dredging costs in any potential design proposals. So, we’ll continue having those discussions in Holyhead.

“The north Wales economic ambition board has also prioritised a project to develop a visitor welcome in Holyhead for the cruise, and this will be part of a suite of measures that we will be investigating, and which I will be more than happy to report back on. I think the Member, like myself, was very concerned that the Celebrity call was cancelled. Apparently, I am advised that Anglesey Aluminium approached their insurers due to the weather conditions a few days prior, and they would not insure the call. There are other issues, I have to say, with Anglesey Aluminium. Of course, we are all aware that Anglesey Aluminium lease the jetty till 2024, and it’s owned by Stena. Of course, Anglesey Aluminium ceased their operations there, and are hoping to enter into a deal with another company, but this has not yet happened. Of course, this is really affecting some of the issues that we can deal with in terms of the cruise. So, I’m much more attracted now to look at some of the issues about a cruise berth.

“Can I also say as well that it’s important to recognise that the Holyhead development is actually part, strategically, of what we’re doing with the A55? I’d be happy, once I’ve published the national transport plan and various other things, to give more details to Members about how we intend to proceed with all those issues, which will, of course, benefit Holyhead.

“Can I assure you that, in terms of ports, I do see them as a lifeline for Wales? I do see them as a development opportunity, and I do think that, once we have devolution of them, we will be looking at a clear strategy.”