THE HERALD FRIDAY JANUARY 13 2017 Like us on Facebook


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Welsh Labour


7 News Twin Town’s tin twin STARRING Rhys Ifans and


with Lee Waters AM THE MEDIA has been full of


the ‘crisis’ in the NHS this week. The British Red Cross went as far


as saying the health service in England was facing a ‘humanitarian crisis’ this winter. Thankfully, the NHS in Wales is


being run differently from the health service across the border, but nobody is under any illusion about the pressures that it faces. We are demanding more and more


from the NHS. I find it astonishing that the average age of a patient in Prince Philip Hospital (PPH) is 83! It is a huge achievement of modern


health care that people are living longer, but our later years are often spent in poor health and that is putting huge pressure on the health and social care services. Indeed, doctors at PPH tell me that most of the elderly patients there often have multiple chronic conditions, and even after they’ve been treated for the condition they were admitted for can’t be sent home because of their other conditions.. Our health service has to change


and adapt to meet these new demands. And it’s not only the demands of the patient that are changing, but the staff have changing needs too. GPs, for example, increasingly want to work part-time, and to mix their duties at a local surgery with hospital or university work. Last week, I welcomed Welsh


Health Secretary Vaughan Gething to Kidwelly to see a new model GP surgery in action.


This time last year, the Minafon


surgery was in crisis after the existing GPs left. The practice was taken over by the Hywel Dda Health Board and in the absence of a full complement of doctors, they designed a team of health professionals who could support a smaller team of GPs. Local patients can now see an


advanced nurse who can prescribe, a physiotherapist and a pharmacist, alongside a telephone support service. It’s a smarter way working and offers more services locally. For example, the pharmacist is conducting a review of all patients at the surgery who suffer from asthma and reviewing their medication with them - this is something an overstretched GP wouldn’t have time to do. This offers a model for all GP


surgeries, but because most are, in effect, run as private businesses by the doctors. It is harder to bring about the changes in one of these surgeries than one directly run by the Health Board - like Minafon in Kidwelly. However, as more and more surgeries struggle to find the doctors they need, change may well happen organically. It does go to show that, often, the


pressures on the system can produce changes for the better. But change is rarely easy, and in a service we all value so deeply, can cause deep concern. That’s why its so important that we are honest and open about the challenges and listen to patients to make sure changes are carefully thought through.


his brother, Llyr, and featuring appearances from half the cast of Pobol y Cwm and a deranged cameo from Keith Allen, Twin Town was one of the most iconic British films of the nineties, making the seamy underbelly of life in Swansea known across the UK and further afield. There has been much speculation


about when, if ever, there would be a sequel to the film, which was written by Kevin Allen and Paul Durden. It is a question director Kevin Allen has had to field since the day the first film, parodying life in the Swansea area, hit the big screen. Allen has been busy since the


days of Twin Town and has directed the films The Big Tease, Agent Cody Banks 2: Destination London and the ITV series Benidorm. His 2015 film Under Milk Wood was selected as the British entry for the Best Foreign Language Film at the 88th Academy Awards.


Allen's Facebook page has teased viewers with snapshots of items


Alan Evans Llanelli Reporter


alan.evans@herald.email


relating to Twin Town and hints of a possible sequel. Judging by the response, there is no doubting public appetite to see the further antics of the tearaway ‘Lewis twins'. However, it seems we won't have


to wait much longer, as Allen posted a photo of the cover of the draft script to the sequel, 'Tin Town: Twin Town's Wanton Daughter’, which appears to be set in and around Llanelli. Speaking to The Herald on


Tuesday (Jan 10), Allen confirmed that he aimed to start shooting the film in June, and there will certainly be no shortage of actors and extras queuing up for a part! Social media has been full of


speculation regarding the script, with most believing it will be based around cannabis growing in Llanelli. Kevin Allen is keeping the fine


details close to his chest and, in a world with few surprises, who can blame him? Whispers are already doing the


Rhys Ifans: Rumour has it he will be reprising his role, alongside brother Llyr


rounds that this new film has more than a few references to 'bent councillors' and we understand that the legend who is Bryn Cartwright, played by William Thomas, returns having survived the murderous attempts by the twins in retribution for the death of their own father, 'Fatty’ Lewis. Kevin's brother, Keith, had a scene-stealing cameo in Twin Town and between the two of them, they have plenty of local knowledge, having been brought up in the Gorseinon area with relatives in Llanelli. Both are also regulars at the Laugharne Festival, where Keith runs


Kevin Allen: Turning his lens onto Llanelli


the popular Laugharne's Got Talent night and Kevin has appeared with the cast of Twin Town giving readings of the book at the Memorial Hall. Sadly, some of the actors from the


original film have now passed away. One of the main actors, Rhys Ifans, has gone on to international stardom, but rumours that Rhys and Llyr will be reprising their roles have been doing the rounds for years. Film buffs will remember the


iconic opening scene from the original film, where corrupt detectives Terry and Grayo discuss the 'Pretty Sh*tty City' as they walk out of Swansea's central station. Llanelli is a place full of character


with its own quaint and not so quaint language and street life. It is going to be interesting to see what happens when Allen turns his camera on Tin Town, and what the reaction of the Llanelli public will be!


St Elli launches family centre pilot scheme MUMS, dads and their toddlers are


invited to join a new family centre trial in Llanelli’s St Elli Centre to gauge the interest and need for courses, workshops and activities in the longer-term. Mandy Bowness, a co-ordinator of


Felinfoel Family Centre just outside Llanelli, and three helpers will be in the shopping centre on three Fridays this month to explain all the services, advice and activities which are provided by the family centre. They will also be running three sessions in St Elli for pre- school youngsters as part of the pilot scheme,


which is funded by Llanelli Communities First. The group will set up in the pyramid area


of St Elli to chat with and provide free coffee for parents, in order to judge the level of support there would be for permanent or more regular get-togethers. Mandy, who lives in Llanelli and has been


associated with the family centre for 11 years, felt the facilities at Felinfoel might not be easily accessible to some parents in Llanelli who might like to see drop-in baby and toddler facilities provided closer to home.


“It’s our aim that people will find our


play activities, discussions, adult courses and workshops, outings and day trips and other special days during the year beneficial. Hopefully, the new group will inject new life into Llanelli Town Centre as I have noticed quite a decline in some facilities in recent years,” said Mandy. The pilot scheme for the family centre will


run between 12 noon and 2pm on Fridays. The first session will be this Friday (Jan 13), then next Friday (Jan 20), and the final pilot session will be held on the following Friday,


on January 27. Mandy said the helpers would try to


assess interest for the longer term and take a headcount of those who stopped to chat and take part before deciding on a more permanent arrangement in St Elli or another location in the town centre. Andrew Stephens, St Elli’s centre manager,


said: “The initiative would be an ideal fit for St Elli given that our focus is very much on the community and family friendly shopping. We hope the trial is a great success and one that results in a more long term arrangement.”


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