CEO Blog/Vlog

Wales’ most vulnerable drinkers at risk from Minimum Unit Pricing

Increased awareness of MUP and improved access to treatment services essential as legislation disproportionately affects low income drinkers. Under Welsh Government plans, minimum unit pricing (MUP) of alcohol will come into effect on 2 March 2020, and while the new rules might positively impact certain groups, Wales’ most chaotic drinkers... read more →

18th February 2020
alishaarthur
Alcohol, Legislation

Why drug deaths in Wales are a National Emergency

Wales is facing a public health emergency as drug related deaths rise to alarming levels. In this blog I examine how in spite of government support of current initiatives and largely unaffected drug treatment budgets in Wales, drug related deaths continue to rise unabated. It is my view that access... read more →

Martin Addresses Welsh Government Review (Part 2)

To what extent are integrated mental health and substance misuse services accessible and how can such services be delivered more effectively to address the specific needs of rough sleepers in particular? On 13 November I wrote a paper for and addressed the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee at the National Assembly... read more →

22nd November 2019
creativeinsomnia
Uncategorised

Martin Addresses Welsh Government Review (Part 1)

What services are available for rough sleepers who have co-occurring substance misuse and mental health problems across Wales? On 13 November I wrote a paper for and addressed the Equality, Local Government and Communities Committee at the National Assembly for Wales as it is currently undertaking follow-up work on its inquiry into rough sleeping It is... read more →

14th November 2019
creativeinsomnia
Uncategorised

The End of Residential Care (unless you have loads of money)

The list of residential services that take people from statutory services are closing at an alarming rate, and those that survive are clearly at significant risk. Last year came the shock news that in nearby Bristol, Chandos House was to close: https://www.theguardian.com/society/2018/oct/17/closing-residential-rehab-increases-suffering-addicts-chandos-house This year we saw the excellent Broadreach Service sadly... read more →

The Hate U Give

The novel by Angie Thomas is a powerful expression of a black teenagers life caught between privilege and deprivation. It is an expose of racism but also it is very much about how society fails the very people it should protect. The death of a young black man by a... read more →

CEO Blog – March 2019

CEO Blog, Street Drugs; Is the Dragon Still Smoking? “Is Cocaine worse than Alcohol?” was a question I asked at South Wales Police Headquarters after an expert from Public Health stated she was horrified after going to a Nightclub with her son and saw so many young people taking cocaine.... read more →

29th March 2019
leahskinner
Uncategorised

CEO Blog – February 2019

Why I am choosing to run for Parkinson's UK at the London Marathon I was very fortunate to get a place for the London Marathon through my running club’s ballot. I generally have a rule that I do not raise money with my running as it puts you under pressure... read more →

26th February 2019
leahskinner
Uncategorised

CEO Blog – January 2019

The Patient Knows Best: In praise of Self Medication I do not trust big businesses and in the field of health, big businesses become even more difficult to feel comfortable with. The question is whether the health of individuals is central to the work of large businesses, or whether it’s... read more →

10th January 2019
lisamarieflavin
Uncategorised

CEO Blog – December 2018

Christmas is a Time for Giving Jane is a finance officer here at Kaleidoscope and this week she celebrated a milestone Birthday. She disclosed some time back that she had never been on a bouncy castle, and her close colleague Danielle decided that this should be put right. So, as... read more →

19th December 2018
lisamarieflavin
Uncategorised

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