News
Deputy Minister visits Withybush


Pictured (back row): Some of the international junior doctors with (front row, left to right) Dr. Chris James, Consultant Physician, Vaughan Gething, Deputy Health Minister, Bernardine Rees, Chair of Hywel Dda UHB and Erika Cowie, Deputy Medical Education Manager for Withybush
DEPUTY HEALTH MINISTER, Vaughan Gething AM, visited Withybush General Hospital on Monday (Feb 1), to meet Hywel Dda University Health Board staff and patients.
Mr Gething visited a new community-based eye care service which has reduced the journey time for hundreds of patients travelling some of the greatest distances in the UK to access eye care.
Patients in the HDUHB travel to one of two sites to access wet AMD services, either at Amman Valley Hospital, in Ammanford, or Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth.
Changes to eye services
For some patients in Pembrokeshire and south Ceredigion this has required return journeys in excess of 100 miles for review, and sometimes a second journey for treatment (injection).
Vaughan Gething said: “I’m pleased to see how the £400,000 investment from the Welsh Government is making it easier for people to get treatment for wet AMD closer to their homes – this is an example of the NHS providing the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”
Consultant Ophthalmologist Mr Richard Wintle responded: “This project will improve the quality of life for approximately 340 patients, often elderly and vulnerable, currently experiencing a significant travel burden. It will also release some capacity within our whole service, allowing us to treat more people who are waiting for care and improve patient outcomes.”
Minister meets new doctors
During his visit the Deputy Minister met with some of the international doctors have now been employed directly by HDUHB as clinical fellows to support the junior doctor rota and maintain emergency and medical services at the hospital for the Pembrokeshire population.
They have been provided with a two-year training scheme which mirrors many elements of the traditional core medical training (CMT) scheme for junior doctors in the UK after Withybush Hospital was not allocated any CMTs in August of this year.
The training programme offered by HDUHB is the first of its kind in Wales and aims to recruit doctors to rural hospitals in an environment of a shortage of junior doctors across the UK. As part of the scheme, the health board purchases an e-portfolio for each doctor to enable them to build their competencies and achieve qualifications just like other trainee doctors in the NHS.
Complex demands on ambulance service
We asked Mr Gething about the continuing and troubling lag in ambulance response times across the HDUHB area in general, and Pembrokeshire in particular.
The Minister told us: “The people of Pembrokeshire, and the same goes for everywhere else, are entitled to the same level of quality healthcare.
“However,” the Minister continued, “the demands placed on our emergency ambulance service are more complex than ever before and are growing yearon- year. It is clear if we are to meet these demands and ensure the best outcomes for patients, we need to transform the way in which we deliver emergency ambulance services.”
As to how that transformed service might be delivered, the Minister said: “The new clinical response model, which we will pilot in Wales, has been designed by Wales’ top ambulance service clinical leaders and is based on firm evidence. It is a move away from the system based solely on the eightminute response time target, which was introduced 42-years ago, to one which measures how successful our ambulance clinicians are in ensuring they have the most positive impact on clinical outcomes and people’s quality of life.”
But what about the crucial red call response times? “The system looks at every red call to find out establish the circumstances behind any delay: Whether the location is geographically remote, or whether a different sort of activity or first responder could deal with the call. The use of community first responders, not only paramedics, to get more quickly to incidents can be the difference between life and death.
“We take very seriously the responsibility to have appropriate response times for those who need it, that’s why we changed the model: it is about people who need a fast response.”
New models of rural healthcare
In relation to GP shortages and the continuing decline in general practice numbers, Mr Gething told us: “The shortage of GPs joining practice is a UKwide problem, and it is not only limited to Wales, or Hywel Dda.
The MInister continued: “We recognise the challenge, however, and need different models for what works and I am encouraged at the way we are finding ways of using different parts of the same workforce. Collaborative working with other professionals and innovative ways of delivering services make this area a more attractive one for GPs to come to.”
On that collaborative working, Vaughan Gething said: “I am pleased to see that Hywel Dda Health Board is working with Powys Health Board and other parts of Wales to find ways of more effectively using resources to deliver health care to people when and where we need it.
“We need to remember, however, that there are advantages to coming here to work. This is a fantastic place to live and GPs not only come to a place to work.”
Education
Having a laugh? Scientists question inherited joke telling skills

SCIENTISTS are starting to question whether being able to crack a good joke runs in the family, according to new research.
In the first ever study to look at the influence of genes and the environment on comedic abilities, scientists compared over a thousand twins by asking them to rate their own humour and create funny captions for cartoons.
The new findings, published in the journal ‘Twin Research and Human Genetics’, revealed that the scores people gave their own humour were influenced by both inherited and environmental factors.
However, when their captions were judged independently, there was no evidence that they inherited their humorous talents. Instead, all individual differences were shaped by their environment, though a small genetic effect could not be ruled out.
The results suggest that the reasons why you are funny or your jokes bomb may be more complex and difficult to assess than other cognitive abilities.
It could also help explain the rarity of comedy duos from the same family – such as the Chuckle Brothers or the Marx Brothers – compared to actors, musicians or writers.
Lead author of the study, Dr Gil Greengross from the Psychology Department at Aberystwyth University, said: “Despite humour’s importance, relatively little is known about how we develop our sense of humour or why one sibling can be funny and another cannot. Our study’s finding that these talents are not inherited is surprising, as it contradicts most research on the heritability of cognitive abilities such as creativity and mathematical skills. So, it is really fascinating. But, since this is the first study of its kind, these results should be interpreted with caution.
“Telling a joke may seem simple but having a good sense of humour is a complex and unique trait influenced by numerous psychological attributes and personality characteristics. It varies across different social contexts, like when going on a date or entertaining. This may explain why, Chuckle and Marx Brothers aside, there are few successful comedians from the same immediate family.
“What is exciting about this research is it begs the question: if our sense of humour is not handed down from our parents but comes from our environment, what is it precisely that makes us funny?”
The findings also have implications for how scientists think about humour’s role in evolution and even dating.
Dr Greengross added: “These early findings also challenge the widely accepted evolutionary basis of humour. A great sense of humour can help ease tension in dangerous situations, foster cooperation, break down interpersonal barriers, and attract mates—all of which enhance survival and reproduction.
“There are also intriguing dating and mating aspects to this. Previous research has shown that women prioritise comedic talents in a partner more than do men, whereas men value a women’s ability to appreciate their humour. Men experience stronger selection pressure to be funny to impress women, leading to men having slightly higher humour ability, on average—a finding supported by our study. Furthermore, men rated themselves as funnier than women, likely reflecting an awareness of humour’s importance in female mate choice.”
The research team is now conducting further studies to test the findings with different sample groups of twins.
News
Coal trucks could return to centre of Saundersfoot in tribute to mining past

A TRIO of ornamental coal trucks could soon be installed in the heart of Saundersfoot to honour the village’s historic links to the coal-mining industry.
The replica trucks—made from cast iron and fibreglass—are proposed for a spot at the front of the Sensory Gardens, close to the former Coal Office which now houses part of the harbour’s heritage display.
Saundersfoot flourished in the 19th century as a port exporting anthracite from local mines. It was once claimed that Queen Victoria insisted only Saundersfoot coal be used to power her Royal Yacht.
“This village owes its existence to the coal trade,” said Councillor Chris Williams, who represents Saundersfoot South and is chairing the group behind the plans. “Many people don’t realise how vital the mining industry was to the development of Saundersfoot.”
The display would be paid for and maintained by the Saundersfoot Festivities Committee, which runs events such as the popular New Year’s Day Swim and SaundersFest. The community council would look after the surrounding plants and landscaping, and handle the insurance.
As well as commemorating the village’s industrial past, the project would help smarten up the garden area, Cllr Williams added.
The idea has won widespread support locally, with more than 93 per cent of over 200 respondents to an online poll backing the proposal. A public consultation is currently under way and is due to end on July 20, when the community council will decide whether to take the next step and apply for planning permission.
Photo caption:
Proposed site – the coal trucks would sit at the front of the Sensory Gardens (Pic: Saundersfoot Community Council).
Health
Hundreds speak out as NHS waiting list scandal deepens in west Wales

Patients say they were removed without warning, left in pain, or forgotten entirely – now they want answers

A WAVE of testimony from Pembrokeshire patients has revealed the true scale of the NHS waiting list crisis, with more than 100 people coming forward in just a few days to share stories of lost letters, cancelled appointments, and being removed from hospital care without ever being told.
Following a public appeal by The Pembrokeshire Herald, readers responded in force — describing what they call a “shambolic” system, in which patients are being quietly dropped from waiting lists, given incorrect or late information, and forced to chase departments that never answer the phone.
Letters never arrived — then the appointment was gone

One mother told the Herald she only discovered her young son had been removed from a waiting list for surgery after chasing a non-existent appointment.
“We never received the original letter. Then we turned up for a new date, only to be told it had been cancelled — but no one told us,” she said. “Later, they told me he’d been removed from the list for missing appointments we never knew about.”
In another case, a mother of a child with a rare genetic condition said her daughter was due annual dermatology reviews — but after a cancellation in 2023, she heard nothing for months. In February this year, she received a letter stating her daughter had missed an appointment and was being removed. She said: “We never got the original appointment, and when we finally got one for April, it was cancelled too. We’ve heard nothing since.”
Voicemail chaos and ‘no way to contact anyone’
A recurring theme in the responses was departments not answering their phones, and voicemail systems that lead nowhere.
One woman, removed from a physio course after a single missed session, said: “I rang three times that day, left a full message explaining I was unwell, but no one ever rang me back. Then a letter came saying I’d been removed from the course. I tried ringing again — just voicemail. After the second time, I gave up.”
In another case, a patient who had been waiting for diabetic retinopathy screening since before Covid told us: “I’ve phoned multiple times over three years. Every time they say they’ll send an appointment. I’ve given up.”
One former patient said he was moved to the back of the list after a missed telephone consultation — even though the doctor rang an hour early, and never called again.
GP failures and missed referrals

Many readers raised concerns about general practice as well as hospitals, claiming referrals were never sent or followed up.
One woman wrote: “If my old GP had referred me straight away, I wouldn’t be in the state I am now. As soon as I changed surgeries, I was seen — but by then the damage was done. My life’s been ruined.”
Another reader commented that her father never got the treatment he needed, and believes that delays in referrals contributed to his death.
Transport cancellations and “cheating the system”

Several readers also raised concerns about non-emergency ambulance transport being cancelled at short notice, leaving vulnerable patients unable to attend appointments.
One woman said: “My dad has had his transport cancelled the night before appointments. We had no backup, and he missed it.”
Another reader wrote: “It’s all about stats. They remove people from the list, say they’ve missed appointments, and it makes the waiting time numbers look better. It’s cheating, plain and simple.”
Health board responds — but no figures yet
Hywel Dda University Health Board has responded to the Herald’s request for comment, stating it follows strict national protocols and that any patient removed in error will be reinstated at their original place on the list.
In a statement, Director of Operational Planning and Performance Keith Jones said: “We make every effort to send appointment letters in a timely manner and it is part of our procedure to phone a patient should we need to see them at short notice or to cancel appointments.
We have received feedback from some patients of incidences where appointment letters have not been received in a timely manner. We are reviewing the factors which may lead to late receipt of appointment letters and will implement any necessary improvements.”
The health board also promotes a digital system, Hywel Dda Post, for accessing appointment details online. However, patients have reported issues with this too — particularly those without smartphones or digital literacy.
The board was unable to provide any figures on how many patients have been removed from waiting lists over the last five years and advised the Herald to submit a Freedom of Information request, which has now been done.
Public anger growing
With more than 100 people coming forward in less than 48 hours, public anger is mounting. Many say they are being pushed toward private treatment, or simply left to suffer for years.
“I’ve been in chronic pain for over a decade waiting for three surgeries,” one woman wrote. “I’ve lost 11 years of my life.”
Another added: “It’s not just the health board. Welsh Labour has failed us for years. They have money for road signs and tree projects abroad — but not for our surgeries.”
What’s next?
The Herald will continue to investigate this issue and publish further updates once the FOI response is received.
We are compiling a formal submission to both the Health Board and the Welsh Government, including anonymised patient testimonies, to call for a public explanation of how waiting lists are managed — and how many patients have been quietly removed.
If you or a family member has experienced anything similar — missed letters, unexplained removals, transport cancellations, or GP referral failures — you can contact us in confidence at:
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