Health board says it is increasing capacity after figures revealed hip replacement patients waited an average of 64 weeks

HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD has appointed two additional surgeons as part of efforts to reduce lengthy waits for orthopaedic treatment across west Wales.

The health board confirmed the appointments after figures revealed that patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year.

That is equivalent to more than 64 weeks from referral to treatment.

As of May 28, 2026, a total of 1,608 patients were on Hywel Dda’s waiting list for hip replacement surgery.

Sixteen patients were also removed from the list during the financial year after deciding to undergo private treatment.

Responding to questions from The Herald, Gareth Cottrell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, acknowledged the effect prolonged waits were having on patients.

He said: “The current national delivery expectation for health boards in Wales is to treat orthopaedic patients within a maximum of 104 weeks from the point of referral to treatment.

“In recent years, waiting times for orthopaedic treatment in Hywel Dda have been among the lowest of any health board in Wales, but we recognise that waiting times remain too long and the impact these have on our patients while awaiting the treatment they need.”

The health board said it continued to maintain dedicated ward and theatre capacity for elective orthopaedic procedures at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Day-case surgery is also being carried out at units across Hywel Dda’s hospital sites.

Mr Cottrell said: “We remain committed to improving waiting times and are working closely with our regional health board partners to maximise the treatment capacity we can offer patients across the wider South West Wales area.

“During the past year, we have appointed two additional surgeons to support our continuing efforts to reduce waiting times.”

The health board did not provide details of where the new surgeons would be based, how many additional operations they were expected to carry out or when patients would begin to see a significant reduction in waiting times.

Plans to expand orthopaedic capacity also formed part of Hywel Dda’s Clinical Services Plan consultation.

Mr Cottrell added: “Improving our orthopaedic services has also been a key part of our Clinical Services Plan that we consulted upon last year, with plans being developed to increase capacity and help more patients access the care they need.”

Hip replacements are commonly offered to patients suffering severe pain, stiffness and loss of mobility after other treatments, including physiotherapy, medication and injections, have failed to provide sufficient relief.

Lengthy waits can leave patients struggling with worsening pain, disturbed sleep and a loss of independence, while some may be forced to reduce their working hours or leave employment.

The waiting-time figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted by healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.

The company said the health board returned its response on June 8, 2026.

A MAYDAY call sparked a major nighttime rescue after an 84-year-old man fell from a tender and was swept towards rocks near St Catherine’s Island in Tenby.

Both Tenby RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch shortly before 10.30pm on Friday, July 17, after the Coastguard received a distress call from a yacht anchored in North Bay.

The yacht’s crew reported seeing an elderly man who appeared to be in difficulty while attempting to return to his vessel in a small tender after spending time ashore in Tenby.

The all-weather lifeboat began searching between St Catherine’s Island and the North Highcliffe buoy, while the inshore lifeboat searched the waters beneath the Esplanade.

During the operation, the inshore lifeboat crew fired a white parachute flare to illuminate the area. The improved visibility allowed them to spot the tender, but when they reached it, they discovered it was empty.

The crew could then hear cries for help coming from the water.

A member of the public, Josh Dean, had rushed to the lifeboat station after seeing the tender being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s Island.

Using the information he provided, the lifeboat crews quickly located the man clinging to rocks at the island after he had fallen overboard in the strong current.

He was immediately taken aboard the lifeboat, warmed up and assessed for any urgent medical problems before being taken into Tenby Harbour.

The casualty was handed into the care of the Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team while an ambulance was requested. Due to high demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service, he was later taken into the lifeboat station to wait in warmth and safety.

Tenby RNLI said the information provided by Josh had saved valuable time during the search and helped crews locate the casualty more quickly.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Josh Dean, who came to the lifeboat station to report seeing the casualty being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s.

“The information Josh provided was invaluable. It undoubtedly saved valuable time during the search, helping our crews locate the casualty more quickly and ultimately contributing to saving his life.”

Motorist suffered head wounds and post-traumatic stress after van repeatedly swerved across motorway

A VAN driver who had cocaine, a cocaine by-product and Valium in his system sent two vehicles airborne after crashing into the back of a car on the M4.

Joseph Williams had been driving erratically along the westbound carriageway when his van struck a Kia Picanto travelling at around 64mph.

The collision left the Kia’s driver with wounds to the back of her head, extensive bruising and suspected bruising to her lungs.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the woman has since required trauma therapy and counselling and is continuing to struggle with the psychological effects of the crash.

Williams, aged 33, of Eaton Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea, had previously admitted dangerous driving, three drug-driving offences and failing to surrender to court bail.

The court heard that police received several calls from members of the public on the night of September 5, 2025, reporting a van being driven dangerously between junction 37 at Pyle and junction 36 at Sarn.

Prosecutor Joseph Hocquard said the van repeatedly moved across all three lanes of the motorway, while its speed fluctuated between approximately 30mph and more than 80mph.

One witness, who had been travelling steadily at between 60mph and 65mph, reported being overtaken by Williams four times as he repeatedly accelerated and slowed down.

Williams was then seen moving from lane one across to lane three before returning to lane one and crashing into the rear of the Kia.

A motorist following the van described both vehicles being thrown into the air by the force of the impact.

Williams’ van overturned and came to rest on its side, leaving him trapped inside. Firefighters were called to release him from the vehicle.

A roadside drug test produced a positive result for cocaine, and further blood tests were carried out after Williams was taken to hospital.

The results showed he was almost five times the legal driving limit for benzoylecgonine, the main substance produced when cocaine is broken down by the body.

He was also above the legal limits for cocaine and diazepam, commonly known by the brand name Valium.

The driver of the Kia suffered two significant wounds to the back of her head as well as bruising across her body.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she was receiving counselling and trauma therapy and faced the challenge of rebuilding her life each day.

Williams told the court he was “very sorry” for his behaviour and the impact it had caused. He said he had a seven-year-old daughter and was now subjected to weekly drug testing through his employment.

The court also heard that Williams failed to attend an initial hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. He later missed a further hearing at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Catherine Richards said Williams had been highly impaired by drugs while carrying out a prolonged period of dangerous driving.

She said his selfish behaviour had subjected the other motorist to a terrifying experience and had caused a significant and lasting impact on her life.

Williams received an 11-month prison term for the driving offences and a consecutive one-week term for failing to surrender.

The custodial sentence was suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Williams was disqualified from driving for three years and will have to pass an extended driving test before being allowed back on the road.