Community

Views sought on mental health services

Published

12 years ago

January 31, 2014

REBECCA EVANS AM, Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has asked the Health Minister of Wales, Mark Drakeford, to respond to the lack of in-patient mental health services in mid Wales following claims at the recent public meeting in Aberystwyth (January 10) that some young people were being offered beds as far away as Scotland.

Mrs Evans, who chairs the Assembly’s Cross Party Group on Mental Health, used Ministerial question time to highlight the lack of in-patient mental health facilities at Bronglais Hospital. Mrs Evans described reports of people in mental distress being offered beds as far away as Scotland as “clearly unacceptable” and went on to ask Mr Drakeford to explore with Hywel Dda University Health Board how this occurred, and asked “what can be done to ensure this doesn’t happen again?”

In response, Health Minister, Mark Drakeford, said: “I thank the Member for that question”

“I have heard reports of some of the things that were said at the public meeting in Aberystwyth, and specifically on that point. So I have already asked the local crisis resolution team, the local health board itself and the Welsh Health Specialised Services Committee for any evidence they have that that sort of thing has happened.

“So far, their reports to me are that none of them have been able to identify a single case of a patient from that area being placed in Scotland. Indeed, they were unable to identify any patient being placed in a facility outside the area other than when that care was specialist care necessary for that patient’s treatment.”

This is not the first time that Mrs Evans has raised mental health provision in mid Wales in the Assembly Chamber, having previously raised the issue with the First Minister. Following a meeting with Aberystwyth Students Union, Mrs Evans spoke in the Senedd about the rising number of crisis mental ill health cases amongst students in Aberystwyth, and the lack of after-care.

Mrs Evans has been scrutinising the Health Board on its mental health provision since its decision to close Afallon Ward in July 2012. The closure came in response to safety and sustainability concerns following a protracted period of recruitment difficulties for qualified clinicians.

Mrs Evans said: “At a recent meeting with the Health Board I requested a briefing on mental health provision.

“I was pleased to learn that a space has been identified in Enlli Ward, in Bronglais, to develop a designated S136 suite for Ceredigion to replace the facility previously provided at Afallon ward. S136 suites are places of safety where the police can hold people in mental distress for up to 72 hours. Holding people in police stations, as sometimes happens now, can be completely inappropriate. I understand that plans are awaiting final approval, and I would urge very speedy action on this.”

Other developments on which the Health Board has briefed Mrs Evans included the extension of the Crisis Resolution Home Treatment to provide a 24 hours per day service, following successful recruitment to the posts in December, and developments in the Therapeutic Day Service.

Mrs Evans said: “I would like to hear about people’s recent experiences of mental health services in mid Wales. I am particularly keen to hear the experiences of people who have been unable to access in-patient mental health care in Bronglais, and would like to know where they were treated instead and what impact that had on their mental health and their recovery.”

All information will be treated confidentially. Readers can contact Mrs Evans at [email protected]

Community

Lifeboat to find new home at Pembroke Dock museum after historic handover ceremony

Published

12 minutes ago

February 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A HISTORIC lifeboat which saved forty lives around the British coastline is set to begin a new chapter in Pembroke Dock next month when she is formally handed over to the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society.

The 1957 Watson-class vessel, RNLB Pentland, will be transferred to her permanent home at the West Wales Maritime Museum during a public ceremony on Saturday, March 7 at 1:00pm.

Organisers say the event will mark the end of the boat’s private stewardship under Mike Brotherton MBE and the beginning of her preservation as part of Pembrokeshire’s maritime heritage.

The handover will include the lowering of the Blue Ensign and the raising of the Red Ensign, symbolising the lifeboat’s move into museum care, followed by a short presentation recounting her operational history.

During her years of service at Thurso, The Mumbles and Workington, Pentland was launched into some of the worst conditions the coast could throw at her crew, helping to save dozens of lives.

Trustees say bringing the vessel to Pembroke Dock will ensure that future generations can see first-hand the type of lifeboat that protected coastal communities for decades.

Visitors attending the ceremony will also be able to tour the museum’s restoration workshops and view other ongoing heritage projects, including work on the Charterhouse lifeboat.

Refreshments, including burgers, bacon rolls, tea and coffee, will be available before and after proceedings.

Entry to the museum and boatyard is free, although donations to support preservation work are welcomed.

Community

Welsh hymn singing celebration to be held in Newport this Sunday

Published

19 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL afternoon celebrating Wales’ rich tradition of hymn singing and sacred music will take place at Canolfan Bethlehem on Sunday (Feb 15) at 3:00pm.

Organisers say the event, titled Caniadaeth y Cysegr, will honour a musical heritage that has shaped Welsh life for generations. Hymn singing has long echoed beyond chapels and churches, heard on rugby terraces, at community gatherings and in village halls – a living tradition woven into the fabric of Welsh identity.

Central to that tradition is the Cymanfa Ganu, the much-loved hymn festival which has played a vital role across Wales, particularly in north Pembrokeshire. While attendance has declined in recent decades, supporters say the spirit of congregational singing remains strong and deserves renewed celebration.

The afternoon will feature a talk by broadcaster and academic Ceri Wyn Richards, who will explore the poets, composers and musicians from Pembrokeshire whose work has made a lasting contribution to Welsh hymnody and sacred song.

During her distinguished career in television and radio, Richards produced Caniadaeth y Cysegr, the BBC’s longest-running religious programme, first aired in 1942 and widely regarded as the forerunner to Songs of Praise. Before retiring, she undertook an ambitious nationwide project to record every hymn in the Welsh hymn book with chapels, choirs and musicians throughout the country.

The event will also explore the strong links between hymn writing and places such as St Davids and Blaenwern, while reflecting on the legacy of influential figures including W. Rhys Nicholas, Waldo Williams and Eirwyn George. Organisers will also highlight the surprising connections between traditional hymn tunes and modern popular music.

A simultaneous translation service will be available, and the event is open to all.

Organisers added: “Everyone is welcome to join us for an afternoon of song, history and community as we celebrate one of Wales’ most treasured cultural traditions.”

Community

Festival of the Sea to return with free family day at Milford Waterfront

Published

20 hours ago

February 12, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Coastal groups, artists and charities unite at Sybil House to celebrate Pembrokeshire’s marine life and community spirit

MILFORD HAVEN is set for a splash of colour, music and marine discovery next month as the Festival of the Sea returns with a full day of free activities for families.

Organised by Pembrokeshire Coastal Forum, the event will take place at Sybil House on Sunday, March 1, from 10:00am to 4:00pm, bringing together conservation groups, artists, performers and community organisations to celebrate the county’s coastline and the people whose lives are tied to it.

The Herald understands the festival proved popular last year and has been expanded for 2026, with organisers moving into the larger indoor venue to allow more stalls, workshops and performances.

Visitors can expect a packed programme of hands-on activities and entertainment aimed at all ages. Highlights include a marine wildlife touch tank hosted by the Field Studies Council, children’s art and clay workshops at the Waterfront Gallery, live music and sea shanties, and walkabout pirate performers bringing a bit of theatre to the waterfront.

Throughout the day, local choirs and musicians will perform, creating what organisers hope will feel like a relaxed, community celebration rather than a formal exhibition.

Sue Burton, Pembrokeshire Marine Special Area of Conservation Officer, said: “The Festival of the Sea was really popular last year, and I’m really pleased it’s coming back in the bigger venue of Sybil House.

“The marine environment of Pembrokeshire is internationally important for wildlife as well as for employment and energy. The festival is a fun way to celebrate all the great work being done for our seas, and it’s a great opportunity to engage young people through art workshops, face painting and street theatre.”

A wide range of organisations will host information stands and activities, including the RNLI, Sea Trust, Project Seagrass, The Crown Estate, Car-y-Môr, Marine Conservation Society, Marine Energy Wales and the Port of Milford Haven.

Together, they will showcase projects ranging from marine wildlife protection and habitat restoration to renewable energy and sustainable seafood, highlighting the economic and environmental importance of the Haven and surrounding coastline.

Food and refreshments will also be available, including local produce from Pembrokeshire Beach Food, giving visitors a taste of Pembrokeshire’s growing reputation for coastal cuisine.

Entry is free, and organisers say people are welcome to drop in for a single activity or spend the whole day exploring what is on offer. A full schedule of talks and workshops will be released closer to the date.

For more information, visit www.pembrokeshirecoastalforum.org.uk/festival-of-the-sea.