WELSH Labour leader Eluned Morgan has pledged that patients with urgent health concerns will be seen within 48 hours, as the party unveiled its manifesto ahead of the 2026 Senedd election.

Speaking at the launch event in Swansea on Monday (Mar 30), Morgan said that under a re-elected Welsh Labour Government, people with pressing health problems would be able to access a GP or other primary healthcare professional either the same day or the following day.

She said: “Today we are making a clear commitment: under a Welsh Labour Government, people will be able to access a primary healthcare professional within 48 hours.

“If you are worried about your child, if your elderly parent needs help, or if something does not feel right, you should be able to get help quickly – not weeks later.”

Morgan said delivering the pledge would require strengthening the wider primary care workforce, improving use of digital tools, and ensuring patients are directed to the most appropriate professional more efficiently.

“Healthcare should work around people – not the other way around,” she added.

Wider NHS and mental health commitments

The pledge forms part of a broader package of NHS reforms, including a commitment to introduce same-day, open-access mental health services across Wales by the end of the next Senedd term.

Under the plans, patients would also be able to access a range of services without needing to see a GP, including treatment for 27 common conditions at pharmacies, urgent dental care via NHS helplines, and eye examinations for acute issues through Eye Care Wales.

Cost of living and tax pledge

Morgan also confirmed that Welsh Labour would freeze Welsh rates of income tax if returned to power.

She said: “In the next Senedd term, a Welsh Labour Government will not raise income tax.

“Fairness starts with understanding the pressure families face, but fairness also means action.”

The manifesto includes a series of cost-of-living measures, including a £2 cap on single bus fares, continued £1 fares for young people, free travel for over-60s, and the creation of 20,000 new childcare places.

Five key pledges

Welsh Labour set out five central priorities in its manifesto:

• Tackling the cost of living through cheaper transport, lower energy bills and expanded childcare
• Creating jobs through plans for energy independence and a lifelong retraining guarantee
• Investing in the NHS, including £4bn for new hospitals and a renewed focus on women’s health
• Protecting the environment by improving water quality and tackling fly-tipping
• Delivering a “fairer future” by addressing homelessness, boosting wages and raising school standards

Welsh Labour said its programme represents a “credible and deliverable” plan for Wales, contrasting it with what it described as “uncosted” pledges from political rivals.

RESIDENTS in North Pembrokeshire have just days left to invest in a unique community project to purchase a historic Victorian corrugated cottage in Boncath for £12,000.

After a month of gathering support, volunteers behind the initiative are holding a final public meeting at the cottage on Saturday (Apr 4) from 11:00am to 12:00 noon. The event offers a last opportunity for new investors to join the cooperative and for existing supporters to view the building they now collectively own.

The cottage has served the community for more than 130 years. Since the 1930s it has been home to the Boncath WI, while earlier uses included a sawmill office and a rent collection point for the local estate.

The meeting will be led by Cris Tomos of Narberth-based community development organisation PLANED, who will explain how the scheme works and the financial incentives available. Investors contributing £500 may qualify for 50% tax relief through the UK Government’s Seed Enterprise Investment Scheme (SEIS).

A similar model was successfully used in nearby Crymych, where community investors raised £210,000 to purchase and reopen the Crymych Arms pub.

Supporters can invest by contacting [email protected]
or downloading forms via the Bwthyn Boncath Facebook page. Printed forms are also available from Boncath Village Shop and Post Office.

Following the purchase, organisers plan to launch a wider community share offer at £50 per share to encourage broader local ownership.

The long-term vision is to transform the building into a small heritage centre, celebrating Boncath’s history and collecting local stories, photographs and artefacts for future generations.

For further information, contact Cris Tomos on 07974 099738 or email [email protected]
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THE PORT OF MILFORD HAVEN has announced the launch of its first Waterway Safety Competition, set to begin in April.

The initiative aims to promote safe and responsible use of the Milford Haven Waterway, one of the busiest and most diverse waterways in Wales. The waterway is used daily by paddleboarders, kayakers, sailors, swimmers, and large commercial vessels, making safety a key priority.

As part of the competition, participants are invited to showcase their own interpretation of the waterway through any creative medium. All art forms are welcome, and entries will be judged monthly.

Each month, winners will receive prizes designed to support water safety, including lifejackets and training sessions.

The Port hopes the competition will encourage greater awareness of safety while celebrating the unique character of the waterway.

For more information or to enter, visit: https://www.mhpa.co.uk/waterway-safety-competition/