Community

‘This is a human rights scandal’: Cross-party calls for homes, not hospitals

Published

6 months ago

December 5, 2024

THE SENEDD supported calls to end the human rights scandal of autistic people and those with a learning disability being inappropriately detained in hospitals.

Hefin David tabled a cross-party motion on the Stolen Lives campaign led by families whose loved ones have been trapped in hospitals due to a lack of community support.

The Caerphilly Senedd Member shared the experience of Dawn Cavanagh’s son Jack, who was placed in an unsuitable secure residential unit more than 100 miles away.

Dr David explained that Jack was later sent to live in a psychiatric intensive care unit in Wales despite not having a mental health condition.

He said: “Imagine you, as the mother or father of that young man, seeing him experience what is effectively a prison experience simply because he’s autistic.

“Jack lived there for over two years.”

Dr David, whose daughter is autistic, told the Senedd that Jack is now thriving in a more appropriate environment after his parents overturned the decision to section him.

He said: “Here are some of the things he said to his mother following this change in his life: ‘I can see the moon and the stars’, ‘I have grass’, ‘I can hear birds’, ‘Thank you for my new home’, ‘Mummy, I’m a free man.’ But there are still many others who exist in this condition.”

Leading a debate on December 4, he warned: “This, at its heart, is a human rights issue.

“We cannot risk Wales being in continual breach of the Human Rights Act 1998: the right to be safe from harm, the right to liberty, and the respect for private and family life. The inappropriate use of deprivation of liberty orders must stop.”

Sioned Williams expressed concerns about the harrowing and completely unacceptable treatment of people inappropriately detained because they are disabled.

Plaid Cymru's shadow social justice minister, Sioned Williams — Plaid Cymru’s shadow social justice minister, Sioned Williams

Ms Williams, who represents South Wales West, raised the grave injustice faced by a family whose son Will was constantly frightened after being sectioned.

She said: “Their son was sectioned, without their foreknowledge, over an Easter holiday when they couldn’t challenge what was happening. And the sectioning was traumatic.

“Will was told he was going on holiday and then admitted to a mental health unit, although it was determined later the issue leading to the section was not related to his mental health.”

Ms Williams warned: “There’s a human rights scandal here because this isn’t an isolated case, and lives like those of Will are being stolen. It’s a fact that the human rights of people with a learning disability and/or autism are being breached.”

Mark Isherwood said Learning Disability Wales states about 150 autistic or learning disabled people are known to be in a hospital setting, with two-thirds for longer than ten years.

He told the Senedd: “Wales was one of the first countries in the world to launch a strategy to get people with a learning disability out of long-stay hospitals, back into the community.

“Yet we seem to be going backwards and slipping towards re-institutionalisation.”

Carolyn Thomas raised a 1,754-name petition submitted by Stolen Lives calling for an end to the detention of learning disabled and autistic people in hospitals.

In a letter to the petitions committee chaired by Ms Thomas, the campaigners welcomed positive engagement with the Welsh Government.

But the petitioners wrote: “We need to see an action plan, with specific, measurable, attainable, relevant and time-based goals. We need to be able to hold people to account.”

Julie Morgan noted more than 40 years have passed since publication of the all-Wales strategy as she reminded members how far Wales has come.

The strategy followed an inquiry into allegations of ill-treatment of patients and pilfering by staff at Ely Hospital which sparked outrage when revealed by the press in 1967.

Ms Morgan pointed out her colleague Mark Drakeford co-wrote a book on the inquiry, which sought to transform the way people with learning disabilities were treated in the wider NHS.

She said: “I was involved with Ely Hospital … looking back 40 years and listening to this debate, I can still feel the sadness of some of those children who lived in Ely.

“I particularly remember one little boy who had had hydrocephalus … he sat in the window all day, every day, waiting for his mother to come to pick him up, and that went on for years.”

Sarah Murphy, who was appointed mental health minister in July, said: “No-one wants to see a return to the dark days where people with learning disabilities were institutionalised.”

Labour MS Sarah Murphy speaking in the Senedd — Sarah Murphy, minister for mental health and wellbeing

She added: “The latest data that we have shows that, in October, there were 140 adults with a learning disability who were receiving ongoing care in an in-patient setting; 22 were in England. This is not good enough.”

Ms Murphy vowed to work closely with Baroness Merron, her Westminster counterpart, to ensure the UK Government’s mental health bill works for Wales.

She explained: “Importantly, this bill introduces changes so that it will no longer be possible to detain a person with a learning disability or autism for longer than is needed for assessment, unless they have a co-occurring mental health disorder.”

In closing, Ms Murphy told the Senedd: “I agree: this is a human rights issue, so, let me reiterate: one person in a bed and not in a home is one too many.”

Community

Family gathers at Pembroke Dock to honour RAF airman

Published

12 hours ago

June 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

FAMILY members from across the UK have travelled to Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre to view a new exhibit honouring a wartime RAF airman who served aboard the Sunderland flying boat T9044.

Brother and sister Ross Burrows, from Grimsby, and Nikki Soysa, who travelled from the Hebrides, joined their cousin Shirley Shelley Hutchinson, from Yorkshire, and Ross’s wife Dianne, to view the poignant display dedicated to Wing Commander David Burrows. David was the navigator aboard the Sunderland T9044 on its final mission to Pembroke Dock in November 1940, which tragically sank in the Haven shortly after its arrival.

The family has generously donated Wing Commander Burrows’ logbook, uniforms, and other treasured memorabilia, now thoughtfully incorporated into the Centre’s collection, alongside other artefacts from the T9044.

Ross Burrows praised the Centre’s efforts, saying: “The museum team has created a wonderful exhibit about dad and his story. Their enthusiasm shines through clearly. We’re excited to encourage more family members to visit.”

The Pembroke Dock Heritage Centre is open Monday to Friday, from 10:00am to 4:00pm.

Community

Carmarthenshire honours local heroes at British Empire Medal ceremony

Published

20 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A SPECIAL presentation ceremony took place at County Hall on 29 May to honour two remarkable individuals who have been awarded the British Empire Medal (BEM) in recognition of their outstanding service. The event, hosted by the newly appointed Chair of Carmarthenshire County Council, Cllr Dot Jones, marked her first official engagement and was attended by Her Majesty’s Lord-Lieutenant of Dyfed, Miss Sara Edwards, who presented the honours on behalf of His Majesty The King.

The British Empire Medal, first established in 1917 and reintroduced in 2012, recognises individuals who have demonstrated hands-on, impactful contributions to their communities. Nominations come directly from the people who witness these contributions every day; colleagues, neighbours and friends, making the honour personal and meaningful.

Mrs Marian Louise Evans was recognised for services to business. As founder and Managing Director of Elevate Business Consultancy, Mrs Evans has delivered transformational change across the sector. As a multi-award-winning professional, she has been widely acknowledged for her leadership, particularly in championing women in business. During the COVID-19 pandemic, she offered vital support to over 2,000 businesses through free resilience sessions and online content, reaching over 300,000 people each month. Her voluntary work has earned her titles such as UK Mentor of the Year and Inspirational Woman of the Decade. She received her medal from the Lord-Lieutenant and was presented with flowers on behalf of Carmarthenshire County Council by Lord-Lieutenant Cadet Chloe Faulkner.

Miss Judith Harvey received the British Empire Medal for services to the Bannau Brycheiniog National Park. Having begun her career as one of the UK’s first female wardens, she has dedicated her life to conservation, land management and inspiring the next generation of environmental leaders. As Head Warden since 2012, Miss Harvey has mentored countless apprentices and volunteers, led significant restoration projects and worked passionately to protect the park’s ecosystems and heritage. She was presented with her medal by the Lord-Lieutenant and flowers from Lord-Lieutenant Cadet Zuzzana Radkowska, before addressing the audience in a moving speech.

Closing the ceremony, the Chair of the Council praised both recipients for their service and reflected on the importance of role models in public life, especially for women and girls. She noted the growing presence of women in leadership roles, while recognising that progress must continue at all levels of local democracy. Their achievements, she said, lay a strong foundation for others to follow.

Cllr Phillip Hughes, Cabinet Member for Organisation & Workforce, said: “These awards are a true testament to the power of local action and leadership. Marian and Judith exemplify the values of dedication, service and inspiration. We are proud to celebrate their success and the example they set for others in our communities.”

Community

Public feedback on Newgale Coastal Adaptation Plan under review

Published

20 hours ago

June 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL confirmed that feedback gathered during the recent statutory consultation on the Newgale Coastal Adaptation Phase 1 proposals is now being reviewed.

The Statutory Pre-Application Consultation (sPAC) ran from Monday, April 14, to Sunday, May 11, in line with the Town and Country Planning (Development Management Procedure) (Wales) Order 2012 (as amended).

The council has thanked all residents and stakeholders who submitted responses. The project team is now carefully considering the feedback as it prepares the planning application, which will be submitted to the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority. All comments received during the consultation will be included as part of the submission.

The Newgale Coastal Adaptation Plan is a major infrastructure project aimed at managing long-term coastal change in the area, which has faced repeated flooding and road closures due to severe weather events.

Further information, including the background to the project, stakeholder engagement updates, technical assessments, and a project timeline, can be found on the Newgale Coastal Adaptation website.

A detailed Q&A section is also available, and members of the public are encouraged to register via the ‘Contact Us’ page to receive future updates.