SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in Wales following a £1.2 million investment by local partners.

The grand opening of the new landmark store took place on Monday 16 December, with customers and local dignitaries, including several mayors, in attendance.

On arrival, guests were welcomed with performances from the Haverfordwest Male Voice Choir and local musician and dispensing technician, Kyle Kirkhouse, followed by a ribbon cutting by one of the store’s long-standing customers, Madaline Roberts, who runs the Milford Haven branch of the Macular Society.

William McNamara, owner of Bluestone National Park Resort and patient of Specsavers Haverfordwest was also in attendance.

To encourage guests to explore the new store and learn fun facts about optometry and audiology, staff organised an interactive treasure hunt.

‘After years of planning and preparation, we are delighted to officially open our brand-new store,’ says Wayne Jones, retail director. ‘We are confident that this investment will bring lasting benefits to the local community for years to come.’

He adds, ‘A heartfelt thank you to everyone who supported our relaunch event. It was incredible to see so many customers, both familiar faces and new ones, celebrating with us. I also want to extend my deepest gratitude to our incredible team, whose hard work and dedication made this all possible. Without their commitment, none of this would have materialised.’

The new premises at 21 Riverside Quay offers cutting-edge facilities and enhanced services to meet growing community needs with 14 test rooms, including two dedicated audiology suites.

As the largest Specsavers practice in Wales and one of the largest in the UK, the store is equipped with advanced diagnostic technology to deliver exceptional care. These services will also help alleviate pressure on local NHS resources, providing convenience and vital support to residents who previously had to travel significant distances for specialised treatment.

Narbeth local, Sandra Tarrant, previously needed private consultations in Swansea, but she was referred to ophthalmic director, Andy Britton by her consultant earlier this year, who recognised his expertise and the store’s advanced diagnostic equipment.

Mrs Tarrant explains: ‘The staff at Specsavers Haverfordwest are highly trained and genuinely care about your eye health. I no longer face long journeys for tests, and the team’s professionalism gives me complete confidence in their care. You feel like you’re in good hands, with staff who take you seriously and don’t pass you around.’

Partners Andy Britton and Wayne Jones are also passionate about shaping the future of optometry. The new store will provide hands-on training opportunities for optometrists pursuing advanced qualifications such as Glaucoma and Independent Prescribing certificates, ensuring they gain essential clinical experience in a world-class facility.

The new Specsavers Haverfordwest store will be open seven days a week, offering flexible appointment times to cater to the community’s needs. To book an appointment or learn more about the services available, visit www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.

In 2018, medical cannabis became legal in the UK. Since then, specialist doctors and clinics have been legally allowed to prescribe cannabis-based medicines to their patients. Cannabis-based products are typically prescribed to those with conditions such as severe epilepsy, multiple sclerosis (MS), or vomiting and nausea caused by chemotherapy side effects. 

Six years on from its legalisation, what impact has medical cannabis had in the UK, regarding both patients and the economy?

Rise in private cannabis clinics 

Cannabis products require licensing before they can be prescribed. As licensing is a lengthy process, there aren’t many cannabis products available on the NHS. With limited availability, getting an NHS prescription can be difficult and it’s rare that people receive it.

Since getting a prescription on the NHS is so difficult to obtain, people have turned to private clinics to get medical cannabis in the UK. Private cannabis clinics can legally prescribe unlicensed cannabis products, making it much easier for patients to access them. However, private prescriptions are considerably more costly than those on the NHS. 

The legalisation hasn’t just impacted individual patients, but has also had an effect on the overall economy. 

Improved economy

One study found that prescribing cannabis in the UK to those with chronic pain could improve the UK economy by £5.45 billion each year. Those struggling to work because of their condition could have the amount of time taken off work reduced by 27 hours, substantially increasing the patient’s individual earnings.

How big is the UK’s medical cannabis industry? 

In 2023, the UK’s medical cannabis market was worth $239 million. The market is projected to increase significantly in the next few years and is expected to reach over $600 million by 2027.  

The future of cannabis in the UK 

Currently, medical cannabis is the only form of legal marijuana use in the UK and is typically prescribed through private clinics. There is considerable divide regarding the complete legalisation of cannabis in the UK. Some believe it could lead to significant drug misuse problems across the country, whilst others see the economic benefits, with reports showing HM Treasury could earn between £1 and £3.5 billion each year and generate between 10,000 and 41,000 jobs. 

Industry experts and numerous members of parliament do believe cannabis could become fully legalised within the next five to ten years. This is under the provision that more evidence is gathered on its medical benefits, there is significant public support for legalisation, and appropriate regulations for the production, supply, export, and possession of cannabis are put in place. 

AS MANY as 100,000 people in Wales, including 4,500 children, could still be suffering from Long Covid nearly five years after the pandemic struck, the Senedd heard.

Hefin David warned Covid has not gone away, with many thousands of people who feel like a forgotten group still suffering from the effects today.

Dr David, who represents Caerphilly, recalled meeting Lee David Bowen, an opera singer from Trethomas, who suffered from Long Covid.

He said: “I’m glad to say he’s back now, singing, and very successfully so – he’s been in the West End. But when I met him, he was a shadow of that person.

“The effect it had on his body, on his voice and on his brain was tragic to see, and though he has made what can only ever, we feel, be a partial recovery, we have seen that recovery.”

Leading a debate on December 11, he praised Gareth Yanto Evans, from the Long Covid Support charity, who has been instrumental in keeping Long Covid on the agenda.

Dr David warned of a lack of data on Long Covid, with Wales not taking part in a survey in March that showed 3.3% of people in England and Scotland were living with the condition.

He told the Senedd: “If we were to use that data to extrapolate similar numbers for Wales, it would equate to at least 100,000 people, including 4,500 children – and this is likely to underestimate the true scale of the problem.”

Dr David called for a public health campaign to highlight the danger of repeated Covid infections which increases the chance of developing Long Covid.

He said people with Long Covid are not necessarily classified as clinically vulnerable, so many are unable to access booster vaccines.

Dr David quoted a friend as saying: “We feel like a forgotten group, and it will hopefully get people realising the devastation it causes. People think that Covid is a thing of the past, but I’ve suffered since being hospitalised with Covid in March 2020.

“Frontline workers, teachers, NHS staff and carers have been particularly hit by this – many losing their careers and income. We were not protected.

“Many are being refused ill health retirement as permanence of the condition cannot be proved. I have had to give up my career as a college lecturer as chronic fatigue, brain fog, and dysphagia meant I can no longer teach, despite reducing my hours.”

Dr David raised concerns about the Welsh Government’s Adferiad (Recovery) Long Covid programme which offers physiotherapy, occupational therapy and counselling.

He said: “These interventions alone are insufficient to completely rehabilitate patients. In some cases, patients are being prescribed with exercise which can cause long-term harm.”

Responding for the Welsh Government, Jeremy Miles warned Wales was still experiencing waves of the infection and new variants of the virus.

The health secretary said Long Covid can manifest in many ways, with more than 200 symptoms reported to date, and have a profound impact on people’s lives.

Mr Miles, who was appointed in September, stated the Welsh Government has increased annual funding for health boards to deliver the Adferiad programme locally to £8m a year.

He said additional funding will widen access to recovery services to other similar conditions such as fibromyalgia, myalgic encephalomyelitis or chronic fatigue syndrome.

In closing, he told the Senedd: “We will continue to focus on this important consequence of the pandemic and we will work with the NHS to meet people’s individual needs.”