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Paediatric care controversy rages on

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Still questions to be answered: Stephen Crabb on LHB

Still questions to be answered:
Stephen Crabb on LHB

CLAIMS by local health campaigners that there has been a significant change in the arrangements for out of hours paediatric care at Withybush Hospital have been denied by the Local Health Board. SWAT (Save Withybush Action Team) have reported that from December 1 there will be no paediatric cover after 10:00pm at Withybush’s Accident & Emergency Department. SWAT’s Facebook page has received a significant number of comments and shares since its post of Tuesday (Nov 18) on the topic. Responding to SWAT, a Health Board spokesperson has said that the service model for the delivery of paediatric services has not changed. The Board has, however, not denied that the out of hours services of a middle-grade doctor are to end. The Health Board’s stance, while technically accurate is not the whole story.

The Herald has seen internal Health Board documents that suggest that the services of a middle-grade paediatric specialist were not part of the out-ofhours paediatric service’s long-term delivery plans. At the end of September, Bernadine Rees, the Local Health Board Chair, told the Herald that the new service model developed for paediatric care at Withybush provided for on-site care at Withybush to run from 10am to 10pm, supported by 24 hour Accident and Emergency care. Withybush’s 24 hours paediatric facilities were withdrawn by the Local Health Board on October 20. SWAT now state that the services of a middle-grade paediatric specialist, which have been available out of hours at the Haverfordwest hospital since that date, are to cease from the beginning of December.

SERIOUS CONCERNS 

Significantly, the provision of out of hours specialist paediatric middlegrade doctor cover was omitted from the Health Board’s plans for paediatrics published in April 2014. That document refers only to specialist cover being available during the hours the Short Stay Assessment Unit remains open from 10am to 10pm. While the Health Board has confirmed that A&E remains open at Withybush 24 hours a day, there are serious concerns among Pembrokeshire’s vital tourism business about the effect of further downgrading Withybush’s services. The fact that the service withdrawal has been timed to fall outside the main tourist season, upon which Pembrokeshire’s economy depends, has, in the view of some engaged in the tourist industry, stored up significant problems for the 2015 summer season. The Health Board has still failed to come up with a long term solution for minor injuries care around Pembrokeshire’s south east coast. The future of paediatric care at the hospital was raised by Paul Davies AM, when he and Stephen Crabb MP met with the interim Chief Executive of the Local Health Board, Karen Howell, to raise concerns about the future of services at Withybush. Both urged the Health Board to be transparent in their future plans, following community concerns about the future of Paediatric and Cancer services. They were also keen to find out what steps are being taken to address staff shortages and stressed the need for the new Chief Executive, Steve Moore, to regain the trust of Pembrokeshire people when he takes up his role in the New Year.

LOCAL MP’S VIEW 

Commenting, Stephen Crabb MP said: “2014 has been a very challenging year for Withybush and health services in Pembrokeshire following the refusal of the Welsh Health Minister to back down on his downgrading plans. Having already seen the removal of the Special Care Baby Unit, and the cutting of Paediatrics, there is now uncertainty over the future of cancer services. The welcome news last week that the Health Board have committed to the refurbishment of Ward 10, and a new Chemotherapy Day Unit, still does not address the underlying staff shortage problems at the hospital – Withybush does not have an Oncology or Palliative Care consultant. Unfortunately the meeting last Friday left me with more questions than answers. I made it clear that when the new Chief Executive takes up his role in the New Year, he faces an uphill task in reassuring Pembrokeshire people about the delivery of cancer services.” Local Assembly Member, Paul Davies said: “Last week’s meeting was a good opportunity to raise some very real concerns over paediatrics provision in Pembrokeshire. The downgrading of full time paediatric services at Withybush hospital to a 12 hour model has rightly worried families across Pembrokeshire. Unfortunately, following this meeting I still remain unconvinced that these changes will result in safe and sustainable services. Removing services from Withybush Hospital remains a reckless and irresponsible way forward – and I hope the new Chief Executive will seriously examine this issue, when he takes post in the New Year.”

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Business

Trains resume between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock as works end

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TRAIN services resumed this morning (Thursday 28 March) after ten days of essential round-the-clock work to upgrade track and drainage between Carmarthen and Pembroke Dock.

The railway was closed from Monday 18 March to Wednesday 27 March to allow Network Rail teams to replace more than 200 metres of track and 300 tonnes of ballast (track stones) between Pembroke station and Pembroke Dock.

Work to improve the drainage between Narbeth and Kilgetty stations was also completed at the same time.

Nick Millington, Network Rail Wales and Borders route director, said: “This essential work in Pembrokeshire demonstrates our commitment to improving the reliability of the service we provide to passengers along our route.

“We know that replacing the track can be disruptive and very noisy, so I would like to thank the residents of Pembroke for their patience while our team carried out this crucial work.”

Colin Lea, Planning and Performance Director at Transport for Wales said: “We’re pleased that our colleagues in Network Rail have completed this essential work and that Transport for Wales rail services resumed today.

“We’d like to thank passengers for their patience while this work has progressed and look forward to welcoming passengers back in time for the Easter weekend.”

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Welsh Water has increased sewage discharges into waterways ‘by 40%’

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NEW figures released by the Environment Agency have shown that Dwr Cymru discharged sewage into waterways for a staggering 23,354 hours last year, a 40% increase on 2022. 

The Welsh Liberal Democrats are now calling for tougher action against sewage dumping in Welsh waterways.

The party has also called for a halt on bonuses for water company bosses whose firms have dumped sewage into waterways.

Conservative MPs have consistently voted against measures which would have helped to tackle the crisis.

The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “It is a complete scandal that filthy sewage is being pumped into our nation’s rivers and waterways without consequence.

“It’s beggars’ belief that both the UK Conservative Government and the Welsh Labour government are allowing water firms to get away with this environmental vandalism.

“We as a party are calling for tougher action to stop sewage being dumped in local waterways. We have also called for a halt on bonuses for water company fat cats whose firms have pumped filth into our waterways.”

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New bus services announced by Pembrokeshire County Council

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A NUMBER of changes to local bus services will be introduced in the coming weeks as a result of a shake up to bus funding. 

From April 2024, the funding which has been provided directly to bus operators by the Welsh Government to keep services going in the wake of the Covid pandemic will cease. 

Additional funding will instead be provided to Local Authorities to support their local bus network.

In total, Pembrokeshire County Council and the Welsh Government will provide over £3million in support for bus services in Pembrokeshire during the coming year.

As part of this process, all Pembrokeshire’s local bus services have been re-tendered. 

A public consultation, receiving over 300 responses, helped to inform decisions about which services should be prioritised. 

Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “I am delighted to be able to report that we are able to maintain the whole of Pembrokeshire’s current local bus network in the coming year.

“We have also secured key improvements such as reinstating an hourly service on the 349 route between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, and the popular Strumble Shuttle and Puffin Shuttle coastal bus services during the summer.”

The changes will also see two key services, the 302 Haverfordwest to Milford Haven and 349 Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock, brought under Council oversight for the first time. 

This will give the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares.  Pembrokeshire residents will also benefit from a new fare structure on all First Cymru services, due to be introduced from 1 April 2024. 

This will use Tap On Tap Off to allow passengers to pay the cheapest fare depending on the number of journeys they make or distance travelled, and will cap the maximum adult fare at £3 single and £5.40 return. 

More information about these fares can be found on the First Cymru website

A number of additional service changes and improvements are being considered for introduction during the course of the coming year in response to feedback received from the public consultation.  

The following bus service changes have been confirmed:

From 23 March 2024:

  • The Celtic Coaster (403) on the St Davids peninsular will restart for the 2024 season on Saturday 23 March and will run until Sunday 29 September. This is an hourly service, increasing to half-hourly during the whitsun half term and school summer holidays. There will be no service departing Caerfai Road at 13.00 and 13.30.
  • The 351 (Tenby to Pendine via Amroth) will return to its summer timetable.

From 1 April 2024

  • An hourly service will return on the 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) service (April to September only).
  • The 356 (Milford Haven to Monkton) service will no longer call at Waterston and Hazelbeach due to operational issues caused by the narrow lanes in this area. The Fflecsi service will still be available.
  • A Saturday service, between 07:30 and 18:30, will be reintroduced in the Fflecsi Mid Pembrokeshire zone (formerly known as Bwcabus). This zone covers the area between Letterston, Crymych, Clunderwen and Wiston.  Passengers can also travel from this zone to Fishguard and Haverfordwest. 
  • The 302 (Haverfordwest to Milford Haven) and 349 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Pembroke Dock) services operated by First Cymru will come under Pembrokeshire County Council control, giving the Council greater oversight of service operations and fares.
  • The 322 (Haverfordwest to Carmarthen) and 381 (Haverfordwest to Tenby via Narberth) services will be run by First Cymru. The 322 timetable will remain the same. The 381 timetable will remain the same from Haverfordwest to Tenby but journeys from Tenby to Haverfordwest will depart slightly earlier (37 past the hour instead of 45).
  • The X22 and X61 services which provided journeys at the start and end of the day between Pembroke Dock and Kilgetty, and Pembroke Dock and Haverfordwest will be withdrawn.
  • The 410 (Fishguard Town) and T11 (Haverfordwest to Fishguard via St Davids) services will be operated on a commercial (T11 part commercial) basis by Richards Bros. An improved connection with the ferry at Fishguard Harbour will be provided at 12.30.

From 19 May 2024

  • The Tenby Coaster service between Tenby and Saundersfoot will return for the summer season.

From 25 May 2024

  • The 400 Puffin Shuttle and 404 Strumble Shuttle services will return to the coast between Marloes and St Davids, and St Davids and Fishguard. These services will operate 7 days a week until 29 September 2024.  The Fflecsi service is also available in this area throughout the year.
  • The 387/388 Coastal Cruiser service around the Angle Peninsula will also return to its summer timetable, operating 7 days a week until 29th September 2024.

Further information about all Pembrokeshire bus services can be found on the Council’s website.

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