MS says he will oppose any further centralisation of hospital care in Ceredigion Penfro

PAUL DAVIES MS has said he will continue to oppose any attempt to centralise key hospital services away from Withybush and Bronglais, following a meeting with Hywel Dda University Health Board.

The Ceredigion Penfro Senedd Member said he met health board representatives to discuss the delivery of services across west Wales, amid continuing concern over the future of emergency general surgery at Withybush Hospital and stroke services at Bronglais Hospital.

Mr Davies said he made it “very clear” that he opposed any centralisation of services from the two hospitals.

He said: “I’ve met with Hywel Dda University Health Board to discuss the delivery of services across the health board area.

“I made it very clear that I oppose any centralisation of services from Withybush Hospital and Bronglais Hospital — in particular emergency general surgery services at Withybush and the stroke unit at Bronglais.

“I also told the health board that it needs a change of mindset when it comes to delivering services and that I will continue to stand up for my constituents and oppose them on any plans to remove services from hospitals in Ceredigion Penfro.”

The comments come after months of concern over Hywel Dda’s Clinical Services Plan, which has considered changes to a number of hospital services including emergency general surgery, stroke, critical care, radiology, orthopaedics, urology, endoscopy, dermatology and ophthalmology.

In February, the health board backed a future model for emergency general surgery which would see the service delivered from Bronglais and Glangwili, with Withybush no longer providing that function in the same way.

That decision sparked anger in Pembrokeshire, where campaigners and politicians warned that removing emergency general surgery from Withybush could weaken the long-term position of the hospital’s A&E department and force patients to travel further for urgent treatment.

There is also concern in mid and west Wales over the future of stroke services, with Bronglais Hospital’s stroke unit repeatedly highlighted by local representatives as a vital service for patients in rural Ceredigion and surrounding areas.

Hywel Dda has previously said its clinical services work is aimed at addressing fragile services, improving standards and making care more sustainable across the region.

But Mr Davies said the health board must stop viewing centralisation as the answer.

He added that hospitals in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion serve large rural communities, where journey times, public transport and access to urgent care must be central to any decision about service changes.

DAILY coastal bus services have returned to Pembrokeshire for the summer, giving residents and visitors an easier way to explore the county’s coastline without relying on cars.

The seasonal services began operating on Friday (May 23) and will run daily until Saturday, September 27.

The Puffin Shuttle, service 400, operated by Richards Bros, links St Davids and Marloes, taking in Broad Haven, Little Haven, St Brides, Marloes and Martins Haven, the departure point for boat trips to Skomer Island.

The Strumble Shuttle, service 404, also operated by Richards Bros, follows the coast road between St Davids and Fishguard, with stops including Abereiddy, Porthgain and Strumble Head.

The Coastal Cruiser, services 387 and 388, operated by Pembrokeshire County Council around the Angle Peninsula, has also moved to its summer timetable.

The Celtic Coaster, service 403, operated by Sarah Bell, is running an enhanced half-hourly timetable around the St Davids Peninsula during half term, from May 23 to May 31, and again throughout July and August.

The services are delivered through the Pembrokeshire Greenways Partnership, with funding from Pembrokeshire County Council, the Welsh Government and the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority.

Councillor Rhys Sinnett, Cabinet Member for Residents Services, said: “Our coastal bus services are a key part of our local bus network, making it easy for both locals and visitors to get around the Pembrokeshire coast without having to use a car.”

Extra services will also be available in the Tenby area this summer.

The Tenby Coaster, operated by First Cymru, will return daily from Saturday, May 30, to Sunday, August 30, running between Tenby and Saundersfoot.

Service 351, operated by Taf Valley, will provide additional journeys between Kilgetty and Tenby from Saturday, July 18, to Monday, August 31, including a return journey on Sundays.

More information about these and other bus services serving the Pembrokeshire Coast will be available in the new 2026 Coastal Bus timetable booklet, which will be distributed through local libraries and information centres.

Copies can also be requested by emailing [email protected] or calling 01437 764551.

Timetables can be downloaded from Pembrokeshire County Council’s website.

Polling shows strong public opposition to killing badgers in Wales

BADGER Trust is calling on Wales’ incoming government to rule out badger culling, after new polling suggested widespread public opposition to killing badgers as part of efforts to tackle bovine TB.

The call comes as a newly expanded Senedd begins its work and a new Welsh Government prepares to set out its priorities.

Badger Trust said ministers and political parties should reject calls for culling and instead focus on “evidence-led cattle measures” to control the disease.

Polling carried out by RSPCA Cymru found that only 27% of people in Wales support badger culling, while 46% are opposed. The survey also found that 63% of respondents were uncomfortable with killing badgers, and 68% opposed the use of public money to fund culling.

The organisation said the figures showed bovine TB was likely to remain one of the most significant animal welfare issues facing Wales in the coming years.

As Plaid Cymru prepares to form a minority government, with Rhun ap Iorwerth MS expected to become Wales’ new First Minister, Badger Trust is urging all parties to take note of public feeling on the issue.

More than half of those surveyed, 51.8%, said they would be less likely to support a political party that backs badger culling, compared with just 7.2% who said they would be more likely to do so.

The poll also found strong support for wildlife protection, with 98% of respondents describing it as important and 69% saying it was “very important”. Around 73% said they were concerned about badger welfare, while 53.8% described badgers as iconic British mammals and 43.5% said they were heavily misunderstood.

Nigel Palmer, chief executive of Badger Trust, said: “The people of Wales have spoken loud and clear: badger culling is a vote loser for the new government.

“It’s clear how much the people of Wales value their badgers as an integral part of their landscape. This underlines the fact that badgers belong here.”

Mr Palmer said Wales should learn from what he described as “politically driven mistakes” in England, where more than 250,000 badgers have been culled over the past 13 years.

He said: “Farmers need support to tackle bovine TB where the infections arise — within the national cattle population, particularly in the larger herds.

“The answer lies in evidence-based cattle measures, delivered in partnership with vets and farmers, not in the unnecessary killing of wildlife.”

Badger Trust said Wales had already shown that bovine TB could be reduced in cattle without killing badgers, through science-led cattle measures aimed at tackling the disease more effectively and humanely.

The charity said the message from the Welsh public was clear, and that Wales should not follow England “down the path of badger culling”.

Badger Trust said: “It’s time to end the badger blame game. The science is solid, and the public has voiced its opinion; now it is time for the new government to listen and act accordingly.”

Badger Trust is the leading voice for badgers across England and Wales and works with local badger groups through its Badgers Belong Here campaign.