AN EMERGENCY call for councillors to fight a “total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire” downgrading of services at Withybush hospital has been backed.

At the March meeting of Pembrokeshire County Council, an emergency notice of motion by the council’s 11-strong Conservative Party group demanded that the Welsh Government immediately reverses the decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush Hospital.

Last year, Hywel Dda University Health Board consulted with its communities on options for change in critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, stroke, radiology and urology.

At a recent two-day meeting, the board, amongst its many other decisions, backed changes into emergency general surgery which will see no emergency general surgery operations taking place at Withybush, but a strengthening of the same-day emergency care (SDEC).

At the March council meeting, the Conservative council group, led by Cllr Di Clements, proposed a motion which read: “This council requests that the Labour Welsh Government intervenes in Hywel Dda University Health Board’s recent decision to cease emergency general surgery at Withybush hospital and immediately reverses their decision.
“We believe removing this service critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A&E department.

“Also, the decision by the Health Board does not take into account the impact and potential serious risks it will have on Pembrokeshire residents.”

Cllr Clements’ supporting statement, which included a call for Leader Cllr Jon Harvery to write to the First Minister and Welsh Government, said Pembrokeshire residents “have seen continual downgrading of services over the years, and this has been detrimental to all residents,” adding: “We believe this recent decision is life threatening to those who need emergency surgery and a matter of resident’s safety.”

At the meeting, Cllr Michael John said “there had been an erosion of services for many years,” supporting Cllr Clements’ call, but proposing the addition of calling on the health board to meet with councillors.

Newly-elected Fishguard county councillor Billy Shaw, himself a former biomedical scientist who had worked at Withybush, said the service under Hywel Dda University Health Board had become “Carmarthenshire-centred”.

Following the request by Cllr Clements, Leader Cllr Jon Harvey agreed to any letter writing, saying he had “fought long and hard to return services to Withybush”.

He gave the personal example of an operation he had over a decade ago at Withybush, saying if he had had to travel to Glangwili he had been told he “wouldn’t be here today, as simple as that”.

“There’s been an erosion of services year-on-year, it’s just not acceptable.

He finished: “It’s important we show the health board and Welsh Government we care for our residents.”

Cllr Rhys Jordan said: “It’s a total failure of the people of Pembrokeshire, Hywel Dda has taken emergency services away Pembrokeshire and once again it will be the people of Pembrokeshire that pay the price; it’s our families, our neighbours, our elderly and children.”

He added: “What does that say about how we are managed? Pembrokeshire can be managed with less, that we should be grateful for less; Pembrokeshire is not a second-class Wales.

“This decision must be reversed. Pembrokeshire deserves better than being failed again and again.”

Members backed Cllr Clements’ call, with Cllr John’s amendment added.

Welsh Labour has said that, if it wins the May Senedd lections, it will commit to a new multi-billion-pound west Wales hospital, a proposal described as a “pre-election distraction” by Conservatives.

The long-mooted hospital plan, previously proposed in St Clears and Whitland locations, was put on hold by the health board for financial reasons.

Choir members receive gold, silver and bronze medals after completing Royal School of Church Music programme

YOUNG singers from the choir at St Davids Cathedral have been recognised for their musical progress after receiving Voice for Life awards from the Royal School of Church Music.

The medals were presented during a ceremony at the cathedral, where choristers were praised for their dedication to developing their vocal skills and musical understanding.

The Voice for Life scheme is a national programme run by the Royal School of Church Music (RSCM), designed to help young choristers develop their singing ability, music theory knowledge and commitment to church music.

A total of ten choristers received awards during the presentation.

Harriet received the Gold Award, while Isabelle, Esther, Phoebe and Cora were presented with Silver Awards.

Bronze Awards were awarded to Avalon, Imogen, Megan, Abigael and Grace.

Two additional choristers were unable to attend the ceremony due to illness, but the cathedral said their awards will be presented at a later date.

The cathedral choir also thanked Laurence John for preparing the young singers so thoroughly for their examinations.

St Davids Cathedral Choir said it was delighted to see such a strong group of choristers successfully complete the programme and congratulated all those who received awards.

A CARMARTHENSHIRE woman has celebrated her 100th birthday surrounded by family and friends at a special gathering in Carmarthen.

Margaret Olwyn Lewis marked the milestone last weekend at the communal rooms of Hafan Towy in North Parade, where she has lived for more than twenty years.

The celebration brought together her son David Lewis and daughters Susan Harte and Sharon Lewis, along with their partners Christopher Harte and Jane Collins. Also attending were grandchildren Jessica, Lizzie, Edward and Amy, together with seven great-grandchildren.

Margaret was born in Porth Cottage Hospital and spent her early childhood in Pontygwaith in the Rhondda Valley. After the death of her parents when she was young, her elder brother Idris became her guardian.

When Idris was called up for National Service, Margaret took over running his hairdressing business — a role she continued until she married Elfed Lewis and moved to Swansea.

The couple had first met in the mid-1930s while attending Tylorstown Primary School. Their friendship developed into a lasting romance that continued throughout the Second World War and after Elfed returned from an Army posting in Egypt.

Margaret recalled memories from those wartime years.

“During the war we used to walk up the hill towards Maerdy Mountain and after a bombing raid we could stand and watch the flames,” she said.

“The usual targets were the docks at Swansea and the oil refineries in Llandarcy. Later we would catch a tram down the valley to see the destruction that had been caused.”

After the war, Margaret and Elfed lived for some time in Fforest-fach before moving to a home on Forestry Commission land at Llanllawddog. The move came shortly before Elfed took early retirement from his role as Chief Engineer at Western Power.

Both became deeply involved in local heritage. Elfed, together with two friends, helped found the Carmarthenshire Family History Society, which today has a worldwide membership of around 8,000 people.

Margaret also developed a strong interest in art and became involved with the Carmarthen Sketch Club. She won awards for her paintings and many of her works have been exhibited over the years.

Although family members now live across Britain, many travelled to Carmarthen to celebrate her 100th birthday together.

Margaret has always said she is proud that her children and grandchildren pursued higher education, with all going on to attend university and build successful careers.

The family gathering was a chance for four generations to come together and mark a remarkable century of life.

Cover pic: Century celebration: Margaret Lewis cuts her 100th birthday cake surrounded by family (Pic: Chris Harte)