News
Plaid Cymru says Pembrokeshire ‘deserves a better health service’
Party unveils plan to cut NHS waiting times
RESIDENTS in Pembrokeshire “deserve a better health service”, Plaid Cymru has said, as the party set out detailed proposals aimed at reducing NHS waiting times if it forms the next Welsh Government.
Over 620,000 people waiting for treatment
The latest Welsh Government figures show 620,309 people were waiting for planned NHS treatment in Wales at the end of September 2025. This is one of the highest figures ever recorded and represents almost one-in-five of the Welsh population.
Official statistics also confirm that over 100,000 people have been waiting more than a year for treatment, despite previous Welsh Government targets to eliminate such waits.
Plaid Cymru says the figures demonstrate the need for a “fresh start” after twenty-five consecutive years of Labour running the Welsh NHS. The party claims its proposals could begin “within the first few days” of a new administration.
Temporary treatment centres in existing hospitals
Under Plaid Cymru’s plan, temporary local treatment centres would be established inside existing hospitals across Wales, allowing clinicians to carry out high-volume procedures such as orthopaedics, cataracts and diagnostic work.
The party says additional capacity would enable health boards to target the longest waits while ensuring patients receive treatment closer to home. These centres would operate on a “sprint model”, focusing resources to clear backlogs over concentrated periods.
Plaid also proposes a mandate for health boards to work together more strategically, sharing staffing rotas, specialist teams and expensive medical equipment to reduce duplication and improve efficiency. Hywel Dda University Health Board, which covers Pembrokeshire, has one of the highest per-head waiting lists in Wales.
The party argues digital technology is being “vastly under-used” in Wales and could allow many follow-up appointments to be handled remotely. This includes remote monitoring of long-term conditions, digital patient records, and routine checks managed through virtual clinics.
GP shortages ‘particularly prominent’ in Pembrokeshire
Primary care pressures remain severe in west Wales, with several Pembrokeshire GP practices either closing lists, relying heavily on locums, or undergoing partnership changes in the last five years.
Recent Hywel Dda figures show that Pembrokeshire has fewer GPs per head of population than the Welsh average, contributing to long waits for routine appointments.
Plaid Cymru’s Ceredigion Preseli candidate Kerry Ferguson said: “We are all very aware of the difficulties in accessing GPs and the long waiting time there currently is for receiving treatment.
“The shortage of GPs has been particularly prominent in Pembrokeshire. Plaid Cymru is the only party which has carefully constructed ready-to-go solutions that would reduce current waiting times and bring long-term benefits to our broken NHS.”
The Herald understands that GP access, ambulance delays and long referral times are among the most frequent complaints raised by residents in Pembrokeshire, particularly heading into the winter months when pressures on hospitals traditionally increase.
Plaid Cymru says its package of measures would “reset the NHS on a sustainable footing” and begin tackling delays that have now become entrenched across the health system.
Local Government
Consultation over electoral changes to eight Pembrokeshire community councils
Residents are being asked for their views on proposed changes affecting councillor numbers and electoral arrangements in communities across the county
PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL is inviting residents, organisations and other interested parties to have their say on proposed changes to the electoral arrangements of eight community councils across the county.
The consultation follows recommendations published by the Democracy and Boundary Commission Cymru in January 2025 as part of a wider review of Pembrokeshire’s community boundaries and local electoral arrangements.
The Commission’s review considered whether the county’s existing communities and community wards continued to provide effective and convenient local government.
It examined issues including community boundaries, the number of councillors serving each area, the distribution of councillors between community wards and whether existing arrangements continued to reflect local populations and community identities.
While a number of the Commission’s recommendations involved changes to community boundaries, it also proposed alterations to the electoral arrangements of some community councils where no boundary changes were recommended.
Those particular proposals could not be introduced through the original community review process and must now be considered separately by Pembrokeshire County Council.
The latest consultation concerns the following communities:
- Lamphey
- Llanrhian
- Martletwy
- Nolton and Roch
- Pencaer
- St Dogmaels
- Stackpole and Castlemartin
- Wolfscastle
The proposals could affect matters such as the number of councillors elected to individual community councils and how council seats are distributed between community wards.
Community and town councils form the most local tier of elected government. They represent the interests of their communities and may be responsible for services and facilities including public spaces, community buildings, play areas, noticeboards and local events.
The County Council said it was seeking views from residents and organisations with connections to the communities affected to ensure that local perspectives were considered before any decisions were made.
The consultation will open on Tuesday, July 28, and close on Friday, September 11, 2026.
Full details of the proposed changes and supporting documents will be available through Pembrokeshire County Council’s Have Your Say consultation portal.
Residents will be able to review the proposals affecting their community and submit comments online.
Paper copies of the consultation documents can also be requested by contacting the Council’s Customer Contact Centre on 01437 764551 or emailing [email protected].
Anyone with questions about the proposals or the review process is encouraged to contact the Council’s electoral services team.
Community
Narberth Eisteddfod fundraisers celebrate reaching £8,000 target
Community support and a £2,000 contribution from Narberth Town Council help committee achieve its fundraising goal
Narberth Eisteddfod Fundraising Committee is celebrating after successfully reaching its £8,000 fundraising target.
The milestone follows a busy programme of events organised by the committee, each of which received strong support from residents, businesses and community groups across the Narberth area.

Committee chair Glinys Meredydd thanked everyone who had helped make the campaign a success.
She said: “I would like to thank all members of the Narberth Eisteddfod team for their hard work and commitment.
“They organised some fantastic events, which were extremely well supported by the local community.
“I would also like to thank Narberth Town Council, which donated £2,000 on behalf of the people of Narberth.”

The committee will hold one final fundraising event with a last sale of its locally produced and hand-printed Eisteddfod Garreg Las 2026 T-shirts.
Members of the public are invited to visit the committee at Narberth Carnival Field on Saturday, July 25, where they will have a final opportunity to buy or win one of the T-shirts and join the celebrations ahead of the Eisteddfod’s return to Pembrokeshire.
The committee has thanked everyone who attended an event, made a donation, volunteered their time, purchased a T-shirt or helped promote the campaign.
Reaching the £8,000 target has been described as a powerful example of what can be achieved when the Narberth community comes together in support of Welsh language and culture.

Crime
Man, 37, found dead following major police response in Pembroke Dock
Death not being treated as suspicious as police make statutory referral to IOPC following active investigation
A 37-YEAR-OLD man has been found dead at Warrior Way in Pembroke Dock.
Dyfed-Powys Police said officers attended the area at around 7pm on Sunday, July 19, after concerns were raised for the welfare of an individual.
There was a significant police presence in the area, with several units positioned at the scene on Sunday and further police activity continuing into Monday.
The scale of the response prompted speculation among members of the public about the nature of the incident.
Police have now confirmed that the man was found deceased and that his death is not being treated as suspicious.
His next of kin have been informed.
HM Coroner has been advised, and officers will continue to assist with the coroner’s investigation.
The matter has also been referred to the Independent Office for Police Conduct because the man had been involved in an active police investigation.
Dyfed-Powys Police said the referral was made in line with the IOPC’s statutory referral criteria.
Such referrals are required in certain circumstances and do not, in themselves, indicate that police officers or staff are suspected of wrongdoing.
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