A MAJOR new hospital development in West Wales has been put forward as part of Welsh Labour’s proposed £4 billion “Hospitals for the Future Fund”, with Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales Eluned Morgan saying the region deserves “safe, sustainable hospital care for the future”.

Speaking at Welsh Labour’s campaign launch on Monday, Morgan said that if the party is returned to power at the Senedd election in May, the fund would be used to modernise ageing NHS buildings across Wales over the next decade, with West Wales expected to form a key part of those plans.

The announcement comes amid strong public concern about the future of services at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest. A petition calling for certainty over local hospital provision has attracted thousands of signatures, reflecting widespread anxiety about potential changes to healthcare services in Pembrokeshire and surrounding areas.

Morgan acknowledged the strength of feeling locally, saying she understood why many residents were worried.

“I know how much Withybush means to people. I’ve had the conversations. I’ve looked people in the eye who are worried about what the future holds for their local hospital,” she said.

“And I want to be honest with people – this isn’t simple. If it was, it would have been solved years ago.”

She said the challenges facing hospital services in West Wales go beyond the condition of existing buildings and include difficulties recruiting and retaining enough specialist staff to ensure safe care.

“Buildings matter. But what really matters is whether you can staff services safely,” Morgan said.

“Patient safety and timely care must always come first – not politics, not headlines. No other party has offered any realistic alternative which is deliverable, which is why I hope people in West Wales will endorse this new hospital.”

Morgan said she would like Hywel Dda University Health Board to revisit options for a realistic hospital proposal in light of the new funding commitment.

“In light of this new commitment, I would like the health board to look again at a realistic hospital proposal that delivers safe, sustainable services for the future,” she said.

“For too long, people in West Wales have heard talk of a new hospital without seeing it become reality. Plans were drawn up in the past, but after years of Tory cuts, especially to the capital budget, the funding simply wasn’t there to deliver them. That’s the truth.”

She argued that the situation may now have changed following the election of a UK Labour government.

“Today, we are in a different place. After 14 years of austerity, we are now working with a UK Labour Government that understands Wales and is prepared to invest in our public services,” she said.

“Real investment is now possible if Welsh Labour leads the next Welsh Government. This is about securing the future – modern facilities, safer care and services designed around patients and staff.”

Morgan also warned against relying solely on older hospital buildings if staffing levels cannot be maintained safely.

“What I won’t do is pretend that patching up buildings from another era is a long-term solution if we can’t staff them safely,” she said.

The proposed Hospitals for the Future Fund would form a central part of Welsh Labour’s long-term NHS strategy, aiming to combine infrastructure investment with workforce planning and clinical safety.

However, debate over the future of hospital services in West Wales is likely to continue. Campaigners in Pembrokeshire have repeatedly called for key services to remain at Withybush Hospital, arguing that long travel times to other hospitals could pose risks for patients in rural communities.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has previously explored options for reorganising services across the region, including proposals for a new hospital to serve multiple counties. No final decision has yet been taken.

With the Senedd election approaching, the future of hospital provision in West Wales is expected to remain a major political issue.

A 17-YEAR-OLD boy arrested following threats made against Ysgol Maesydderwen in Ystradgynlais has been released on bail while police continue their enquiries.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that the teenager, from Pontardawe, had been arrested on suspicion of sending digital communications conveying threats of death or serious harm with the intention of causing fear.

The west Wales arrest followed an incident which caused concern among pupils, parents, and staff at the secondary school.

Police have now confirmed the boy has been bailed pending further enquiries.

Powys Superintendent Gareth Grant thanked the community for their patience during the investigation.

He said: “I’d firstly like to thank the parents, teachers, staff and the wider community for the support and patience you have shown whilst we have carried out our enquiries in relation to this incident.

“I understand this will have had a profound impact. Our Neighbourhood officers will maintain a local presence for reassurance, and we will continue to work with our local secondary schools and partners to ensure our local community are supported.”

Dyfed-Powys Police say enquiries into the incident remain ongoing.

AN INDIAN takeaway in Ceredigion has been ordered to pay £2,808 after an investigation uncovered serious failures in allergen management and food information.

Ruhul Amin Choudhury, trading as Nehar Indian Takeaway on Bridge Street in Lampeter, appeared before Aberystwyth Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday (Mar 3), where he pleaded guilty to three offences relating to breaches of food information and safety regulations.

The court fined him £1,290 and ordered him to pay a £518 victim surcharge and £1,000 in investigation and legal costs to Ceredigion County Council.

The offences came to light after officers from the council’s Public Protection team carried out an unannounced test purchase on January 23, 2025.

During the order, officers informed staff that one member of their party had a mustard allergy. However, the prawn cocktail supplied by the takeaway was later found to contain mustard.

Laboratory testing confirmed the presence of the allergen, meaning the food posed a potentially serious health risk.

Officers also discovered that the business was using genetically modified cooking oil without informing customers, as required by law. The issue had previously been raised with the owner on two separate occasions, but no corrective action had been taken.

Further concerns emerged when investigators examined the takeaway’s menu, which claimed that “no artificial colours or food additives are used”.

During the inspection, however, officers found a container labelled “bright red colour” on the premises. The product contained artificial colourings including E129 Allura Red, E102 Tartrazine and E122 Carmoisine.

Mr Choudhury confirmed these colourings were used in dishes such as chicken tikka masala and pilau rice. Laboratory tests later verified the presence of artificial colouring in food samples.

During interview, Mr Choudhury accepted the findings and offered no defence. He told investigators he was unaware the cooking oil was genetically modified, acknowledged the menu contained incorrect information about artificial colours, and said he did not realise the prawn cocktail sauce contained mustard.

Officers concluded he had a limited understanding of allergen control and food information requirements, raising concerns about safety practices at the premises.

A formal notice was issued requiring the business to stop handling any of the fourteen regulated allergens and to take immediate corrective action. Mr Choudhury voluntarily closed the premises later that evening.

In court, the defence solicitor said Mr Choudhury had worked in the catering industry for many years and had no previous convictions.

He told the magistrates his client was “a stranger to the court” and intended to introduce proper systems to prevent future issues, adding that a lack of understanding and the need for further support had contributed to the offences.

Councillor Matthew Vaux, Ceredigion County Council’s Cabinet Member for Partnerships, Housing, Legal and Governance and Public Protection, said: “This case highlights the importance of good allergen control and accurate food information.

“Undeclared allergens can have life-threatening consequences, and our officers found several worrying failings during this investigation.

“Our team worked closely with the business to ensure urgent corrective action was taken, and we will continue to support and enforce where necessary to keep consumers safe.”