News

Recruitment policy plays with patient safety

Published

11 years ago

January 23, 2015

IN A hard-hitting interview with The Pembrokeshire Herald, a veteran health campaigner has revealed that the

Unable to cope: Glangwili Hospital

Board’s recruitment policy runs the risk of putting patients at risk as additional duties are placed on already overstretched staff. Retired surgeon, Peter Milewski calls the Board’s approach a “disestablishment policy” and said that services have been “pared to the bone.” He reveals that the Board deliberately delays recruitment, even when it knows well in advance of future vacancies. Last week, The Herald wrote about the way in which Glangwili Hospital is unable to cope with the influx of patients from Pembrokeshire. In the second of our two-part report on how local health services are coping with change, we turn to how staff at Withybush are coping with the strain.

In 2010, the health board introduced a formal policy that no vacancy was to be filled without jumping through lots of hoops. In practice the Board’s recruitment policy was found regularly to result in about six months’ delay, as shown by the gross delay this year in replacing Dr Anne Barnes MBE, with the result Dr Barnes had to come out of retirement to ‘hold the fort’ for inpatient cancer care. No advertisement was placed to replace Dr Barnes until after her departure, which was closely followed by the departure of the only remaining specialist doctor located permanently at Withybush. Health campaigner Peter Milewski told us: “I don’t know if the ‘disestablishment policy’ is still being applied across Withybush, but just before I spoke with you I heard that – certainly in theatre – people who leave are not being replaced, or if they are, only after a long interval.

“The Board even produced a flowchart showing all the stages to be followed before a recruitment advert could be placed.” Peter Milewski continued: “If, say, 50 posts a year have been managed like this for four years, and the result in each case is a delay of six months, how much money has been saved? Let’s say the relevant incomes were, as a conservative estimate, £15,000 – then you’re talking about 200×7500 = £1.5 million saved in four years. “Of course, it could be a great deal more than that. The saving on a consultant post, for example, would be £40-50k in six months. I think my own post wasn’t filled after I retired for about a year.” Meanwhile the remaining staff – already pared to the bone – have been placed under great stress.

The Herald understands that there are many examples of the stress under which frontline staff are working. One nurse has left a surgical ward saying she is so overworked that she is worried she will make a mistake and lose her registration. Theatre nurses are routinely told to work on the wards at night, though many of the more experienced ones have lost their familiarity with ward work. We asked Mr Milewski about these incidents and he confirmed that he had heard similar complaints from nursing staff: “One experienced nurse recently complained to the Nursing Council about this, and named those at the hospital who were ordering her to go to the wards. Another experienced theatre nurse has previously launched a grievance process about being ordered to work on Intensive Care when she had no intensive care skills, which would put her in a vulnerable position.

“The Nursing Council advice on this, I understand, is quite clear. That is, you should not undertake work for which you are not fully qualified.” Peter expressed his personal concern that if and when things do go wrong, it will be staff who take the blame: “I have become more and more convinced over the last few years that the basic strategy is to squeeze the system till it squeaks. When it squeaks is when mishaps occur. But they don’t care because those mishaps can nearly always be attributed to human error, and not systemic failure. “There is no acknowledgment that what they are doing increases the chance of human error. “The only thing that can then reverse the situation is if the failings are as grotesque as at Stafford in England: only then does an inquiry identify the link between system and humans.”

Local Government

Catapult attacks suspected after wildlife deaths at Pembroke Mill Pond

Published

15 minutes ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Wildlife Crime Officers are investigating after the town council said around five animals showed signs of deliberate injury

WILDLIFE found dead around Pembroke Mill Pond may have been deliberately targeted with a catapult, Pembroke Town Council has said.

The statement follows earlier reporting by The Pembrokeshire Herald after residents raised concerns about several dead birds, including ducks, discovered around the Mill Pond and nearby Ferry Lane.

Photographs shared on social media prompted calls for an investigation, with some residents questioning whether the deaths could be connected to algae visible on the pond or a deterioration in water quality.

However, the town council has now said its representatives visited the area and recovered some of the dead wildlife.

According to the council, around five different animals appeared to have suffered injuries consistent with being intentionally targeted using a catapult.

The findings have been passed to Wildlife Crime Officers, who are understood to be investigating. The cause of the deaths has not yet been independently confirmed and will remain a matter for the police investigation.

Pembroke Town Council said: “This is an extremely distressing and cruel act against wildlife.”

The council also sought to reassure residents that it did not believe the deaths were connected to the condition of the pond.

It said Aqua Clear had been employed for the past seven years to manage algae growth and control the spread of reeds.

According to the council, the programme has reduced algae levels by approximately 45 per cent, while the water quality continues to be monitored and remains in good condition.

The council added: “We are aware that there has been speculation on social media suggesting that the deaths may be linked to the water quality or algae currently present in the pond. We would like to reassure residents that this is not the case.”

Pembroke Mill Pond is one of the town’s best-known beauty spots and supports a wide variety of birds and other wildlife.

The council said it strongly condemned all forms of cruelty and urged anyone who had witnessed suspicious behaviour around the pond, or who had information that could assist the investigation, to report it immediately.

Information can be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

The council thanked residents for raising the alarm and for their continued concern for the pond and the animals living there.

The Herald’s earlier report recorded residents’ concerns about dead birds around the Mill Pond and Ferry Lane. The latest statement confirms that the council believes the visible algae was not responsible and that injuries found on approximately five animals pointed towards suspected deliberate attacks.

Crime

Police issue counterfeit £20 warning ahead of Royal Welsh Show

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Businesses and members of the public across the Dyfed-Powys area are being urged to check banknotes carefully after fake currency was reported in Builth Wells

DYFED-POWYS POLICE has issued a warning after receiving an increased number of reports of counterfeit £20 notes being circulated in the Builth Wells area.

Although the reports have so far centred on the town, the warning is relevant to businesses and residents across the force area, particularly with thousands of visitors expected to travel to Powys for the Royal Welsh Show.

Police are urging shopkeepers, hospitality businesses, market traders, taxi drivers and members of the public to examine any £20 notes they receive.

A genuine Bank of England polymer £20 note contains several security features. When the note is tilted from side to side, the word “twenty” inside the oval hologram should change to “pounds”.

The holographic section should also appear multicoloured when moved. Genuine polymer notes have a smooth, slightly glossy texture, with raised printing on areas including the words “Bank of England”.

Signs that a note could be counterfeit include the word “twenty” failing to change when the note is tilted, the holographic section remaining silver and the note having an unusual texture or thickness.

On some fake notes, the holographic patch may also appear out of alignment because it has been glued into place.

Police are also warning people to look out for so-called “prop notes”, which may have the words “prop” or “copy” printed on them.

In some cases, these words are covered with a foil sticker intended to resemble the security hologram on a genuine banknote. Police said these notes are still considered counterfeit under UK law, even when the wording remains visible.

Anyone who suspects they have received a counterfeit note should avoid attempting to spend it and should report the matter to police.

Possessing or knowingly using counterfeit currency is a serious criminal offence which can carry a prison sentence of up to ten years and an unlimited fine.

Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, email [email protected] or call 101.

People who are deaf, hard of hearing or speech impaired can text the non-emergency number on 07811 311 908.

Information can also be provided anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555 111.

Community

Steam car set to star at Pembroke Dock classic vehicle show

Published

2 hours ago

July 14, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Classic and vintage vehicles will gather at Hancock’s Yard this Saturday for a free family event

A RARE steam-powered car will be among the star attractions when classic and vintage vehicles gather in Pembroke Dock this weekend.

The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s historic boatyard at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, on Saturday, July 18.

Running from 11:00am until 4:00pm, the event will give visitors the chance to admire a varied collection of carefully preserved vehicles and speak to the owners who keep them on the road.

Organiser Peter Kraus said there was particular excitement surrounding one highly unusual exhibit.

“We even have a steam car coming,” he said.

Steam cars were among the earliest mechanically powered road vehicles, using a boiler and steam engine rather than the petrol or diesel engines found in most classic cars.

The show will offer motoring enthusiasts a chance to take a closer look at vehicles from different periods of road transport history, while providing an enjoyable day out for families and visitors to Pembroke Dock.

The event is being held within the West Wales Maritime Heritage Society’s working boatyard, where volunteers preserve the area’s maritime history.

Visitors will also be able to explore the society’s museum, restoration workshops and collection of historic vessels and maritime artefacts.

Admission and parking are free, although donations to support the work of the volunteer-run society are welcomed.

The Classic and Vintage Car Show takes place at Hancock’s Yard, Front Street, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6JY, from 11:00am until 4:00pm on Saturday, July 18.