News

Health Board will be ‘open and transparent’

Published

10 years ago

January 29, 2015

SUE LEWIS, the County Director for the Local Health Board, told a meeting of the Community Health Council, held on January 8 at Milford Haven Town Hall: “What we don’t want to do is provide services that are not going to be sustainable, so services that move to the area will be services that are required.” Facing questions about Tenby Cottage Hospital, Ms Lewis said: “We have talked about opportunities to use the Tenby facility differently. We’ve looked at proposals and have come up with revised plans.

“We’re still considering whether Tenby will provide an Ophthalmology hub but at this moment in time that is not linked to the development of our Chemotherapy Day Unit. “In terms of the services currently provided at Tenby – there is a view that we are not providing an extensive range of services – but there are a number of clinics being provided there.

“It isn’t being under-utilised and there is sufficient evidence to suggest that we will continue to run services from there. “We will be using the space, it’s not that we’ve mothballed it and closed it all down”. Among the information given at the meeting was the disclosure that the state of the art Renal Unit finished at Withybush last year at an estimated cost of £7.5m is operating at a significant under-capacity.

Regarding the absence of patients from the Renal Unit, Ms Lewis disclosed: “There are actually only four patients who will transfer to the service from Carmarthenshire. Those four patients, for whatever reason, haven’t transferred yet but they will and part of that is down to the fact that those patients have developed a relationship with the services in Carmarthenshire and there may be some reluctance to want to transfer over.

I am reliably informed they will be transferred in the next couple of weeks. “The other units aren’t open because the patient numbers aren’t there. The availability is there.” While there was a shortage of registered nurses at Withybush equivalent to over 36 full-time posts, Ms Lewis stressed that the Board had tried to find appropriate staff.

She confirmed that candidates had been interviewed for posts, but been unsuccessful, and that the Board is considering a bigger recruitment drive. Asked by outgoing Health Council Chief Ashley Warlow whether there were specific challenges facing Pembrokeshire with regard to recruitment, Ms Lewis responded: “The difficulties within Withybush are particularly around where we are. Carmarthenshire can draw from Swansea, they can draw from Pembrokeshire.

“Pembrokeshire, geographically, is not that easy to commute to from either Swansea or Carmarthen.” She concluded by saying: “It’s not just nursing staff. We are working very hard to promote a positive image and we need to have people on board with us and to do that we need to be open and transparent about service changes.”

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

5 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

12 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

13 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.