Patients urged to use NHS 111 as Withybush, Glangwili and Bronglais face continued strain

HYWEL DDA University Health Board has warned that its emergency departments remain under “significant pressure,” with particular concern at Withybush Hospital.

In a statement issued on Monday (Mar 2), the Health Board said A&E departments at Withybush, Glangwili and Bronglais hospitals were continuing to experience high demand.

Patients were urged to contact NHS 111 Wales for advice if they are unsure where to seek help, and to use community pharmacies and minor injury units for non life-threatening conditions.

The Health Board said: “Help us to help you get the right care in the right place.”

It added that those with serious or life-threatening emergencies should always call 999.

Delayed discharges impacting flow

The statement also highlighted pressures caused by delayed discharges, urging families to support relatives who are medically fit to leave hospital but are waiting for homecare or community health support.

Bed-blocking, often linked to shortages in social care packages, is widely acknowledged as a key factor in A&E overcrowding, as patients cannot be moved from emergency departments into inpatient wards.

When wards are full, ambulance handovers slow and patients can face long waits for assessment and treatment.

Withybush under particular strain

Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest was singled out as being under “particular” pressure.

There were no signs yet that things were improving today (Tuesday).

The Health Board did not release figures for waiting times, ambulance delays, or bed occupancy rates in its statement.

However, it confirmed that demand remains high across west Wales.

Alternative services highlighted

The public were reminded that:

• NHS 111 Wales can provide 24-hour advice.
• Option 2 via 111 offers urgent mental health support.
• Community pharmacies can treat a range of common ailments without appointment.
• Minor injury units are available for non life-threatening issues.

The Health Board thanked residents for their support and cooperation during what it described as a challenging period.

WELSH LABOUR leader Eluned Morgan has launched her party’s Senedd election campaign with a headline pledge to invest £4bn in new hospitals, as the party faces growing political competition ahead of the May vote.

Speaking to party members and candidates in Newport on Monday (Mar 2), Morgan set out five central pledges focused on the cost of living, jobs, the NHS, the environment, and social fairness, presenting what she described as a long-term plan for Wales.

The announcement comes at a politically sensitive time, with health services widely expected to be a defining issue in the election and opposition parties seeking to capitalise on public dissatisfaction with NHS waiting times and performance.

Major NHS investment promise

At the centre of Labour’s campaign is a proposed £4bn Hospitals for the Future Fund, which would modernise parts of Wales’ ageing NHS estate over the next decade.

The funding would include replacing the University Hospital of Wales in Cardiff, redeveloping Wrexham Maelor Hospital, and supporting a new hospital development in West Wales.

Eluned Morgan said: “The NHS is not just a service. It’s a promise. And we need to renew that promise. Not with slogans, but with the biggest investment programme in our history.”

She said the programme would ensure hospitals were “fit for modern medicine” while improving working conditions for staff and patient access.

Mental health and access reforms

Alongside capital investment, Labour also announced plans to expand same-day mental health services across Wales through an “open access” model, building on the NHS 111 press 2 system.

Demonstrator projects would be rolled out across all health boards, with the Welsh Government claiming Wales could become the first country to offer such a model nationwide.

Five campaign pledges

Morgan outlined five key priorities:

• Tackling the cost of living, including a £2 bus fare cap and expanded childcare
• Jobs for the future through renewable energy and retraining guarantees
• A new NHS deal including hospital investment and women’s health initiatives
• Environmental protection including river clean-ups and tackling fly-tipping
• A fairer society with homelessness action, pay rises for low-paid workers, and improved schools

Political dividing lines

The Labour leader used her speech to draw sharp contrasts with rival parties, criticising Reform UK as offering “rage” without solutions and accusing Plaid Cymru of lacking detail behind policy proposals.

“We are seeing a politics that is louder than it is wise,” she said. “Plaid always has a complaint. Welsh Labour has the plan.”

Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS said: “After 27 years in power, Welsh Labour’s record speaks for itself. Wales sits at the bottom of too many league tables, whether it’s education, health or wages.

“Today we heard more promises. But many of these are targets Welsh Labour have already failed to meet in previous terms. The problem isn’t a lack of pledges; it’s a lack of delivery.

“The people of Wales are tired of excuses and recycled announcements. They want a fresh start, new energy and a different style of leadership. The Welsh Liberal Democrats are ready to offer that change, focused on delivery, accountability and putting communities first.”

Election context

Labour has governed Wales since devolution began in 1999, but the upcoming election is widely expected to be more competitive than previous contests, with polling suggesting a fragmented political landscape and growing support for challenger parties.

Health services, cost-of-living pressures and economic confidence are expected to dominate the campaign in the coming months.

Further policy announcements are expected in the weeks ahead.

Confusion grows over decision-making as concerns mount about future of local hospital services

QUESTIONS over who ultimately decides the future of NHS services in west Wales are becoming increasingly prominent as uncertainty continues around proposals affecting hospitals including Withybush and Bronglais.

With public concern rising, political debate intensifying, and a petition attracting thousands of signatures, many residents are asking a simple question: who is actually responsible for decisions that could reshape healthcare across the region?

The answer is complex — but responsibility does not sit in just one place.

Welsh Government Ministers hold overall responsibility for the NHS in Wales because health is devolved to Cardiff Bay. The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care sets national policy, determines funding allocations and has the power to intervene in major service reconfiguration proposals. While Ministers often emphasise that local health boards manage delivery, they remain politically accountable to the Senedd for NHS performance and outcomes across the country.

At a regional level, Hywel Dda University Health Board is responsible for planning and delivering services across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion. The health board manages hospitals including Withybush, Glangwili and Bronglais, oversees staffing and budgets, and develops proposals for service changes. It is the body that produces consultation documents and makes operational decisions, but it does so within financial and strategic frameworks set by Welsh Government.

Public consultation exercises play an important role in shaping proposals, but they do not determine the final outcome. Feedback gathered from residents, clinicians and stakeholders is considered by the health board before decisions are taken. In some circumstances, proposals may be referred to Welsh Ministers for approval or intervention, particularly if there is significant controversy or political concern.

Members of the Senedd, including local representatives, scrutinise decisions and raise constituent concerns, but they do not directly control NHS services unless they are part of the Welsh Government. Opposition politicians can apply pressure and influence debate, but executive authority ultimately rests with Ministers and the health board.

The shared nature of responsibility has led to frustration among some residents, who feel accountability is unclear when services face potential change. Health boards point to funding constraints and national policy requirements, while Welsh Government often emphasises that operational decisions are taken locally.

In practice, both levels of the system play critical roles. Health boards design and implement plans, while Welsh Government sets the strategic direction and retains the power to intervene if necessary.

Concerns about healthcare provision in west Wales have intensified in recent months amid wider debate about NHS performance, waiting times and access to services. Political disagreements have also sharpened ahead of the Senedd elections scheduled for 2026.

For patients and communities, however, the central issue remains access to safe and timely care close to home — regardless of where responsibility ultimately lies.

The Herald has asked Welsh Government and Hywel Dda University Health Board for comment on decision-making processes relating to potential service changes affecting west Wales.