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Public force Board to listen

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THERE was unrest at Thursday’s (Jan 22) Community Health Council engagement meeting as the public forced the Health Board to cut short their Hywel-Dda-Health-Boardpresentations.

Hywel Dda Chair Bernadine Rees spoke about ‘building a new relationship’ and ‘being open and transparent’ but over an hour had passed before the public got their say.

Community Director for Hywel Dda, Sue Lewis, was halfway through her presentation when when one member of the public got up and shouted: “You’re wasting my breath and I’ve been wasting my time,” before walking out.

Moments later, a woman spoke up saying: “This is a complete waste of time. You are like one of those foreign call centres, giving us a list of things that we don’t want to hear and you are ignoring what we want to say to you. You are proposing all these changes and you are here to consult but this is just a PR job. We know about the problems that exist but we are not getting the services we deserve. You have come here with an agenda and you have spoken for a very long time and it’s about time you let the public speak.”

That prompted applause from the 100-strong audience and Sue Lewis was forced to cut short her presentation.

Another member of the audience remarked that the Health Board were talking at them and not with them. She added: “We have come here to talk, not to be lectured.”

The Director of Public Health, Theresa Owen, had earlier spoken about leading an active lifestyle but another person added: “We want to know what is happening, we know not to smoke and drink. We came here to find out about the nitty gritty of our Health Board.”

One member of the public then went on to speak about the recruitment problems facing Hywel Dda saying: “How can you expect to employ people when they can’t be sure that the job they have is secure?”

Chief Executive Steve Moore responded and talked about a vibrant future for Withybush and added that they needed to assure people that they are putting quality and safety in to everything that they do. He also said that they were looking at bringing care closer to people who live in rural communities.

Another member later added: “In terms of recruitment, why are these people who are showing interest not getting the job?”

Speaking about the problems facing the ambulance service, one person said: “You treat us as if we don’t know. You can’t have an ambulance that goes to Swansea. You haven’t considered the miles they have to travel.”

The Head of Operations for Hywel Dda responded saying that they had considered the miles and also added that six ambulances are on duty in Pembrokeshire and that one of those would be a 24hr vehicle dedicated to Withybush.

Another member of the public talked about the beds in Withybush saying: “There were 384 beds in Withybush when it opened, there are now 120. That is a big bed drop. If you haven’t got a bed there is nowhere to put the patients and this is partly why the ambulance service are overworked.”

He went on to say that months were going by before posts were filled and added that it showed a lack of planning.

Finally he asked if they were aware that nurses were being asked to fill positions in which they were not qualified.

Bernadine Rees responded: “We are all here to protect and support safe and quality services in Pembrokeshire. We have to work together. Hywel Dda wants to be an employer of choice. We are supporting Pembrokeshire services and we want to work with all the groups.”

Another member of the public responded: “If it wasn’t for those groups (SWAT etc.) the public wouldn’t know. The Health Board haven’t been open and honest about what has happened. We need to see you being honest.”

Bernadine Rees responded: “Nobody is shying away from the fact that we need to change.”

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Entertainment

Foreigner in My Body – Workshop and show

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HOW we see ourselves isn’t always how others see us. Join movement artist Sara Hartel in a workshop that explores the tension between identity and perception here at the Torch Theatre this Wednesday followed by a work in progress show on Thursday with Foreigner in My Body.

The evening workshop will give you an opportunity to learn how to creatively use audio description in a safe, nurturing environment which gives you space to explore the role gender plays in how we move, and how others see the way we move, through the creation of a piece of movement.

The show itself, Foreigner in My Body, is a work in progress show exploring the transgender journey through the lens of crossing borders. It blends circus, physical theatre and storytelling with malicious audio description. A story of rebellion and trans joy. Think of the burlesque of airport security, the luggage carousel of emotional baggage and a plane crash on aerial silks.

The workshop will be held on Wednesday 12 February at 7pm and the show on Thursday 13 February at 7pm. Both the workshop and show are suitable for those 14+. Anyone who attends the workshop can go the performance for FREE too!

Tickets for Foreigner in My Body are priced at £5.00. Visit the website for further details on www.torchtheatre.co.uk or phone the Box Office on (01646) 695267.

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Crime

Woman ‘high on drugs’ crashes into parked cars in Milford Haven

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DYFED-POWYS Police were called to Priory Road, Milford Haven, at around 10:15am on Friday (Feb 14) following reports of a collision involving three vehicles.

A 43-year-old woman was arrested on suspicion of driving under the influence of drugs.

She has been bailed pending further inquiries.

Two vehicles parked on the side of the road, both belonging to nearby residents, were damaged in the crash.

A witness at the scene said: “I saw the woman. She was absolutely off her face, and lost control of her car. Its really lucky that no one was hurt.”

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Community

Feed the Community Event Attended by Local MS

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SENEDD Member Paul Davies has recently visited the Feed the Community initiative at the Haverhub in Haverfordwest. Feed the Community is supported by Haverfordwest Town Council and organised by Councillor Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner and Councillor Dani Thomas-Turner. The project, which supported by several local organisations, invites residents to the Hub where free hot meals are provided and there are free activities to get involved in.

Mr Davies said, “Feed the Community is a fantastic initiative and it’s great to see the local community working together to create these inclusive and welcoming events.”

He added, “It’s a great way for local businesses and charities to engage with residents and build bridges in the community. The event was so well attended, and I was delighted to talk to residents, business representatives and volunteers. The atmosphere at the Hub was very positive and I was delighted to see it all for myself.”

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