News

The NHS is ‘worth fighting for’

Published

10 years ago

February 18, 2015

Tom Sinclair

New Boss: Steve Moore, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board

IN HIS first interview with a Pembrokeshire newspaper since taking up his post, Steve Moore, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, told the Pembrokeshire Herald that he wanted to involve pressure groups, clinicians and the public in the debate about what Withybush Hospital can do to support the local population and revealed what motivated him to return to the NHS as Chief Executive of the Local Health Board.

“I moved out of the NHS for a while to get a different perspective and refresh.” Steve told us. “While I was away from the NHS, I realised that it was in my blood and I enjoyed working within it. The NHS is an institution that I am passionate about: It is hugely important and faces big challenges. I think it is worth fighting for.”

Considering why he had elected to return to NHS management through Hywel Dda UHB, Steve expressed his desire that the Board provide an integrated service: “Looking at England, there are many people there who believe that an integrated model, where we have acute, community and primary care working together will solve a lot of problems. What I see in Hywel Dda is a lot of the building blocks are in place to enable that; in a very rural community, and I come from a rural background, I want to develop that model where we have the means at hand to do so. I’m five weeks in. I am still finding my way around. But I am really positive and excited about how we can move services on. That is why I am here.”

Asked whether he could draw a line under the past, move on and be categorical about the future of service provision, Mr Moore told us: “I’m hearing the concern. I have been to two public meetings over the last two weeks. It needs a line drawing under it. The clinical reasons underlying those decision have not changed. However, we do have the review going on, we need to acknowledge that we might not have got it entirely correct, right up front. We are keen to work with pressure groups, clinicians and the public to learn whether the transfers have happened in the way we planned them. I am sure there are things we can do to improve things for patients who have to move further for treatment than before; however, the clinical argument for changing services and transferring them remains the same. We need to move on, but we need to continue the discussion about what clinical models ought to look like. For me and the Board, having been very clear that each of our hospitals has a sustainable future, we no need to debate how those hospitals best serve the communities in which they sit.”

Steve was clear that he had not come across a situation where the Welsh language had discouraged recruitment, as claimed by the Welsh Deanery. Revealing that he was eager to learn the language, he went on to say: “We need to ensure that where patients’ first language is Welsh we can communicate effectively with them. I have not been here long, but I have not come across the Welsh language dissuading people from applying. There are far more significant things locally affecting recruitment that we need to deal with, such as setting out our positive vision for the future. I would rather get on with tackling those things.”

Responding to criticism by Simon Hart MP that the Board’s communication had been poor, the new CEO was clear: “We need to be clear about our overall aim, that patients can get prompt treatment. That might not always be in their local hospital. Clinical practice changes all the time. There is a danger in having a blueprint which needs constant amendment. There are some ‘red-line’ issues, such as the provision of 24/7 A&E, where we need to be open and transparent with the public about the issues we face regarding recruitment. The Board’s approach is how we build an ongoing relationship. We have had a couple of public meetings already and we have learned from those, so that we changed the format of the second meeting at Letterston to be less one of us telling than of us listening. We got it wrong, the public told us we had got it wrong, so we changed the format. We need to continue to flex and also to hear from people that we sometimes do not hear from. We have a strong desire to be out there talking, listening: we are facing big challenges and we need to be honest and open about that. We won’t find all the answers sitting around a board table, we need to communicate and the more we do that, the better it will be for the future of health services in our local area.”

Refusing to be drawn on past issues with communication between the Board and the public, Mr Moore was, however, very clear on his position and that of the Board generally: “The ethos we have is that it is not our health service, it belongs to the taxpayers. I can’t see a more important job for the Board than to engage with the public. We’re not going to solve the problems we face unless we have the public on board, both understanding the challenges and helping us deliver the solutions. You will see our clinicians out there more often: they are the experts and I think it is important the public know their viewpoint and their views. It is also important that clinicians get to hear the public’s point of view.”

Reflecting on the sometimes difficult relationship the Board has had with the media: “I’m looking forward to having a strong relationship with the press, who can help us reach members of the public we do not reach through our efforts alone. There needs to be a positive – and critical – relationship between the media and the Board. We need to celebrate the good news stories about the way our staff deliver services under great pressure and in the face of great challenges.”

Concluding he said: “I am genuinely positive for the future. You only have to visit our hospitals, to sit in a public meeting and feel the public’s passion. The NHS is a great institution. We will have to find new solutions, the world has changed since 1948. I am positive about that change and feel we have a strong platform to work from.”

Education

Nursery place application deadline reminder from Local Authority

Published

33 seconds ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PARENTS and guardians of children in Pembrokeshire born between 01/09/2022 – 31/08/2023 are invited to apply for a Nursery school place for January, April and September 2026 by the closing date of 30^th April 2025.

Applications received after 30^th April 2025 will be considered late which may have a bearing on whether the child gets a place at your preferred school.

It is important to note that no school place will be allocated unless a formal application is received.

The online application form can be found on the Pembrokeshire County Council website: www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/schools-and-learning under ‘Apply for a School Place’.

For information on which term your child would be due to join nursery, please follow this link to our Information to Parents which sets out the terms based on your child’s date of birth and which school you are applying to.

There is no need to re-apply if you have already submitted an application form. You can view your current applications by logging into your My Account and into the ‘Schools & Learning’ ‘School Admissions & Transport’ section.

Parents/guardians are reminded that attending a Nursery at a school does not guarantee a Primary place (to start in September 2027) and a separate application does need to be submitted for this. This application can be submitted at the same time as your Nursery application.

Parents/guardians will be notified of Nursery places by 31^st July 2025.

News

Welsh Conservatives call for stronger action on marine littering

Published

4 minutes ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have urged the Labour Government to take more decisive action to tackle marine littering following a reported rise in beach waste levels across Wales.

During Spokesperson’s Questions to the Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Climate Change and the Environment, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, expressed concern about the state of the marine environment.

Despite Wales being ranked second in the world for recycling and the Welsh Government having declared both a climate emergency and a nature emergency, the average amount of litter found on Welsh beaches has increased by 4%, prompting questions over the government’s approach to marine conservation.

Commenting on the figures, Ms Finch-Saunders said:

“These figures show a worrying trend occurring on our beaches across Wales, with birds and sea mammals being placed at increasing risk due to Labour’s inaction.

“In terms of nature recovery, this issue is simply not being addressed by the Labour Government. We are seeing progress across the border, yet the problem persists here in Wales under the Welsh Labour Government’s watch.

“Given the serious risk to marine animals and the broader marine environment, the Labour Government must do more to combat marine littering and support our marine ecosystems.”

Environmental campaigners and marine charities have also called for increased efforts to tackle plastic waste and improve coastal cleanliness. The Welsh Government has previously committed to enhancing marine protection and reducing single-use plastics, though opposition parties argue that further action is needed to reverse recent trends.

Business

UK’s largest semiconductor facility secures major investment

Published

12 minutes ago

March 27, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Newport factory to support 500 new jobs and play vital role in EV supply chain

WALES is set to benefit from a £250 million investment into its advanced manufacturing sector, as US tech giant Vishay Intertechnology commits to expanding operations at the UK’s largest semiconductor facility in Newport.

The investment is a major vote of confidence in Wales’s industrial capabilities and will further strengthen South Wales’s status as home to the world’s first Compound Semiconductor Cluster. It comes as part of the UK government’s Plan for Change to grow the economy, support skilled jobs, and enhance national resilience in critical sectors.

Chancellor of the Exchequer Rachel Reeves will visit the Newport site today (Thursday, March 27) to formally welcome the investment, which will boost production of Silicon Carbide semiconductors—an essential component in electric vehicles (EVs). These next-generation chips enable faster battery charging, improved energy efficiency, and extended driving ranges.

The development is expected to directly create over 500 high-value, highly-skilled jobs in Newport and support hundreds more across the wider supply chain. The project is backed by the UK’s Automotive Transformation Fund (ATF), which supports innovation and domestic supply in critical technologies such as semiconductors.

Chancellor Rachel Reeves said: “Under this government, the UK is open for business. This is exactly the type of investment that will help us grow the economy, create highly-skilled jobs, and boost opportunity across the country, as we deliver on our Plan for Change to get more money into working people’s pockets.”

The investment follows the Chancellor’s Spring Statement, where she announced a “new era of security and national renewal.” The Office for Budget Responsibility has upgraded growth forecasts for 2026 and beyond, with households expected to be £500 better off per year by the end of this Parliament compared to under the previous government.

The announcement marks a major step in the UK’s ambition to become a global leader in advanced manufacturing. From 2010 to 2023, the UK saw the fastest growth in manufacturing productivity per job among G7 nations.

Business and Trade Secretary Jonathan Reynolds said:
“This is a huge vote of confidence in the Welsh economy and our plans to make Britain the destination of choice for investment in the industries of tomorrow. Vishay’s investment will help secure a domestic supply of semiconductors for our world-leading automotive and clean energy sectors—key drivers of long-term economic growth.”

Secretary of State for Wales Jo Stevens added:
“This massive investment by Vishay and the UK Government is a huge boost for Wales’s world-leading semiconductor industry. It will build on the success of our advanced manufacturing, renewable energy, and defence sectors—creating and supporting hundreds of skilled, well-paid jobs across South Wales.”

Vishay’s Chief Operating Officer for Semiconductors and Chief Technology Officer, Roy Shoshani, said:
“This is an exciting moment and the beginning of our growth journey in the UK. With a skilled workforce and strong government backing through the Industrial Strategy, the UK has an opportunity to lead in advanced semiconductor manufacturing—enhancing economic security and helping deliver Net Zero.”

The investment coincides with the Chancellor’s participation in the Invest in Women Taskforce roundtable in Wales, which has secured over £250 million in funding commitments for female entrepreneurs.

The Automotive Transformation Fund—delivered in partnership with the Advanced Propulsion Centre (APC)—has already helped unlock more than £6 billion in private sector investment for the UK’s transition to zero-emission vehicles. In addition, the Autumn Budget committed over £2 billion to capital and R&D funding for zero-emission vehicle manufacturing over the next five years.

Mike Hawes, Chief Executive of the Society of Motor Manufacturers and Traders (SMMT), said:
“This significant investment in compound semiconductors is a huge contribution to the innovation and advanced technology necessary to drive the future of UK automotive. British-made next-generation semiconductors will create jobs, support supply chains, and enhance the UK’s strategic capabilities.”