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Withybush attracts new recruits

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HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD has successfully recruited new nursing and medical staff at Withybush Hospital as part of itsnhs recruitment drive and support for the Haverfordwest hospital.

A recent recruitment day resulted in the appointment of 22 nurses across the Hywel Dda area, with four at Withybush Hospital. In addition, the UHB is attracting more interest from doctors in England, with one successful appointment to a consultant anaesthetist post at Withybush Hospital, due to start at the end of April.

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “I am really pleased that we have been able to make a number of appointments at Withybush Hospital and, along with our ongoing work to develop new and attractive service models, hope this demonstrates to the people of Pembrokeshire our very real commitment to the hospital. I would also like to acknowledge and thank frontline staff who have worked so hard during this extremely busy period.”

Across Wales, demand for hospital services has been at an all-time high and Withybush Hospital has faced significant pressure since the start of the year, particularly for emergency unscheduled care.

The University Health Board has established a dedicated Programme Board to support the hospital and ensure its commitment to providing emergency and urgent care at the hospital 24 hours a day is fulfilled. This involves detailed discussions and actions by a wide range of staff from senior clinical leads, doctors and other healthcare professionals, managers, GP representatives and other partners.

Significant effort has been channelled into improving recruitment and retention of staff. As well as the nursing and anaesthetist appointments, the University Health Board is exploring new service models aimed at attracting new staff and retaining existing staff.

Agreement has been reached on creating two additional physician posts at Withybush Hospital, which will improve rota cover and hopefully attract more applicants. It has also been agreed to establish a Consultant Ortho-Geriatrician, to provide specific care tailored for older orthopaedic patients. The Programme Board is also exploring new models of care for emergency and inpatient services. One of these is around frail, older patients, to reduce the incidence of them having to wait in the Emergency Department

In addition, career pages have been developed on a number of social media sites to highlight vacancies to a wider pool of talent. Corporate web pages have been revamped to highlight key links to travel, housing and schooling, aimed at making transition easier for re-locating candidates.

Current posts being advertised for Withybush Hospital, and which can be found on NHS Jobs (www.jobs.nhs. uk), include:

Trust CT medicine – an opportunity to gain experience in a modern busy general medicine unit in a rural setting with responsibility for patients on wards, clinical investigations, diagnosis and treatment of all patients admitted, including the maintaining of clinical notes and completion of discharge summaries

CT LAS emergency medicine – an opportunity for Junior Doctors wishing to gain experience in Emergency medicine or for those looking for a career in Emergency Medicine in a modern busy general medicine unit in a rural setting

Speciality Doctor General Medicine – we are looking for dynamic and motivated doctors to join our general medicine specialities including Care of the Elderly, Respiratory, Diabetes/Endocrinology, Gastroenterology Cardiology and Oncology

Trust CT General Surgery – an opportunity to gain experience in general surgery with responsibility for patients on wards, clinical investigations, diagnosis and treatment of all patients admitted, including the maintaining of clinical notes and completion of discharge summaries

Staff Nurse Gynaecology – we are looking for an enthusiastic and motivated individual to join our gynaecology outpatient department team. The gynaecology department is a busy unit providing a wide range of clinics and procedures, diagnostic and therapeutic. The Department has a friendly supportive environment, which is strongly focused on teamwork and patient care

Consultant Ortho-Geriatrician – the existing Elderly Medicine team contribute to the acute medical on call as well as the rehabilitation and assessment of patients. The post holder will develop within the Orthopaedic Department an acute service for the management of Hip Fractures, and a comprehensive rehabilitation service for all orthopaedic patients within the department

Staff nurse Outpatients – we have a vacancy within our busy Outpatient Departments based at Withybush Hospital and covering outpatient areas at both Tenby and South Pembrokeshire Hospitals

Chair Bernardine Rees said: “Withybush Hospital remains open 24-hours a day. We want to continue to work with our staff, public and stakeholders because all of us have the same desire – to protect provision of excellent NHS services here in Pembrokeshire and the rest of Hywel Dda.”

 

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Community

New corporate member joins Narberth & Whitland Rotary

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NARBERTH & Whitland Rotary has welcomed its first Corporate Member.

On Wednesday (Feb 11), Stephen Vale, Insurance Broker Manager with Lloyd & Whyte in St Clears, was formally inducted at the club.

The induction ceremony was carried out by South Wales District Governor Ian Hughes, following an introduction by Narberth & Whitland Rotary President Robin Bradbury.

Corporate Membership recognises the increasing emphasis businesses place on corporate social responsibility, enabling companies to give back to their local communities through Rotary’s established structures and projects.

Rotary says corporate membership also offers opportunities for staff development, leadership experience, and involvement in fundraising and volunteering activities that deliver tangible benefits to the community.

Pictured (left to right): South Wales District Governor Ian Hughes, Corporate Member Stephen Vale, and Narberth & Whitland President Robin Bradbury.

 

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Community

Second Milford Haven webcam launched after 1.3m views and US TV feature

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Twin live feeds from Herald roof now showcase both marina and Milford Haven Waterway

A SECOND live webcam overlooking Milford Haven has gone live from the roof of 11 Hamilton Terrace — home of The Pembrokeshire Herald — expanding the town’s growing global digital footprint.

The original harbour-facing camera, streamed worldwide via EarthCam, has already clocked up more than 1,300,000 views. It even featured on ABC News in the United States, where the Milford Haven view was broadcast live ahead of a national weather forecast.

That first stream — listed on EarthCam as “Wales Waterway” — looks across Milford Marina and the busy lower reaches of the Haven, capturing ferry departures, commercial shipping, leisure craft and the changing light across the Pembrokeshire skyline.

Now, a second camera has been added, offering a complementary perspective further up the Milford Haven Waterway towards the Cleddau.

A global window on Wales’ largest port

The new feed captures daily activity along the largest port in Wales — from the twice-daily Wales–Ireland ferry sailings to petroleum, oil and gas tankers moving more than 60 million tonnes of cargo each year. Thousands of smaller vessels, from yachts to powerboats, also pass through the Waterway annually.

Together, the two cameras provide twin live perspectives of one of the UK’s most strategically significant maritime corridors.

As dawn broke over Milford Haven this morning, the Waterway lay still beneath a clear sky, the first light spilling across rooftops and masts before stretching out over the wide expanse of the Haven.

From the vantage point of Hamilton Terrace, the scene felt both intimate and expansive — a quiet town waking gently while a major working port prepared for another day of movement and industry.

It is moments like these that help explain the worldwide appeal of the EarthCam streams. Viewers tuning in from across the UK, Europe and North America are not simply watching ships pass; they are witnessing the rhythm of tide and trade, the sweep of weather systems, and the subtle beauty of West Wales unfolding in real time.

From dramatic winter steam plumes rising from power station chimneys to calm summer sunsets over the marina, Milford Haven’s live feeds have become a constantly changing digital canvas.

Watch live

Original harbour view (1.3 million+ views):
https://www.earthcam.com/world/uk/wales/?cam=waleswaterway

New up-the-Waterway view:
https://www.earthcam.com/world/uk/wales/?cam=waleswaterway2

The Herald hopes the second camera will prove just as popular — continuing to put Milford Haven on the global map, one sunrise at a time.

 

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Welsh rugby faces ticket slump as Six Nations sales stall

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WALES’ Six Nations campaign is facing an unexpected off-field challenge, with thousands of seats still empty for upcoming home fixtures at Cardiff’s 74,000-capacity Principality Stadium.

Figures from the Welsh Rugby Union ticketing platform show significant availability remains for all three remaining championship games in the capital. The shortfall is most noticeable for March’s meeting with Italy, while seats are also still on sale for clashes with France and Scotland.

For a tournament traditionally regarded as the crown jewel of the Welsh sporting calendar, such availability is unusual. Home internationals in Cardiff have long been considered near-guaranteed sell-outs.\

https://ichef.bbci.co.uk/ace/standard/1024/cpsprodpb/3d67/live/400bc7f0-296e-11ef-951f-bfad685c889d.jpg

Grassroots clubs counting the cost

Several community clubs allocated ticket packages are now scrambling to avoid financial losses.

Some club officials have taken to social media to try to shift surplus tickets. Others say they are facing invoices for thousands of pounds despite not selling their full allocations.

One grassroots representative told The Herald that unsold tickets could leave his club thousands of pounds out of pocket — a significant blow for volunteer-run organisations already balancing tight budgets.

Matchday prices range broadly depending on seating category, with some fans questioning whether the cost of attending still represents value for money.

Performance and politics

On-field struggles have coincided with uncertainty off it.

Wales endured a prolonged losing streak before breaking the run last summer and have not lifted the Six Nations title since 2023. A heavy opening defeat in this year’s championship has done little to restore confidence among supporters.

Away from results, tensions remain over the future structure of the professional regional game, with debate continuing about funding, governance and the long-term direction of Welsh rugby.

Sports economist Calvin Jones said sustained under-capacity crowds would be concerning, noting that international gate receipts form a major part of the sport’s financial model in Wales.

“The stadium is critical to the game’s financial health,” he has previously warned. “If reduced attendances became a trend rather than a one-off, that would raise serious questions.”

WRU confident of late surge

The Welsh Rugby Union insists supporter loyalty remains strong and says sales have accelerated since the tournament began.

Officials point to changing purchasing habits, with more fans buying closer to matchday rather than months in advance.

They remain confident that the atmosphere in Cardiff will remain vibrant when France visit, with hopes that traditional matchday traditions — from the anthem to the post-match celebrations — will continue to draw supporters through the gates.

Lowest crowds?

Historically, Six Nations matches in Cardiff have rarely dipped far below capacity. The lowest attendance in the tournament at the Principality Stadium came against Italy in 2002, while recent fixtures have generally drawn well over 60,000 spectators.

Whether the current dip reflects temporary frustration or a deeper shift in supporter behaviour may become clearer by the end of the championship.

For now, Welsh rugby finds itself fighting for momentum — both on the pitch and in the stands.

 

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