News

Shortage of GPs set to get worse

Published

10 years ago

March 17, 2015

THE NUMBER of GP vacancies in Pembrokeshire is a genuine threat to frontline services, the Pembrokeshire Herald has been told.

This newspaper recently reported that Dr Chris Van Kempen of the Goodwick practice was to retire this year and that the practice would subsequently be run as a managed practice by the Local Health Board.

Since that report, The Herald has learned that Dr Kevin Hill of the Barlow House practice in Milford Haven is to leave, while the situation at Tenby GP practice continues to cause grave concern, as a staff member is currently on sick leave.

In a statement dated February 16, Dr Phil Kloer, Executive Director of Primary, Community and Mental Health Services for Hywel Dda UHB, said: “Tenby GP Surgery is currently experiencing high levels of staff sickness. On behalf of the practice I’d like to reassure patients that the surgery is open and patients with appointments for week beginning Monday 16 February will still be seen as planned. Out of hours services are also unaffected.

“We recognise the importance of being able to access local general medical care and we are working closely with the practice at this time to minimise the impact on patient care. We will keep patients informed and provide an update at the earliest opportunity.”

In 2011’s consultation on the future of health services in Pembrokeshire, the Board justified the closure of Minor Injury Units at Tenby Cottage Hospital and South Pembs by claiming GP practices would fulfil those units’ roles. Not only has that has not happened, but the announcement was made without consulting with any of the GP practices in the areas affected by the units’ closure. The Herald understands that Pembrokeshire is chronically short of GP’s and that there are as many as ten unfilled vacancies for GP’s within Pembrokeshire.

The migration of services from Haverfordwest to Glangwili has placed significant extra strain on the out of hours GP service, with the service no longer offered at South Pembs Hospital at the weekends. The current Out of Hours service was revealed to be in difficulty in a document prepared by Withybush Hospital Director of Clinical Care Dr Iain Robertson-Steel and leaked to the media. Notwithstanding those difficulties, the Board claimed that GP’s were able to fill in the gaps at Withybush A&E under what was described at the time as ‘a new way of working’.

The Herald understands that there has been no substantial progress in discussions between the Board and GP’s.

One GP told our reporter that not only were the claims made by the Board “undeliverable” but that the Board should have concentrated on shoring up the creaking Out of Hours service and resolving GP recruitment issues before making such an announcement in the first place.

The situation in Pembrokeshire is not unique. The take up of GP training places has fallen to 62% in parts of England. A coalition pledge to train and extra 3,250 GP’s by this year has already been shunted back to 2016 and there is little sign of even that rigged target being hit.

Director of Primary Care, Community and Mental Health Dr Philip Kloer told The Herald: “The University Health Board is working extremely hard with a number of surgeries in Pembrokeshire to address what are UK-wide challenges in GP recruitment. At present, we are actively recruiting for a salaried GP to support Goodwick Practice and a GP for the out-of-hours service at Withybush Hospital. This is part of a significant Health Board-wide recruitment drive, which is having some success in attracting applicants to our organisation. We are also working closely with Tenby Surgery to support them in finding some locum GP cover, whilst they are experiencing some staff shortages. In addition, we are working with partners, such as the Welsh Ambulance Service Trust, to provide other skilled healthcare professional posts for unscheduled (unplanned) care at Tenby Surgery. Our longer term plans include working with primary care GPs and emergency departments to develop new integrated models of care, and potentially introducing more care through salaried GPs and advanced practitioners (i.e. employed directly by the University Health Board) to sustain services and provide opportunities to network and target support where it is needed most.”

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

8 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

12 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.