News
Health Board must keep the people’s trust


Board must deliver: Lee Waters
HYWEL DDA HEALTH BOARD need to show they are making progress with the changes at Prince Philip hospital to keep the trust of the people of Llanelli, warned Lee Waters, who is hoping to succeed Keith Davies as the Labour AM for Llanelli.
Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford has set aside £1m of highly sought after funding to implement the recommendations of the Prince Philip Hospital ‘Front of House’ project, but patients are anxious to see the improvements implemented.
“This model was developed locally and the proposals have wide support. The blueprint is the result of a lot of hard work from the Community Health Council, campaign group CIHS/ SOSPPAN and a team of local doctors, GPs and nurses. But there’s growing frustration that people can’t see any change on the ground” Lee Waters said.
The ‘Front of House’ project is being hailed as the future model for other hospitals to follow and will allow patients to be seen as soon as they enter Prince Phillip to decide the most appropriate treatment. The reform will allow patients most in need to be seen quickly, and will asses whether people attending the hospital need to see a consultant, a nurse or a more appropriate treatment outside the hospital.
Mark Drakeford has told the Llanelli Labour Party that there are a lot of other projects around Wales that want to get their hands on the £1 Million he’s set aside for Llanelli.
Lee Waters said: “The Health Minister is committed to funding the improvements to Prince Philip. But the Health Board have to pull their socks up and spend the money in time. This is a great model that has been developed locally but people need to see progress being made. The Welsh Labour Government have promised the money, now Hywel Dda Health Board need to deliver.”
Crime
Pembrokeshire businessman sentenced for £150,000 Covid loan fraud

Director lied on three loan applications after already receiving funds
A PEMBROKESHIRE businessman who fraudulently claimed £150,000 in Bounce Back Loans during the Covid-19 pandemic has been handed a suspended prison sentence.
ZAHID AFZAL, aged 37, of Albert Street, Haverfordwest, was sentenced at Swansea Crown Court on Thursday (June 12) to two years in prison, suspended for two years. He was also ordered to carry out 300 hours of unpaid work.
Afzal, the director of mobile phone businesses Phone Bits Ltd and Phones Onn Ltd, had already received £52,500 in legitimate Covid loans when he applied for a further three loans—one for Phone Bits and two for Phones Onn—between May and November 2020.
The court heard that Afzal lied on each of the second-round applications, claiming they were the first he had made and exaggerating the turnover of the businesses. Each loan was for £50,000—the maximum permitted under the government-backed Bounce Back Loan Scheme.
The Insolvency Service, which investigated the case, found that the majority of the £150,000 Afzal fraudulently secured was transferred to his personal accounts, in breach of the loan scheme’s conditions.
David Snasdell, Chief Investigator at the Insolvency Service, said: “It is clear from our investigations that Zahid Afzal felt he could continue to apply time and time again for loans he was not entitled to. His sentencing should serve as a reminder to those contemplating fraudulently pocketing taxpayers’ money to think again.”
Afzal’s companies operated phone shops and kiosks in Carmarthen, Shropshire, Andover, and North Devon. The Insolvency Service confirmed that no wrongdoing was found in relation to the original £20,000 and £32,500 loans he obtained for Phones Onn Ltd and Phone Bits Ltd respectively.
The government’s Bounce Back Loan Scheme was introduced to support small and medium-sized businesses during the pandemic, offering loans of up to £50,000 at low interest, guaranteed by the Government. Loans were strictly intended for business use only.
The Insolvency Service has confirmed it is now seeking to recover the £150,000 under the Proceeds of Crime Act 2002.
Crime
Police investigate ‘threats to kill’ at Milford Haven home

Financial dispute believed to be behind incident on Marble Hall Road
POLICE were called to a property in Milford Haven this week after the occupant reported that people were threatening to kill him.
The incident, which took place on Wednesday (June 11), led to a visible police presence at an address on Marble Hall Road. Dyfed-Powys Police have confirmed that officers are investigating a report of threats to kill.
In a statement, a police spokesperson said: “Officers are investigating a report of threats to kill made at a property on Marble Hall Road, Milford Haven, on Wednesday 11 June. Enquiries are ongoing.”
The Herald understands the incident may be linked to a financial dispute over money owed, although this has not been officially confirmed by police.
No arrests have been announced at this stage.
Anyone with information is asked to contact Dyfed-Powys Police online or by calling 101.
Crime
Two arrested following affray near Milford Marina

TWO people were arrested on Friday evening (June 6) following a disturbance reported on Pill Road in Milford Haven.
Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that officers responded to a report of an affray at around 7:45pm. A man aged 30 and a woman aged 28 were arrested near Milford Marina shortly afterwards. Both have since been released on police bail.
Police clarified that, contrary to some rumours circulating locally, no drugs raid took place in connection with the incident.
The Herald understands that the arrests followed a confrontation involving multiple individuals, but police have not released further details, including the identities of those arrested.
A spokesperson for Dyfed-Powys Police said: “Dyfed-Powys Police attended to a report of an affray on Pill Road, Milford Haven at around 7.45pm on Friday 6 June. One man, aged 30, and one woman, aged 28, were arrested on suspicion of affray and have been released on police bail.”
Enquiries into the incident are ongoing.
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Tomos
September 7, 2015 at 5:39 pm
“KEEP” The trust? too late mate