News

Withybush: Overseas doctors say they have received ‘a wonderful welcome’

Published

10 years ago

December 6, 2015

DOCTORS from overseas who are helping to maintain medical services at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, say they have received ‘a wonderful welcome’ from the NHS and patients alike.

Eight international doctors have now been employed directly by Hywel Dda University Health Board as clinical fellows to support the junior doctor rota and maintain emergency and medical services at the hospital for the Pembrokeshire population.

They have been provided with a two-year training scheme which mirrors many elements of the traditional core medical training (CMT) scheme for junior doctors in the UKs after Withybush Hospital was not allocated any CMTs in August of this year.

Twenty-seven-year-old Yan Lynn Htoo, from Burma, is based in the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre.

He said: “I applied for the job after seeing it advertised on the NHS jobs website and both the hospital and the local area have exceeded my expectations. I was quite anxious when I arrived having not worked in the UK before, but my shadowing and training has been invaluable and I have been supported by the whole multi-disciplinary team.

“In Myanmar (Burma) there is quite a hierarchy where doctors delegate responsibility for things like investigations and bloods to other members of staff. Here the doctor keeps responsibility and that is of benefit as you are personally responsible and there is less likelihood of unnecessary delay or information being missed in translation.

“Everything is computerised, so that has definitely been something of a challenge to overcome but colleagues have been really helpful and we work as one team. Patients have also been very nice and it has been a real insight to be based in the emergency department and see a full range of presentations from those with medical complaints, to those needing surgery, or young children with minor injuries.”

Dr Htoo undertook his medical training back in Myanmar (Burma) and worked previously in Mandalay General Hospital in the specialist areas of medicine, surgery, paediatrics, and obstetrics and gynaecology.

“Although some healthcare is provided free of charge in Myanmar (Burma), for specialist investigations like CT scans you usually have to pay,” he said. “Hopefully one day Myanmar (Burma) will have a system similar to the NHS where healthcare is free at the point of delivery.”

Dr Htoo’s initial intense induction is now complete and he is playing an active role on the junior doctor rota, whilst at the same time studying to achieve further qualifications over a two year period. This will be invaluable to my future career and I am very grateful,” he said.

Dr Htoo is also hoping to spend time travelling around Pembrokeshire and the local area. “I researched the area before applying for the position and part of the attraction was the beautiful beaches, which surpass those in England. I can see the hospital has its challenges being in a rural area, but hopefully this programme is part of the solution.”

The training programme offered by Hywel Dda University Health Board is the first of its kind in Wales and aims to recruit doctors to rural hospitals in an environment of a shortage of junior doctors across the UK. As part of the scheme, the university health board purchases an e-portfolio for each doctor to enable them to build their competencies and achieve qualifications just like other trainee doctors in the NHS.

Another clinical fellow who joined the scheme is 27-year-old Azhar Hussain, from Pakistan. Dr Hussain, who trained at Mayo Hospital in Lahore, is based primarily with the gastroenteritis team.

He said: “I am very grateful to Hywel Dda University Health Board for investing so robustly into this training scheme, which will give each of us invaluable portfolio experience over the two years. I don’t think any other hospital in the UK is doing this and I must say the whole experience – from the induction to the teaching and support with settling into the UK – has been excellent.

“The whole multi-disciplinary team at Withybush Hospital have been very patient and helpful with us. I would particularly like to mention the pharmacy department who have gone out of their way to assist us with protocols, my educational mentor Dr Faiz Ali who has taken such a personal interest in my wellbeing, Dr Chris James who has given much of his time to the clinical fellows on a daily basis, Erika Cowie and Tracy Sandell from Medical Education for setting up everything for our in-hospital simulation training sessions, and the entire medical, nursing, HR and Post Graduate support teams.”

Dr Hussain and his wife are settling well into the Haverfordwest area and have enjoyed seeing some of the local beauty spots and sites of interest.

“I must admit the weather hasn’t been the most co-operative,” said Dr Hussain. “I was working with the out-of-hours GPs the other evening when storm Barney hit and the winds shook the car as we passed over the Cleddau Bridge.”

Chief Executive Steve Moore recently met with Dr Htoo, Dr Hussain and others employed as part of the programme. He said: “Last summer we were faced with a great challenge and we put huge effort into finding a solution that would work for our area. It has been great to hear first-hand how this training is benefiting these doctors, whilst also contributing to our ability to sustain healthcare services for our population.

“We don’t underestimate the ongoing challenges with recruitment in medical and nursing staff, but this scheme is part of what we are doing proactively to adapt to the environment in which we operate.”

Crime

Man charged with attempted murder after Carmarthen park incident

Published

10 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Tom Sinclair

57-year-old due in court following alleged knife and stalking offences

A MAN has been charged with attempted murder following a serious incident in Carmarthen town centre last week.

Dyfed-Powys Police confirmed that James McKenna, aged 57, from Carmarthen, has been charged with attempted murder, possession of a bladed article in a public place, and stalking.

The charges relate to an incident in Carmarthen Park on Thursday (Jan 29), which prompted a significant emergency services response and caused concern among residents.

Police have not yet released full details of the circumstances, but officers were seen in and around the park area for several hours following the incident while enquiries were carried out.

McKenna is due to appear before Llanelli Magistrates Court on Thursday (Feb 5).

The Herald understands the case involves allegations of both violence and targeted behaviour towards an individual, with stalking listed among the charges.

Public concern

Carmarthen Park is a popular and busy public space used daily by families, dog walkers and joggers, and incidents of this severity are rare.

The news has prompted concern locally, particularly as the alleged offences include possession of a knife in a public place.

Residents have previously raised questions about safety in parks and open spaces across west Wales, especially during darker winter evenings.

Court proceedings

At this stage, the charges remain allegations and the case will now proceed through the courts.

Magistrates will decide whether the case is sent to Crown Court due to the seriousness of the attempted murder charge.

Further details are expected to emerge during Thursday’s hearing.

The Herald will be attending court and will provide updates as they become available.

Crime

Sex offender jailed after living off grid in Pembrokeshire and refusing to register

Published

10 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Court Reporter

Man walked into police station after months avoiding authorities

A CONVICTED sex offender who told police he intended to live “off grid” rather than comply with legal monitoring rules has been jailed after handing himself in at a Pembrokeshire police station.

Christopher Spelman, aged 66, of no fixed address, appeared for sentence at Swansea Crown Court after admitting breaching the notification requirements of the sex offenders register.

The court heard Spelman was released from prison in Dorset on July 4 last year but immediately refused to provide police with an address, despite being legally required to do so within three days.

Instead, he indicated he planned to buy a tent and live outdoors.

Prosecutor Brian Simpson said officers subsequently launched a nationwide search when Spelman failed to make contact with police. Public appeals were issued and his case featured on the television programme Crimewatch.

Detectives believed he had been travelling around the UK using public transport and staying at campsites. He was known to have links to several areas including Merseyside, Manchester, Devon, Cornwall and Hampshire.

His whereabouts remained unknown until January 3 this year, when he walked into Haverfordwest police station and was arrested. It is unclear how long he had been in Pembrokeshire.

Spelman previously served seven years in prison after being convicted in 2014 of 12 counts of sexually assaulting a girl under the age of 14. He was placed on the sex offenders register for life.

The court heard this was not the first time he had failed to comply with the rules. After an earlier release in 2016, he again failed to register his address and avoided police for around five years before being caught.

He has 11 previous convictions for 29 offences.

Defence barrister Andrew Evans described the case as unusual and said his client had long disputed his original conviction and had expressed a wish to live “outside society”.

However, he said Spelman had gradually accepted that he remained subject to court orders and now wanted more stable accommodation and a chance to rebuild his life. The defendant asked the court to impose a custodial sentence so arrangements could be made for his future release.

Judge Geraint Walters noted there were signs Spelman wished to change but warned that any further breaches would result in longer prison terms.

With credit for his guilty plea, Spelman was sentenced to 10 months in prison. He will serve up to half in custody before being released on licence.

Crime

Former Wales rugby star admits Christmas Day drink-driving offence

Published

16 hours ago

February 4, 2026

Sarah-Jane Absalom

Ex-Ospreys captain was almost twice over limit in Pembroke town centre

Former Wales back row Jonathan Thomas has admitted driving through Pembroke town centre on Christmas Day when he was almost twice over the drink-drive limit.

This week Haverfordwest magistrates heard that Thomas, 43, was stopped by officers as he drove his Mercedes CLA 220 along The Green, Pembroke, at around 5pm on Christmas Day.

“The officers were very concerned at the manner of his driving, as the car was being driven erratically and was swerving to the other side of the road,” said Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan.

“When Jonathan Thomas got out of the car, the officers could see that he was having difficulty standing and was unsteady on his feet.”

Subsequent breathalyser tests showed Thomas had 62 mcg of alcohol in his system, the legal limit being 35.

Thomas, who has no previous convictions, pleaded guilty to the drink-drive charge and was represented in court by solicitor Jess Hill.

“He has family in the area and had travelled to spend time with them on Christmas Day,” she told the magistrates. “He’s very remorseful for his actions and hugely regrets his decision that day.”

Jess Hill concluded by saying that Thomas is currently “between jobs and living off his savings”.

Thomas, who gave his address as Main Road, Bredon, was disqualified from driving for a total of 18 months.

“The length of your disqualification reflects the fact that you were more than a little bit over the limit,” commented the presiding magistrates when imposing sentence.

He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 court surcharge.

The former Wales back row left his role as Swansea RFC head coach at the beginning of December 2025 as a result of ongoing health concerns. He was forced to retire from playing in 2015 on medical advice after being diagnosed with epilepsy and is one of the 390 former rugby union players currently taking part in a concussion lawsuit against the sport’s authorities.

“Long-standing issues linked to the head trauma have caused me some concern recently and it has been impossible for me to give the role everything it needs,” he said in a previous interview with the BBC.

His rugby career started out with Pembroke RFC juniors before moving to Swansea RFC, which he captained when he was 19. He then joined the Ospreys where, over a ten-year period, he won four league titles and an Anglo-Welsh Cup. He was the youngest player to captain the Ospreys and, at the time of leaving, was the joint highest appearance holder, together with Andrew Bishop, on 188 appearances.

His international career saw him play for Wales at Under-16, Youth, Under-19, Under-21 and Sevens levels. He made his senior international debut against Australia in 2003, featured at the 2007 Rugby World Cup and was part of two Six Nations Grand Slam-winning sides in 2005 and 2008. Between 2004 and 2011, Thomas was included in every Wales Six Nations squad. In his appearances for Wales, he scored seven tries.