TRIBUTES have been paid to Gareth Griffiths, who worked for one of Pembrokeshire’s largest and best-known haulage firms for more than three decades.

Mansel Davies Group announced that its former employee sadly passed away on Monday, July 13.

During more than 30 years with the company, Gareth carried out a variety of roles, including tipper driving and vehicle recovery work.

The company shared a photograph of Gareth standing beside one of its distinctive Volvo lorries and paid tribute to his many years of dedicated service.

Gareth will be laid to rest at Hermon Chapel at 11:00am on Saturday, August 1.

The thoughts of his former colleagues are with Gareth’s family and friends.

Cysga’n dawel, Gareth.

Health board says it is increasing capacity after figures revealed hip replacement patients waited an average of 64 weeks

HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD has appointed two additional surgeons as part of efforts to reduce lengthy waits for orthopaedic treatment across west Wales.

The health board confirmed the appointments after figures revealed that patients undergoing elective hip replacement surgery waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year.

That is equivalent to more than 64 weeks from referral to treatment.

As of May 28, 2026, a total of 1,608 patients were on Hywel Dda’s waiting list for hip replacement surgery.

Sixteen patients were also removed from the list during the financial year after deciding to undergo private treatment.

Responding to questions from The Herald, Gareth Cottrell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, acknowledged the effect prolonged waits were having on patients.

He said: “The current national delivery expectation for health boards in Wales is to treat orthopaedic patients within a maximum of 104 weeks from the point of referral to treatment.

“In recent years, waiting times for orthopaedic treatment in Hywel Dda have been among the lowest of any health board in Wales, but we recognise that waiting times remain too long and the impact these have on our patients while awaiting the treatment they need.”

The health board said it continued to maintain dedicated ward and theatre capacity for elective orthopaedic procedures at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Day-case surgery is also being carried out at units across Hywel Dda’s hospital sites.

Mr Cottrell said: “We remain committed to improving waiting times and are working closely with our regional health board partners to maximise the treatment capacity we can offer patients across the wider South West Wales area.

“During the past year, we have appointed two additional surgeons to support our continuing efforts to reduce waiting times.”

The health board did not provide details of where the new surgeons would be based, how many additional operations they were expected to carry out or when patients would begin to see a significant reduction in waiting times.

Plans to expand orthopaedic capacity also formed part of Hywel Dda’s Clinical Services Plan consultation.

Mr Cottrell added: “Improving our orthopaedic services has also been a key part of our Clinical Services Plan that we consulted upon last year, with plans being developed to increase capacity and help more patients access the care they need.”

Hip replacements are commonly offered to patients suffering severe pain, stiffness and loss of mobility after other treatments, including physiotherapy, medication and injections, have failed to provide sufficient relief.

Lengthy waits can leave patients struggling with worsening pain, disturbed sleep and a loss of independence, while some may be forced to reduce their working hours or leave employment.

The waiting-time figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted by healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.

The company said the health board returned its response on June 8, 2026.

A MAYDAY call sparked a major nighttime rescue after an 84-year-old man fell from a tender and was swept towards rocks near St Catherine’s Island in Tenby.

Both Tenby RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch shortly before 10.30pm on Friday, July 17, after the Coastguard received a distress call from a yacht anchored in North Bay.

The yacht’s crew reported seeing an elderly man who appeared to be in difficulty while attempting to return to his vessel in a small tender after spending time ashore in Tenby.

The all-weather lifeboat began searching between St Catherine’s Island and the North Highcliffe buoy, while the inshore lifeboat searched the waters beneath the Esplanade.

During the operation, the inshore lifeboat crew fired a white parachute flare to illuminate the area. The improved visibility allowed them to spot the tender, but when they reached it, they discovered it was empty.

The crew could then hear cries for help coming from the water.

A member of the public, Josh Dean, had rushed to the lifeboat station after seeing the tender being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s Island.

Using the information he provided, the lifeboat crews quickly located the man clinging to rocks at the island after he had fallen overboard in the strong current.

He was immediately taken aboard the lifeboat, warmed up and assessed for any urgent medical problems before being taken into Tenby Harbour.

The casualty was handed into the care of the Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team while an ambulance was requested. Due to high demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service, he was later taken into the lifeboat station to wait in warmth and safety.

Tenby RNLI said the information provided by Josh had saved valuable time during the search and helped crews locate the casualty more quickly.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Josh Dean, who came to the lifeboat station to report seeing the casualty being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s.

“The information Josh provided was invaluable. It undoubtedly saved valuable time during the search, helping our crews locate the casualty more quickly and ultimately contributing to saving his life.”