News

Petition for paediatric services handed in at Senedd

Published

9 years ago

March 8, 2016

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A PETITION calling for services to be returned to Withybush hospital has been handed in at the Senedd today.
Hospital campaigner and activist Myles Bamford-Lewis handed in the petition, which had 20,557 signatures, to local AMs Paul Davies and Simon Thomas.
The petition called for Health Minister Mark Drakeford to return 24 hour paediatric services to Withybush Hospital.

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “We acknowledge this petition, and clearly we still have a significant challenge ahead in demonstrating to the Pembrokeshire public the safety of the services we provide our children from both Withybush and Glangwili hospitals.“The majority of healthcare for children is still provided in Pembrokeshire, through our GP services, including out-of-hours; the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit (PACU) at Withybush Hospital, which is open every day of the week from 10am to 10pm; and through provision of minor injury care for children from Withybush Emergency and Urgent Care Centre, 24 hours a day. For example, in recent months, approximately 76 per cent of emergency attendances to the PACU at Withybush were seen and treated there and children discharged home, and 24 per cent were transferred elsewhere, the vast majority to Glangwili Hospital. A recent independent expert report from the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health concluded changes were safe and sustainable, with improved compliance with national and professional service standards and no evidence of worsened outcomes in paediatric or maternity care.“The report did highlight areas where further improvement is needed, and we accept that not all families have received the best of experiences. We continue to work hard with our doctors, nurses and service managers to learn and make improvements. We have already made provision to support vulnerable families with transport, and we are progressing planning for Phase Two capital project to improve accommodation at Glangwili Hospital, as well plans to move the PACU at Withybush Hospital so it is closer and more easily accessible to the Emergency and Urgent Care Centre, strengthening support between the two departments. There is a meeting with our clinicians next week to review paediatric patient pathways in light of some of the concerns we have heard from families to review if there are improvements that can be made either to frontline services and communication between healthcare professionals or to communication with the general public about how to access these services and what to expect from them.“We are also looking very closely at two specific recommendations from the expert report, around merging paediatric consultant teams and bringing all major gynaecological surgery onto one site, as we believe we need further engagement with our clinical staff and patients to understand any implications and develop solutions together.”

News

Residents urged to check eligibility for Warm Homes scheme

Published

2 mins ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

PEOPLE living in Mid and West Wales are being urged to check if they are eligible to join the 11,550 homes across the region which have already been adapted to make them warmer, greener and fit for the future under a Welsh Labour Government scheme.

Between 2011 and 2024, 82,000 households benefitted from measures in their homes through the Welsh Labour Government’s Warm Homes Nest Scheme.

Joyce Watson MS, Labour Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales, said:

“I know that many of my constituents in Mid and West Wales are worried about their energy bills. The Welsh Labour Government recognises this and is spending £30 million this year to help cut bills.”

First Minister Eluned Morgan MS, Labour Senedd Member for Mid and West Wales, added:

“Thousands of eligible homes in Mid and West Wales have already benefitted from the Warm Homes Scheme, and yours could be next.

“In 2022-2023, the original scheme saved families on average £422 a year on their energy bills – real money that can make a real difference to people’s lives.”

The Warm Homes Scheme works by offering free, impartial advice to anyone and practical upgrades to eligible homes. These upgrades could include heat pumps, solar panels and better insulation, while appliances such as boilers can be repaired and replaced.

The Welsh Government also offers interest-free loans through the Green Homes Wales scheme, for homeowners who want to save energy but can’t afford the initial costs. 2,500 people in Wales have already engaged in the scheme.

Upgrading home energy efficiency is not just about saving money, but also helps save our environment. Reducing the energy that we use in our homes is one practical way to help the Welsh Government reach its commitment to net-zero by 2050.

Find out what support you may be eligible for by visiting the Welsh Government Nest Cymru website and the Green Homes Wales website.

Crime

Police investigate as spate of burglaries hits West Wales communities

Published

6 mins ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have said they are investigating a series of burglaries that occurred in the St Clears, Narberth, and Haverfordwest areas on 22 January 2025. The incidents, which police believe are linked, have resulted in property damage and the theft of valuable items including cash, jewellery, and power tools.

Detective Inspector Owen Lock has reassured the public that enquiries are ongoing and the force is committed to apprehending those responsible. He urged residents to report any suspicious activities, emphasising the importance of community vigilance.

“No matter how insignificant it may seem, please report all suspicious activity to police immediately, and don’t assume someone else would have notified us,” DI Lock stated.

In light of these events, police are advising residents and second-home owners to check their properties, ensure they are secure, and safeguard valuables by using protective marking and secure storage.

This recent spate of burglaries follows an attempted break-in at a flat above the Welsh Bakery in Robert Street, Milford Haven, between 18 and 20 January 2025.

The proximity in time and location suggests a possible surge in criminal activity in the region.

Residents are encouraged to remain vigilant and report any concerns to Dyfed-Powys Police via their website, email, social media, or by calling 101. For those wishing to remain anonymous, Crimestoppers can be contacted on 0800 555111 or through their website.

As investigations continue, local authorities are working to enhance community safety and prevent further incidents. Residents are advised to review their home security measures and stay informed about crime prevention strategies available on the Dyfed-Powys Police website.

Cymraeg

Welsh speakers drop to shocking lowest percentage in eight years

Published

23 mins ago

January 23, 2025

Tom Sinclair

THE PERCENTAGE of Welsh speakers has fallen to its lowest level in over eight years, with just 27.7% of people in Wales able to speak the language, according to government statistics.

Data from the annual population survey, which covers the year ending 30 September 2024, estimates there are around 851,700 Welsh speakers in Wales. This marks a 1.6% decline compared to the previous year.

Despite the drop, the Welsh government remains resolute in its commitment to increasing the number of Welsh speakers. A spokesperson said: “We are absolutely committed to our goal of having one million Welsh speakers and doubling the daily use of Welsh.”

The ambitious target of one million Welsh speakers by 2050 is measured using census data, rather than the annual population survey.

Census data paints a stark picture
The 2021 census revealed a further decline in Welsh speakers, with only 17.8% of residents—approximately 538,000 people aged three and older—reporting they could speak the language.

Welsh speakers by the numbers
The annual population survey provides further insights:

Children lead the way: 48.6% of children and young people aged 3 to 15 reported they could speak Welsh, equating to 237,600 individuals. However, this figure has been gradually declining since 2019.
Regional highs and lows:
- Gwynedd boasts the highest number of Welsh speakers (93,600), followed by Carmarthenshire (93,300) and Cardiff (83,300).
- Blaenau Gwent and Merthyr Tydfil have the fewest Welsh speakers, with 9,500 and 10,600, respectively.
- In percentage terms, Gwynedd (77.9%) and the Isle of Anglesey (63.6%) lead, while Rhondda Cynon Taf (13.9%) and Blaenau Gwent (14%) rank lowest.

How often is Welsh spoken?
Among those who can speak Welsh:

13.9% (428,800 people) speak it daily.
5.6% (171,300) use it weekly.
6.7% (204,700) speak it less often.
1.5% (46,500) never speak Welsh despite being able to.

The remaining 72.3% of people in Wales do not speak Welsh at all.

Understanding Welsh
Beyond speaking:

32.2% (989,300 people) reported they could understand spoken Welsh.
24.4% (751,600) can read Welsh.
22.1% (680,100) can write in the language.

Survey sample size questioned
The annual population survey, conducted by the Office for National Statistics (ONS), has faced criticism over falling sample sizes in recent years. However, the ONS confirmed to the BBC that 14,881 responses were used for the Welsh language questions in the latest survey.

The figures underline the challenges facing efforts to revitalize the Welsh language, even as the government strives to meet its ambitious 2050 targets.