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Hospital transport service a ‘God-send‘

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Screen Shot 2016-04-18 at 09.22.20A MOTHER-OF-THREE from Monkton, Pembroke, has praised the Family Support Transport Service for the invaluable support they provided during her pregnancy.

Mum to 10-year-old Chloe, 4-yearold David and 3-month-old Nico, 28-year-old Bethan has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and finds it extremely difficult to use public transport even with the support of her partner – Mark Jones – who is also Bethan’s carer. She said:

“Having access to the transport service helped to ease my anxiety around public transport. I find it difficult to use public transport at the best of times, being heavily pregnant made it impossible.”

Bethan’s pregnancy with baby Nico wasn’t straightforward and left her needing extra health care: “My pregnancy with Nico wasn’t easy; I was diagnosed with anaemia, gestational diabetes, a vitamin B12 deficiency and symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

On top of that I was emotional with pregnancy hormones which made my BPD worse. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it to my appointments without the transport service.

“I’d never been to Glangwili Hospital before and didn’t know my way around. The drivers were so helpful; the first time I visited for an appointment the driver walked me to the department so I didn’t get stressed.

“Because of the gestational diabetes I also had to give birth in Glangwili Hospital. The thought of that was very daunting but all of the drivers were so polite and lovely and made me feel very comfortable. The man who drove me home after I gave birth to Nico even helped carry my bags!

“The service has been a Godsend to me and to my family. I can’t recommend it any more highly than I have.”

Bethan has also praised Flying Start Midwife, Linda Peacock, for arranging her access to the Family Support Transport Service:

“Linda was just brilliant, she was so much more to me than just a midwife.” Linda commented: “The service is fantastic. It is an invaluable help to families who do not have access to their own transport or have specific needs.”

The Family Support Transport Service is provided by Action for Children in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board to offer transport support for Pembrokeshire families using women and children’s services in Carmarthen. The service is available Monday-Friday 9am-9pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am- 4pm.

It is primarily used for planned appointments or for transport home following an emergency admission.

They also have the ability to call on alternative transport provision should they be unable to provide the service themselves, for example at peak periods, to ensure that vulnerable families receive transport when required.

Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, Steve Moore, explained: “Whilst we know there remains significant concern and desire in Pembrokeshire to see all paediatric services re-instated at Withybush Hospital, we are as a health board looking at what we can do to strengthen services for children at the hospital and how we can make things easier for families when they do need to travel.

“We hope that Bethan’s story will raise awareness of the transport support that is available both amongst staff who advise and assist patients, and the wider public.”

Action for Children work very closely with the Midwife Led Units and Paediatric Ambulatory Care Units at Withybush and Glangwili hospitals and also link with Emergency Departments and community midwives when they require transport for children and young families. Referrals are made through your Consultant or Midwife; if you feel you need extra support please make contact with them.

 

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Crime

Pembroke Dock driver avoided jail after drug-drive crash

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Court heard she had cocaine metabolite and cannabis above legal limits

A DOCK motorist has narrowly avoided imprisonment after driving into a parked vehicle with what the Crown described as “a cocktail of drugs” in her system.

Stacey Wootton, 30, was seen hitting a parked vehicle the week before Christmas as she drove her Volkswagen Golf along Military Road in Pennar.

“She was seen by a police officer and didn’t seem aware of what was going on,” Crown Prosecutor Sian Vaughan told Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

“She appeared to be drugged up and when she got out of the car, she was staggering. She was clearly heavily influenced by the drugs and could hardly speak.”

The officer’s suspicions were confirmed when blood tests carried out at the police station showed that Wootton had 240mcg of the cocaine metabolite benzoylecgonine in her system and 3mg of Delta-9 tetrahydrocannabinol. The legal limits are 50 and 2 respectively.

Traces of ketamine and diazepam were also discovered in her blood, although these were below the legal threshold.

Wootton, of Military Road, Pennar, Pembroke Dock, pleaded guilty to two charges of drug driving.

Given the seriousness of the offences, District Judge Mark Layton requested an all-options probation report prior to sentencing.

“The offence stems from the defendant’s drug misuse issues as a result of the breakdown of her five-year relationship,” said probation officer Julie Norman. “It’s appropriate that some rehabilitation is offered to her to help her through her problem.”

After considering the probation report, District Judge Layton sentenced Wootton to eight weeks in custody, suspended for 18 months. During this time she must carry out 15 rehabilitation activity requirement days.

A 12-month foreign travel prohibition requirement was imposed on her, and she was disqualified from driving for a total of five years. The defendant must also pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Dinas Cross man jailed over shop thefts

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Items stolen from Co-op and Tesco stores in North Pembrokeshire

A PROLIFIC shoplifter has been sentenced after being caught stealing items from three food stores in North Pembrokeshire.

The first offence took place on November 22, 2025, when 40-year-old William Lewis walked out of the Co-op supermarket in Fishguard with a four-pack of Peroni beer, valued at £25, without making any attempt to pay.

The following day, he returned to the Co-op and once again helped himself to two more four-packs of Peroni, together with a bottle of red wine, valued at £20.50.

The third offence took place on February 18, 2026, when Lewis was seen walking out of the Tesco supermarket in Goodwick with a shopping trolley full of numerous food items. The value of the stolen goods is unknown.

This week Lewis, of Parc Brynach, Dinas Cross, pleaded guilty to all three theft charges when he appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court.

He was sentenced to six weeks in prison and ordered to pay £45.50 compensation to the Co-op supermarket and £60 compensation to Tesco. He must also pay a £154 court surcharge and £85 costs.

 

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Crime

Monkton man fined after missing drugs assessment

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Court told defendant did not appreciate failure to attend was a criminal offence

A MONKTON man has been sentenced for failing to attend an initial drugs assessment after a previous sample showed he had cocaine in his system.

Luke Probert, 37, of Long Meadow, Adams Road, Monkton, was requested to attend the assessment on February 19 to establish whether he was dependent on the Class A drug.

But his failure to show up resulted in his appearance before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week, where he pleaded guilty to the offence.

He was represented in court by solicitor Alaw Harries, who said the defendant “didn’t appreciate this was a criminal offence”.

“He’s extremely apologetic,” she said.

Probert was fined £80 and ordered to pay £85 court costs and a £32 surcharge.

 

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