Community
West Wales residents put caring staff at top of their hospital wish list
PEOPLE across West Wales have voted ‘caring staff’ as the most important element when staying in hospital. A new survey, conducted by BMI Werndale Hospital in West Wales, focused on attitude towards caring for others and how people view professions that deliver care.
The survey also indicates how social media is fast becoming the most popular way to stay in touch with people.
With just days until Christmas, the ‘Care’ survey revealed there is plenty to be cheery about as we head into the season of good will, as resident across West Wales believe people would be prepared to perform a selfless act to help someone else.
Of those surveyed 67% believed most people would help someone who had fallen in the street. It seems there are some favourite ways for people in West Wales to reach out to someone to show they care. 13% said they would ‘ask someone if they were ok or how they were feeling’, 13% said they would be a good listener, but it was giving someone a hug that came out on top with 27%.
The survey highlighted how we look to certain professions to deliver care when it is needed. Nursing proved to be the profession that is most associated with care 53%, with other caring professions including fire-fighters (20%) and paramedics (6.7%).
Director of Nursing at BMI Werndale Hospital, Gaynor Llewelyn said:
“The survey reveals some reassuring information about the community where we live and work. It is good to know that residents across West Wales believe reaching out to others is still an important part of their busy lives.”
Those who responded to the survey were very clear about the most important requirement during a stay in hospital.
Whilst 20% said they would look for clean facilities, 80% said it was the caring staff that was their most important requirement.
Something 76 year-old Elaine Rees from Llanelli can relate to during her recent stay at BMI Werndale Hospital. Having been admitted for a total hip replacement operation, Elaine was so impressed with the care received, she wanted to show some appreciation so wrote to the team to say thank you: “I was so impressed with how I was looked after, it really was incredible. The staff throughout the hospital put me at my ease and made my stay at BMI Werndale Hospital extremely comfortable and as worry free as a stay in hospital can be. It was so important to my recovery following the operation; I can’t thank the team enough.”
Gaynor Llewellyn said: “It is always such an amazing gesture for a patient like Elaine to take the time to say thank you to our staff. We never take thank you letters for granted. Everyone in the hospital is made aware of the kind words people express.”
Gaynor added: “It has to be recognised that although our nurses are incredibly caring, the care delivered to our patients is extended throughout the hospital by ALL of our staff. From our receptionists who greet our patients through to the catering staff; everybody here at BMI Werndale Hospital is passionate about care and goes above and beyond to try and make every patient’s stay here as comfortable as possible.
The latest patient survey results for BMI Werndale Hospital speak for themselves with 97% of patients rating the nursing care received at the hospital as either excellent or very good.
Executive Director, Caroline Daymond said:
“The patient survey stands as a great insight into how we all perform. We are very proud of our hospital and we make it our priority to work as hard as possible to make each patient’s journey through the hospital as smooth and as compassionate as possible. The results around care are an important indicator of how well we perform across the hospital and we monitor the results very closely. I would like to thank the team for the continued hard work and for the energy they give. It is also important to realise the need to build on this, which is something we’ll be aiming to do throughout 2014.”
With Christmas fast approaching, it seems the spirit of good will is alive and well in West Wales. The survey revealed when it comes to donating to charity there were multiple ways people donate with 73% of responders saying they would give money. Other ways of donating included:
Time (13%)
Unwanted items (73%)
It seems people across West Wales also believe Wales is the most caring region in the UK with 73%.
The survey revealed how modern forms of communication are becoming ever more important in our lives with 60% saying they are aware if people are struggling or need help through social media. 27% of people chose to stay in touch with friends and neighbours by mobile telephone.
Others included:
Popping around for a chat (33%)
Text / What’s App (26%)
Community
Rent in Pembrokeshire rises 7% over past year
NEW figures reveal that private rental costs in Pembrokeshire have climbed by 7% in the past year, with the average monthly rent reaching £625 in October. This is a significant increase from £582 a year earlier and represents a 22% rise over the past five years, where the average rent was estimated at £511.
The data, collected by Rent Officers Wales as part of the Housing and Regeneration Division, highlights growing pressure on tenants amidst rising costs. The collection aims to cover approximately 15% of the rental market by gathering data from landlords and letting agents.
Across Wales, the average monthly rent has risen 8% year-on-year to £766. Cardiff recorded the highest rental cost in the country at £1,062 per month, while Powys had the lowest at £556.
Sarah Coles, head of personal finance at Hargreaves Lansdown, commented on the challenges faced by renters in a press statement sent to The Pembrokeshire Herald. She said: “Getting good news about your rent is about as common as discovering your housemates have washed up for you, or your landlord suggesting you get a dog. For many, the only way out of the endless cycle of rising costs is to buy, but that’s far easier said than done when rents absorb so much of your income.”
The situation is compounded by a lack of available rental properties. Nathan Emerson, chief executive at Propertymark, explained: “As we continue to see further increases in rental prices across the UK, our members emphasize the lack of rental stock versus an ever-growing number of tenants. Selling up or turning to the short-term letting market has become a more attractive option for landlords due to challenging legislative changes and increased financial liabilities.”
Breakdown of Rental Costs in Pembrokeshire
The figures show a range of costs depending on property type and size in Pembrokeshire:
– A one-bedroom property: £462 per month
– A two-bedroom property: £576 per month
– A three-bedroom property: £732 per month
– Homes with four or more bedrooms: £934 per month
By property type:
– Detached houses: £768 per month
– Semi-detached houses: £653 per month
– Terraced houses: £629 per month
– Flats or maisonettes: £521 per month
In October, the average rent for private properties across Great Britain stood at £1,307 per month—up 9% compared to the same period last year. This equates to an increase of £105 per month.
As landlords adapt to changing regulations and financial pressures, the shortage of rental properties continues to push prices higher, creating further challenges for tenants across Pembrokeshire and beyond.
Climate
Pembrokeshire group plans for larger community wind turbine
A NORTH Pembrokeshire group which has raised more than £76,000 from its community wind turbine for local projects is hoping to expand with a bigger turbine.
In an application to Pembrokeshire County Council, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd is hoping to get permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.
The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.
In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.
“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”
In 2015, TBG raised its 50 per cent share of capital funding for the project by means of loans from 28 local individuals and four community groups, contributing a total of £286,500, the other 50 per cent contributed by landowners Parc-y-Morfa Farms Ltd.
The statement added: “Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine. By the end of 2022, all loans had been repaid, allowing the launch of TBG’s Community Climate Fund. This year we have awarded our third round of grants bringing the total amount granted to £76,036.”
In 2022, £15,274 was awarded to seven projects, including Fishguard Sports AFC to install solar panels on their clubhouse as part of their Tregroes Park development, Ysgol Bro Gwaun for their Increasing Biodiversity and Bees project, and Nevern Valley Veg / Llysiau Cwm Nyfer to install a solar powered vegetable irrigation scheme.
In 2023, £39,85 was made available for seven projects, including Sea Trust Wales to part fund the installation of solar panels on the Ocean Lab roof and to produce a display on solar technology, Letterston Memorial Hall to part fund the installation of an air source heat pump heating system, and Fishguard and Goodwick Rugby Club to install solar panels on their clubhouse.
2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun to insulate their loft to reduce heating loss, Parc Cerrig Growers for developing a rainwater harvesting system with a pond to irrigate their allotments, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture for an electric cargo bike for delivering organic vegetables in the Fishguard and St Davids areas, and Nevern Valley Veg to develop wildlife ponds and rainwater harvesting for food production.
The supporting documentation concludes: “The repowering of the existing turbine at Trebover would require a limited increase in turbine size which would result in a very limited change in landscape and visual effects in comparison to the existing Trebover turbine.”
The application will be considered by planners at a later date.
Community
Council warns of icy conditions as temperatures drop
ROAD users in Pembrokeshire are being urged to exercise caution tonight as temperatures are forecast to dip below freezing.
Pembrokeshire County Council has announced that road surface temperatures could reach as low as -2°C, with the possibility of sleet or snow on higher ground. In response, precautionary salting of the county’s primary routes will be carried out this evening and overnight.
A spokesperson for the council said: “Road users are advised to take care if travelling on untreated roads.”
Motorists are reminded to plan ahead and drive carefully, particularly in areas that may not have been treated.
Stay tuned to The Herald for updates on road conditions and weather warnings.
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