News

Royal College returns to visit neonatal unit

Published

9 years ago

September 27, 2016

hywel-dda INDEPENDENT reviewers will return to Hywel Dda University Health Board to see how the neonatal (special care baby) service has developed and to speak to staff and service users later this week.

The Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health (RCPCH), in collaboration with four other Royal Colleges, undertook an expert evaluation of women and children’s services in 2015, following changes made the previous year.

The review considered changes across maternity and paediatric services, as well as neonatal services, the latter of which was a specific request by the Welsh Government Health Minister.

The review found improved compliance with national and professional service standards and said there was ‘no clinical sense in reversing’ the changes. For neonatal care, it noted improvements had been made to staffing numbers as a result of the change and the development of new neonatal outreach nurse team had resulted in shorter lengths of stay for some babies.

The report also made 54 recommendations for further improvement and enhancements to services to benefit staff and patients. For neonatal services this included the need to progress the capital Phase Two project at Glangwili Hospital to improve the environment and accommodation for families.

The review team will consider again staffing, involvement of parents and families in developments of services, transfers in and out of the unit and areas of good practice or concern. They will speak to a range of staff from the University Health Board, as well as current users.

Crime

Fishguard driver banned after speeding stop leads to drink-drive charge

Published

42 seconds ago

January 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Father-of-two said he had two pints with a meal before being stopped on the A487

A FISHGUARD motorist stopped for speeding in a 20mph zone was later found to be over the drink-drive limit, magistrates heard.

Matthew Williams, 36, of Garnlas, Fishguard, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The court was told Williams, a father of two, was seen driving a silver BMW 1 Series on the A487 between Newport and Temple Bar on the evening of Thursday, December 19.

Breath tests carried out by officers showed he had 42 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

“He’d been out for a meal and had consumed two pints of alcohol,” his solicitor, Liam Francis, told the court.

“He felt he was in a position to drive, but upon reflection he recognises that this wasn’t the case, and he should have been more cautious.”

Mr Francis said Williams runs a part-time mobile valeting service and the loss of his licence would have an impact on his work.

Magistrates disqualified Williams from driving for 13 months and fined him £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

Crime

Father-of-two banned after drink-driving company van through Pembroke

Published

4 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Driver told court he believed he was insured but checks showed no cover in place

A FATHER-of-two has been sentenced after driving a company van through Pembroke while over the drink-drive limit.

Billy Riley, 23, of Broadmoor, Kilgetty, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

The court heard Riley was stopped by officers as he drove a Fiat panel van through Pembroke town centre on Sunday, December 22. A roadside breath test proved positive and further tests at the police station showed the lowest reading was 55 microgrammes of alcohol in 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35.

Checks later showed Riley was also driving without third party insurance.

“He’d been assured by his boss that he was insured to drive the van, but unfortunately this wasn’t the case,” his solicitor, Liam Francis, told magistrates.

“As a result of this offence, the defendant has now lost his job, so his punishment has already started.”

Magistrates disqualified Riley from driving for 15 months. He was fined £120 and ordered to pay £85 costs and a £48 surcharge.

For driving without third party insurance, his licence was endorsed.

Crime

Man admits sword threats made against sister

Published

6 minutes ago

January 14, 2026

Sarah Jane Absalom

Paranoid schizophrenic released on bail with strict conditions ahead of sentencing in February

A MAN described in court as a paranoid schizophrenic has pleaded guilty to sending threats to kill his sister, including claims he would hack her head off with a Samurai sword.

Charles Bianchy, 37, of Pembroke Street, Pembroke Dock, appeared before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court this week.

Crown Prosecutor Charlotte Thomas said Bianchy was arrested on September 16 after posting a series of Facebook stories while walking through Pembroke Dock.

“He’d posted a series of Facebook stories as he walked through Pembroke Dock, claiming that his mother had refused to give him money, but had given some money to his sister,” she said.

“He then went on to say that he would hack his sister’s head off with a Samurai sword, throw a grenade bomb at her, smack her head on the pavement and use her head as a target.

“Naturally this left her feeling very scared to leave her home.”

The court heard that when interviewed by police, Bianchy said he had no intention of carrying out the threats.

He pleaded guilty to sending messages threatening death or serious harm to his sister, Daisy Bianchi.

Bianchy was represented by solicitor Michael Kelleher, who told magistrates his client suffers from paranoid schizophrenia.

Magistrates adjourned sentencing for an all-options probation report. Bianchy was released on conditional bail, with conditions that he must not contact Daisy Bianchi, must not attend her address at Cuckoo Wood, Pembroke Dock, and must not refer to her on any electronic device.

He is due to be sentenced on February 3.