News
Fire service warns public about scam smoke alarm phone calls
RECENTLY Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service were made aware of a scam phone call made to a female resident in Pembrokeshire.
She received a phone call from a male who informed her that he had received her contact details from her energy company. He proceeded to ask if she had smoke alarms installed, which she didn’t.
He then told her that she was in breach of government regulations for not having alarms and that she could be fined for this. The scammer then offered her a special price on having a fire safety system installed in her kitchen for £80, payable over the telephone from her credit card.
Thankfully on this occasion, the resident questioned him and did not give him details of her card. He hung up. We have since received reports that he has phoned the resident for a second time.
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service urges the public to be vigilant of such offers and requests for money, be they by phone, post, email or door step callers, and report any suspicions that they may have to the Citizens Advice Consumer Services on 03454 040506.
MAWWFRS provides a free of charge home fire safety service and will install home smoke alarms free of charge. To arrange a home fire safety check by the Fire Service, please phone 0800 169 1234 or visit www.mawwfire.gov.uk for further information.
Scams can take many forms and are disguised through various methods. Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and South Wales Fire and Rescue Service have been made aware of scams targeting households and businesses. Some scammers will even make reference that they are endorsed by a particular Fire and Rescue Service.
Karen Jones, Head of Community Safety said: “Scams can be targeted against anyone and the consequences on the victims can be extremely serious, not only can they lose out financially but there can also an impact on their health and well-being.”
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service are working with Trading Standards colleagues to raise awareness of scams and improve the safety of our communities.
The Fire and Rescue Service does recommend that all homes have working smoke alarms but the home fire safety service we offer is free and we do not charge for any of the equipment we provide.
Contact 0800 169 1234 or visit our website www.mawwfire.gov.uk for further information and advice on home safety.
If anyone has any concerns or suspicions about requests for money or personal information made through the post, telephone, e-mail or by callers they can contact the Citizens Advice Consumer Services (CACS) 03454 040506 or contact their local Trading Standards department.
News
Pembrokeshire residents can quickly check symptoms for variety of conditions on NHS 111 Wales online

NHS 111 Wales online symptom checker can save Pembrokeshire patients time by helping them find the right NHS service for treatment. Symptoms can be quickly checked for a variety of conditions and advice given on the best way to treat them by visiting www.111.wales.nhs.uk which is hosted by the Welsh Ambulance Service.
The way we access NHS services has changed as a result of the ongoing COVID-19 pandemic, with more options now becoming increasingly utilised, including the NHS 111 Wales online service which is available 24 hours a day, seven days a week. It can be used for both health information and advice and to access urgent primary care in Welsh and English.
In a recent YouGov survey, a third of Pembrokeshire residents had not even heard of the NHS 111 Wales online symptom checker and only 19% had used it during the past 12 months.
Andrew Carruthers, Director of Operations at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We are asking everyone to help us by reconsidering the way you access NHS services. The methods available have changed but we are still here for you. It is worth getting to know the different ways you can access the NHS so you can be seen and treated quicker with your first port of call being NHS 111 Wales.”
According to the YouGov survey, carried out for the Welsh Government’s Keep Wales Safe campaign, only 67% of Pembrokeshire residents had heard of the NHS 111 Wales online symptom checker. However, 86% said they felt it was important to have access to the service.
NHS 111 Wales online can help if you have an urgent medical problem and you’re not sure what to do. The way it works is: You answer questions about your symptoms on the website and depending on the situation you will:
- Get self-care advice
- Be told how to get any medicine you need
- Find out what local service can help you
- Be connected to a nurse, emergency dentist, pharmacist or GP
- Get a face-to-face appointment if you need one
- Be given an arrival time if you need to go to A&E – this might mean you spend less time in A&E
For those who don’t have confidence going online to seek advice, there is the NHS 111 Wales phone service. This is also a free service where patients can contact the NHS by dialling 111 to receive advice on the best way to manage their issue or gain further assistance if needed. The bilingual telephone service is available 24 hours a day and seven days a week.
Eighty-four percent of Pembrokeshire residents had heard of the NHS 111 Wales phone service when asked for the recent YouGov survey but only 20% had used the telephone service during the last 12 months.
News
Trial date for son accused of killing mum

THE SON of Judith Rhead, 68, who was found dead in her home in Market Street, Pembroke Dock on Feb 20 will now appear in Crown Court again in October.
Dale Morgan, 43, said to be a scout master, appeared in court only to confirm his name, date of birth and address – which was listed as Honeyborough Green, Neyland.
A plea and trial preparation hearing date was set for March 26 with a provisional trial date set for October 4.
He was remanded in custody.
In court papers it stated that the alleged murder took place between December 10, 2020 and February 21, 2021.
The paperwork demonstrates that the police are unsure of the exact date that Ms Rhead died. The large date range, two months, points to the likelihood that this will be a challenging case for all those involved.
News
Launch of Haverfordwest Castle Conservation Management Plan

MEMBERS of the public are being asked to help shape the future of Haverfordwest Castle as a draft Conservation Management Plan (CMP) is launched.
One of Pembrokeshire’s most important historical assets, the Castle is owned by Pembrokeshire County Council, which has produced the CMP.
The plan:
▪ sets out the significance of the castle and describes how the building will be protected with any new use, alteration, repair or management;
▪ will help with the planning of maintenance, conservation and repair work and adaptation of the site to meet new or changing uses;
▪ will help promote understanding of the site and look at improving public access and activities for local people and visitors;
▪ will support proposals to conserve the castle and adaptations of the site in response to climate change;
▪ and underpin funding applications to support improvements
An engagement exercise has been launched alongside the Plan, giving members of the public with an interest in the historic and/or environmental significance of the castle an opportunity to comment on the document and share their views.
To take part in the engagement exercise, please click on the following link:
https://haveyoursay.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/regeneration-communities
The deadline for responses is Sunday, March 28, 2021.
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