News
Jeffreyston mother ‘nearly died’ from flu
A PEMBROKESHIRE mum, who nearly died after being struck down by influenza, says it not only had a devastating effect on her but on her family too.
Helen Watts, who is asthmatic, was extremely ill in a critical care unit for a week in March and is still not well enough to go back to work.
The 42-year-old, from Jeffreyston in Pembrokeshire, said it frightened her children to the extent that after she came home, her young son checked her pulse at night to make sure she was still alive.
“And I think it was all because I didn’t have the flu vaccine,” said Helen, who is in the at-risk category because of her asthma.
In March, Helen came down with what she thought was a cold but which, after 24 hours, seemed more like a chest infection.
This exacerbated her asthma and she became so unwell that husband Lee took her to A&E at Withybush Hospital.
Helen was given antibiotics and other medication, and was admitted so tests could be carried out.
Within 24 hours, her condition deteriorated and she was admitted to the high dependency unit with what was later diagnosed as the H1N1 strain – more commonly known as swine flu.
Helen said: “I was very poorly and on the brink of being ventilated.
“It did improve after that but I was in HDU for a week and in hospital for about two weeks afterwards being very poorly.
“The doctors told me I am lucky to be here.”
Although Helen has little memory of her time in hospital, twin sister Sam Robinson, from Carmarthen, remembers it all too vividly.
Sam said: “Helen was having seizures, being bagged and central lines put in.
“Anyone who has been with someone in a critical care situation will empathise with that. You’re living for every minute.
“It was hard as a sister to watch someone that you love so much going through that. It was upsetting. I never want to see her in that position again.
“It could have been avoided, possibly, with the flu vaccination. She certainly wouldn’t have got as ill as she did.”
Helen was getting better but still quite poorly when this picture of Sam visiting her in hospital was taken. Seven months later, Helen is still not well enough to return to her job as an administrator with a photographic business.
Although she is improving, her lungs are only working at 70% capacity and she has to take a lot of steroids.
She said it had all been very tough on her family, especially on son Harri, aged 11, and 14-year-old daughter Lauren.
Helen said: “People were getting upset seeing me with all the machines, and it was very intimidating for the children.
“It really affected them. After I came home, Harri, who was aged 10 then, was actually checking my pulse in the early hours to make sure I was still alive.
“They wouldn’t let me go anywhere. They wanted to know where I was all the time.
“It was hard on my husband too because he had to deal with everything.
“But everyone was brilliant. I’m just very lucky I’ve got such a good family, and friends were fantastic too.”
Sam is a nurse and has always had the flu vaccine partly because she is also asthmatic, but also to protect the patients she cares for in the Wales Fertility Institute in Neath Port Talbot Hospital.
She also had flu earlier this year but, she said, was not too badly affected because she’d had the vaccine – which covered the H1N1 strain that had such a devastating impact on Helen.
Sam added: “To see my twin sister so poorly like that was very traumatic.
“So for me now it’s not just about protecting patients – I’m urging people to do it for their families too.
“Like Helen said, it’s the whole family that is affected, not just the person who is ill.”
Helen herself is taking no chances and arrived half an hour early to have the flu vaccine the day it was available at her GP surgery – with Harri there to have it too.
Helen said: “We’re not going to miss out on any flu vaccination ever again. We’ve had a hard lesson to learn.”
News
Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections
CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.
Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.
In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.
The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.
Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:
“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”
Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.
Business
Upgrades completed at Port of Milford Haven’s simulator suite
UPGRADES have been completed to state-of-the-art equipment within the Port of Milford Haven’s navigation simulator suite at Milford Waterfront enabling marine professionals to receive bespoke specialist training. The virtual reality simulation system can safely replicate a range of scenarios that seafarers may experience in real world situations such as extreme weather conditions, emergency situations and escort tug work.
The upgrades provided by Netherlands-based company MARIN contain the latest hardware in terms of processing power and graphics, as well as upgrades to MARIN’s ‘Dolphin’ software, increasing the capability to create scenarios. These are complemented with new 4k visuals on 75” screens which increase the depth and field of vision, adding to the realism.
Recently, a training day was led by Training Pilot Captain Mark Johnson, assisted by ex-Pilot Andy Hillier, involving members of the Svitzer team as well as Pilots Matt Roberts and Ian Coombes. As part of the scenario, they were faced with a loss of engine power and steering along with worsening weather and sea conditions. The Pilots had to communicate with Svitzer in order to successfully instruct them on how to tow and direct a drifting tanker. While scenarios like these are uncommon within port operations, it is important to rehearse procedures that would be implemented if they are required and enhances participants’ skill sets.
Marine Pilot and Simulator Instructor, Captain Ewan McNicoll, said “This simulator suite has future proofed our training capabilities, both internally for Pilots and marine staff, but also externally for clients wishing to use the facility, be it for training purposes or research and development. We can create any type of scenario with any type of ship, ranging from practicing ship handling manoeuvres to emergency situations, it really is game changing! Working with our partners at MARIN has been a complete success and I am very proud of our new facility.”
For more information about training at the navigation simulation suite please contact the Port of Milford Haven at [email protected] or 01646 696100.
Business
Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost
RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.
The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.
Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”
SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION
As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.
Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.
“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”
ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS
An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.
“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.
The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.
Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”
GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES
The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.
The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.
-
Business7 days ago
Original Factory Shop to close Haverfordwest branch in December
-
News3 days ago
Pembrokeshire masseuse shortlisted for National UK Beauty Awards 2025
-
News4 days ago
Milford Haven RNLI Fundraisers celebrate successful fun run
-
Business7 days ago
Why there will be regular flights from Wales to a little-known Chinese city
-
News3 days ago
‘Chariots of Fire’ Olympic pianist heads west for recital in local church
-
Top News2 days ago
Pembrokeshire cottage industry receives UK’s most prestigious business accolade
-
Top News3 days ago
“The sense of power and the great surge of energy that this earth provides is all I want my paintings to share”
-
News4 days ago
Lifeboat launched to assist injured climber at St Govans