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News

Former Haverfordwest keeper investigated after racism claims

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FORMER Haverfordwest County goalkeeper Lee Kendall is being investigated by the FA for racist comments he allegedly made towards Eni Aluko.

The current England Women’s Goalkeeping Coach is the latest person to be caught up in the FA’s racism row after former England Coach Mark Samspon was found to have made a racist remark towards her.

Aluko had been giving evidence at a Digital, Culture, Media and Sport Select Committee hearing, held on Wednesday (Oct 18).

She said that the England women’s goalkeeping coach, Lee Kendall, used to speak to her in a fake Caribbean accent.

Eni Aluko: Claims racist comments were made

Eni Aluko said that Sampson had made a ‘racist joke’ to her about Ebola and her family which was later revealed to be him allegedly telling her to be careful her Nigerian relatives did not bring the virus to Wembley.

The FA has also issued an apology to Aluko for the comments made.

A spokesperson for the FA told the Herald: “The FA can confirm we are investigating England Women goalkeeping coach Lee Kendall following new evidence that came to light on Wednesday alleging unacceptable behaviour towards Eniola Aluko during an England camp.”

Kendall made 136 appearance for Haverfordwest County between 2003-2007.

Community

New parent, baby and child walking groups launch in Pembrokeshire

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PARENTS in Pembrokeshire looking for a friendly and supportive way to get outdoors with their little ones can now join free weekly walking groups in Broad Haven and Pembroke.

Organised by the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park Authority, these walks provide a relaxed and welcoming environment, offering a chance to connect with other parents while enjoying gentle exercise, spotting wildlife along the way, and taking in the beauty of the local area.

The Broad Haven walks take place every Monday at 10am, starting from the Park Authority’s car park outside the YHA in Broad Haven, while the Pembroke group meets every Friday at 10am at Pembroke Commons car park, opposite the Pembroke Carvery. Both walks begin at 10.15am and are free to attend. They are pram-friendly, making them ideal for new parents, parents-to-be, and those with toddlers.

Each walk lasts between 45 and 60 minutes, with nearby baby-changing facilities and local cafés available for refreshments before or after the stroll.

Along the way, parents can take part in fun, age-appropriate activities with their little ones while benefiting from fresh air, gentle movement, and the support of a like-minded community.

Get Outdoors Coordinator, Amber Manning, organiser of the walking groups, encourages parents to come along and experience the benefits of connecting with others in a natural setting, and says:“These walks are a fantastic way for parents to get outside, socialise and enjoy Pembrokeshire with your children. Whether you’re looking to meet new people, get some fresh air, or simply enjoy a relaxed walk, everyone is welcome.”

For more information, contact Amber Manning at 07483 377414 or via email at amberm@pembrokeshirecoast.org.uk

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Health

Emergency care failing in Wales, warns damming report

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EMERGENCY healthcare in Wales is failing too many people, according to a stark new report by Llais, the statutory body representing the public’s voice in Welsh health and social care. The report, based on feedback from over 700 people, calls for urgent action, warning that the state of emergency services has reached a crisis point.

Llais’ study, conducted over a five-week period, included visits to 42 emergency departments, minor injury units, and medical assessment units across Wales. The findings highlight severe delays, overcrowding, and a system struggling to meet even basic expectations.

Patients forced to find their own way to hospital

One of the most alarming takeaways from the report is the frequency of ambulance delays. Many patients reported waiting for up to 12 hours for emergency transport, forcing them to either drive themselves or rely on friends and family, despite being seriously unwell. Some even risked worsening their condition by taking taxis or public transport.

A patient at Morriston Hospital’s emergency department described the situation as dire: “I drove because the ambulance ETA was 7-8 hours, but I had severe chest pain and couldn’t wait that long.”

Others recounted horror stories of being sent to the wrong hospitals due to poor communication, leaving them stranded and paying exorbitant taxi fares to correct the mistake. One patient, initially taken to Glangwili Hospital despite their complex spinal history, had to pay £130 for a taxi back to Swansea, where they should have been taken in the first place.

Unbearable waiting times and overcrowding

The report details widespread reports of excessive waiting times, with many patients enduring 8 to 24 hours before receiving care. In some cases, waits exceeded 26 hours. Overcrowding is commonplace, with many patients left waiting in corridors, unable to access beds or even chairs.

One individual at Royal Glamorgan Hospital A&E said: “I’ve been waiting 12 hours and only had triage and a water sample. I’m in a corridor that’s meant to be for paediatrics – it’s uncomfortable and degrading.”

Families of vulnerable patients described feeling abandoned, with little communication from staff about their loved ones’ condition. One woman at Bronglais General Hospital recounted her frustration: “We are not too sure what is going on. We spoke to a nurse just over an hour ago. We are still waiting. We’ve been given no explanation of what the treatment is to be.”

Critical incidents declared

The Llais report warns that the pressures on Welsh emergency services are not temporary, but systemic. Since the study was conducted, ‘business critical incidents’ have been declared by both the Welsh Ambulance Service NHS Trust and Aneurin Bevan University Health Board. Other health boards, including Swansea Bay and Cwm Taf Morgannwg, have issued urgent warnings about overwhelming demand.

Calls for immediate action

Llais Chief Executive Alyson Thomas has called for immediate action, stating: “The voices we’ve heard paint a stark picture of a system under immense pressure. While we commend the dedication of healthcare staff, they are working in a system that is not giving them or the people they care for the support they need.”

The report calls for urgent measures, including:

  • Faster ambulance response times
  • Better coordination between emergency services and primary care
  • Increased staffing and resource allocation
  • Improved dignity and care for patients waiting in corridors
  • Greater transparency and accountability from NHS Wales and the Welsh Government

Welsh Conservative response: “Labour’s mismanagement to blame”

James Evans MS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, has sharply criticised the Welsh Labour Government’s handling of emergency care.

“Emergency care is losing the very essence of its definition. Responses are too slow, and far too many people are suffering as a result of Labour’s mismanagement,” Evans stated.

He dismissed the idea that ‘winter pressures’ could explain the ongoing crisis, arguing that the current state of emergency care has become an unacceptable ‘new normal.’

“No one should be waiting over 12 hours in A&E, certainly not the many thousands we are seeing every month. The Welsh Labour Government seems completely unwilling to get to grips with this situation. Only the Welsh Conservatives stand ready to replace them so that we can fix Wales.”

Calls for reform

Keir Starmer, Prime Minister, acknowledged the crisis, stating: “The NHS in Wales is in urgent need of reform. Investment and reform need to go together… On occasions, using the private sector to get down waiting lists? Yes, that’s been going on a long time. We will do that to get waiting lists down.”

In a Senedd debate in January 2025, concerns were raised that waiting lists have hit record highs after nine months of continuous increases, forcing many patients to pay for private healthcare after years of waiting.

First Minister of Wales, Eluned Morgan, stated: “Reducing waiting times must be our key objective… It’s about rolling up our sleeves and collaborating to deliver the investment and reform desperately needed for healthcare in Wales.”

A Welsh Labour Government statement reaffirmed their commitment to the NHS: “Your Welsh Labour Government will always support the NHS – and will always support the NHS to change and modernise. That means continuing to invest in the NHS… Reforms have also focused on providing more care and NHS services out of hospital and in local communities.”

A system at breaking point

With emergency care in Wales under “extreme and unsustainable pressure,” as described by Llais Chair Professor Medwin Hughes, many patients and staff feel abandoned in a system that is failing them.

“The dignity of patients is not even being considered anymore. The system is chaotically inefficient and in desperate need of a review,” one patient at Glan Clwyd Hospital remarked.

Llais has vowed to keep pushing for reform, but with patient experiences growing increasingly dire, the question remains: how much longer can Wales’ emergency healthcare system hold on before it completely collapses?

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Crime

Milford Haven man banned for three years after second drug-driving conviction

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A MOTORIST who claimed to have taken cannabis “several days” before being stopped by police was found to have over four times the prescribed legal limit of the drug in his system.

Antonio Rodrigues, 27, was pulled over by officers just before 3:00pm on September 13, 2024, while driving his Smart car along an unclassified road off the A40 in Slebech.

A roadside drugs wipe proved positive, and further blood tests at the police custody suite confirmed he had 9.8 mcg of cannabis in his system—well above the legal limit of 2 mcg.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that this was Rodrigues’ second drug-driving offence in a ten-year period.

“He’d taken the cannabis some days before, and there was nothing wrong with his driving,” said his solicitor, Michael Kelleher, after Rodrigues, of Croeso, Steynton Road, Milford Haven, pleaded guilty to the offence.

“He had no idea he was over the limit.”

Mr Kelleher added that Rodrigues self-medicates with cannabis and is in the process of applying for a legal cannabis prescription.

Magistrates disqualified him from driving for 36 months and fined him £120. He was also ordered to pay £85 in costs and a £48 court surcharge.

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