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News

Closure of Withybush Hospital considered by Hywel Dda Health Board

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THE CLOSURE of Withybush Hospital is one of several options being considered by Hywel Dda Health Board, documents have shown.

As the Herald reported last week, Hywel Dda Health Board are considering a ‘once in a lifetime’ reorganisation.

Several of the plans on the table would see Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest limited in the services provided, or even closed entirely.

Some options also include the closing of Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen.

The plans detail how ‘community hubs’ could provide a selection of the services provided by the hospital for many treatments, with emergency services being provided at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth, or Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.

In one scenario, ‘urgent’ care would be dealt with at Withybush, with ‘planned’ care at Glangwili hospital.

Dr Phil Kloer, Medical Director and Director of Clinical Services Strategy said: “We are currently in the process of assessing, testing, refining and narrowing down potential options and we cannot yet confidently say to the public ‘these are the options and we believe them to be viable, safe and offer an improvement to what we already have’. We should be in that position by the spring and then we will come back out to the public for a formal consultation so they can let us have their views.

“We have taken an open and inclusive approach, allowing a wide range of people – staff, partners, patient representatives – to challenge our thinking and be involved beyond the engagement phase (which was held in the summer 2017) and into option development. We’ve taken this approach to co-produce this consultation at every stage possible. We understand this will stimulate debate and speculation in the community as people want to know right now what this might mean for their community based healthcare or their local hospital, but we believe this has been the right thing to do to really take people with us and involve as many people as possible.”

Plaid Cymru, Mid and West AM, Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Rural Affairs Simon Thomas said: “These leaked documents once again call into question the commitment of the Labour government into providing a health service for rural Wales and in the west.

“Hywel Dda health bosses appear obsessed with service change and re-organisation rather than getting on with the job of running health services. It’s only a few years since the last set of major changes, justified on the grounds of ‘sustainability’ and allegedly for the long term.

“Now once again the board are considering more changes, like a gambling addict convinced just one more bet will solve their problems. Trying to have a health service with no hospitals locally is something no other country would even attempt, but that doesn’t appear to stop this relentless ideology of pretending you can deal with an elderly population by substituting hospital beds in exchange for a few extra community health staff with ipads.

“Plaid Cymru have a long-term health plan to recruit more doctors and nurses for the Welsh NHS including our hospital services.”

Plaid Cymru AM Simon Thomas has tabled an emergency question in the National Assembly to seek answers from the Cabinet Secretary for Health, Vaughan Gething.

Stephen Crabb MP said:  “This leak is deeply disturbing. If it is accurate then Welsh Labour Ministers in Cardiff have serious questions to answer. They have consistently promised that Withybush Hospital is safe while leaving it to the Health Board to chip away at individual services.

“For ten years Pembrokeshire people have been demanding to know what the Welsh Labour Government’s true long-term plans are for Withybush. Our worst fears could be realised. I will work with my Welsh Conservative colleagues in the Assembly to see these proposals ditched once and for all.

“But Withybush faces its toughest fight yet.”

Community

Choir joins Welsh Guards Band for memorable concert

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PEMBROKE and District Male Voice Choir shared the stage with the renowned Band of the Welsh Guards during the band’s tour of Wales, delivering a stirring performance at Harri Tudur School hall.

A capacity audience enjoyed the collaboration, with the choir and band uniting for powerful renditions of Welsh classics Cwm Rhondda and Gwaddoloddiad. The Band of the Welsh Guards also performed a medley of traditional Welsh folk tunes and music from the acclaimed film Wicked.

Choir MC Matthew John introduced the evening in his distinctive style, while the choir’s set—featuring newly added pieces Let A New Day Dawn and Tell My Father—was selected by Musical Director Juliet Rossiter. Accompanist William Lambert, a recent addition to the choir, provided support on the keyboard.

The event was co-ordinated by Councillor Aden Brinn, with distinguished guests including Deputy Lord Lieutenant Sharon Lusher, Pembrokeshire County Council Chairman Councillor Steve Alderman, Mayor of Pembroke Councillor Ann Mortesen, Senedd Member Sam Kurtz, and mayors from neighbouring communities.

Proceeds from the evening were donated to the Welsh Guards Charity. A special guest was David Silcox of Haven Self Storage, whose company has sponsored an impressive banner to promote choir concerts.

A moment of silence was observed in memory of the choir’s senior member, Frank Harries, who recently passed away at the age of 95.

The following evening, the choir performed again at Monkton Priory Church, raising funds for the RNLI in another well-attended concert.

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Community

Castle Ward Councillors Meet at Waldo Lounge to Discuss Residents’ Concerns

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ON MONDAY (Mar 11), County Councillor Thomas Baden Tudor, alongside Councillors Randell Izaiah Thomas-Turner and Dani Thomas-Turner from Haverfordwest Town Council, held a joint meeting at the Waldo Lounge.

The gathering provided an opportunity for the councillors to address issues raised by Castle Ward residents and discuss matters of local concern. Councillors were joined by representatives from Welsh Ambulance Services University NHS Trust and Haverfordwest, Fishguard, and St Davids Police, who provided valuable updates on their current and future plans.

Councillor Tudor expressed his gratitude to the services for their insightful contributions, which highlighted ongoing efforts and future projects aimed at improving public services in the area.

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Education

Children learn how delicious potatoes are produced locally in Pembrokeshire

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SCHOOL children from across Pembrokeshire, aged from five to 16, learnt how the food produced locally is delicious and nutritious during a highly successful ‘Food Story / Stori Bwyd’ event, held by the Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society.

During the event potato, dairy, sheep and poultry farmers from all over the county volunteered their time to talk to the children and give hands-on demonstrations. They explained to the children how they produce potatoes, dairy products, eggs and meat. They also demonstrated how they farm sustainably, look after local wildlife and how they care for the countryside.

The event was held on the Pembrokeshire County Showground and the focus was on potato growing, production and supply. The children also got the opportunity to taste locally produced jacket potatoes with a variety of toppings cooked perfectly and served by staff from Castell Howell.

Kathy Wilson, a former teacher and now an Honorary Pembrokeshire Show Governor, organised the event on behalf of the Society’s Food Story / Stori Bwyd. She said, “I would like to say a massive thank you to each and every one of the volunteers and who took two days out from their busy work on the farm to come and talk to the children and demonstrate how they produce food and drink. A big thanks also to the local providers who contributed to the event. The smiles on the faces of the children said it all, they listened intently, enthusiastically took part in the demonstrations and the teachers took resources back with them to their schools to continue the learning.

“One of the important elements of Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s work is educational and spreading the word around the county about how local food is produced by farmers. Everyone enjoyed eating the jacket potatoes after they had learnt how hard the farmers work to produce them.”

As well as food production, the event was an opportunity to teach the children about the seasonality of what farmers produce locally and how the weather and climate affects the work farmers do as well as the different food groups and healthy eating. 

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President was one of the farmers who volunteered their time to talk to school children at the event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Kathy Wilson and Jo in the show office for all the hours they have put in to organise this magnificent event. To see how much the children enjoyed learning how their food is produced through hands-on demonstrations is heart warming.”

Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society would like to thank NFU Mutual Pembrokeshire, the CLA Charitable Trust and Women in Wales, for their financial support. Thanks also to the Camrose Vintage Working Day for their support as well as the NFU, Wales Farm Safety and Puffin Produce for providing educational resources and buckets for the schools and pupils.

Food Story volunteers will be at the County Show on 20 and 21 August 2025 with an interactive display and demonstrations for children to have fun and take part in to learn where their food comes from.

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