News

Public call on Argyle Group to think again over St Clements closure

Published

7 years ago

January 26, 2018

RESIDENTS in Neyland have called upon the Argyle Medical Group to re-think its decision to close the St. Clements Surgery in the town.

On Wednesday, January 17, the Argyle Medical Group announced it had submitted an application to Hywel Dda Local Health Board to close the Branch Surgery at St. Clements, Neyland.

The surgery currently has 2300 patients on its books and that decision provoked widespread anger within the town.

Over 200 people attended a meeting held at the Athletic Club last night (Jan 26) to voice their concerns about what a potential closure would mean for most of them.

The meeting was chaired by Mike Howells while a number of doctors who are a part of the Argyle Medical Group also attended to answer questions from the public.

Dr Richard Bury opened the evening saying: “We have thought long and hard about how we can provide safe care for all of our patients and we think about everybody equally.

“Things have changed so much over the last 11 years. We then had 13 GPs and we now have 8.5 equivalent staff.

“That still leaves us short of people to do the work. We have been finding it difficult to recruit away from central areas.

“The demographic has changed; when we do house visits now the average age of people is 85 and it is getting very stressful for everybody concerned.

“Social media is a major problem against us when recruiting, when people see the animosity against us they think ‘why should I work there’ and it is putting people off.

“We are trying desperately to find more GPs but we have to work a system that is as safe as possible for everyone and that’s why we want to consolidate with one surgery.”

A number of people then spoke about the distances patients would have to travel if Neyland was to close, stating there would be a 16-mile round trip if the bridge was closed.

Others said that in the other surgeries, patients are queuing at 7am in the morning and asked how they expected people without cars to get there.

Dr Bury replied saying: “This is only a proposal at the moment, this is a forewarning and we haven’t made any decisions yet.”

Speaking on appointments, Practice Manager Judith Scourfield said that nobody was ever refused an appointment but that was knocked backed by cries of derision from the audience.

She went on to say that nobody was more important than anybody else but said there was a need to house everybody somewhere.

One resident said that closing a community service is ‘devastating’ and said they weren’t delivering a clear reason why St Clements should close.

Dr Jenny Boyce added: “This isn’t a decision I would let happen lightly, this is about your safety and our safety. An article online states that GPs should see around 25 patients on an average day, on an ordinary day in Neyland it is at least 36 a day. We also do house visits and we are expected to make a clinical decision on every one of those.

“We were called in after the new year as we had 100 patients on top of what the surgery had already seen.
“There are different grades of people but with one site, different nurses can do different things and it is all about safety for the patients. This is not a final decision as it has to go through the Health Board.”

One of the questions raised was; what would happen if the Health Board said no to the closure? The response was that the surgery may have to close anyway.

One town councillor said that when the surgery closed in the afternoon, they were told not to listen to the rumours that they are closing and added: “They weren’t rumours.”

Many people also asked why the Health Board had not sent a representative to the meeting but Helen Williams, a member of the Community Health Council (CHC) stated they had declined the invite to attend.

Pembroke Dock Town Councilor Stephen O’Connor stated in a meeting the previous night that someone from the Health Board had assured them that somebody would be in Neyland.

Another person then added that because she hasn’t got a car, she would have to get a bus to Law Street which would mean a long walk to the surgery and asked; would some arrangement be made to get people to the Argyle surgery?

There was no answer from any of the doctors to that question.

There were then calls for Neyland to stand up and all write letters in to the Health Board, stating that they had been ‘forgotten about’.

A resolution had been drafted for the meeting asking the Health Board to take control of the surgery to avoid a collapse of primary care services to its patients.

However, a majority felt that they should hold another meeting with the Health Board in order to show them their concerns.

Speaking after the meeting, Dr Jenny Boyce said: “We’re passionate about giving good healthcare to the people of Pembrokeshire, wherever they live. It’s not about boundaries; it’s certainly not about money in any way shape or form. We will take away all the points that have been made to us and we will think them through again within the practice.”

News

2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards Finalists announced

Published

3 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE finalists for the 2024 Sport Pembrokeshire Awards have been announced.

In total, 252 nominations were received and, following a selection meeting, the judging panel has named 39 finalists.

Matt Freeman, Manager of Sport Pembrokeshire, said: “I want to thank everyone who has taken the time to provide nominations.

“Every year it gets harder to narrow the nominations down to three finalists and once again the quality of the nominees was enormously high.

“The number and quality of nominees just shows the strength of the sporting scene here in Pembrokeshire.

All the finalists will be invited to a grand presentation ceremony at Folly Farm on Friday, November 29th, where the winners will be announced.

The ceremony will also reveal the winners of two further categories – the Lifetime Achievement Award and the Chairman’s Special Achievement Award.

The awards are organised by Sport Pembrokeshire, Pembrokeshire County Council’s sport development team.

They are sponsored by Sport Pembrokeshire, Valero, Folly Farm and Pure West Radio.

The awards aim to recognise those people who have excelled in sport over the last 12 months, or who have given their time to coaching and organising grass roots sport.

Sport Pembrokeshire Awards 2024 – Finalists

(In alphabetical order)

Coach of the Year

Francesca Morgan (Swimming)

Philippa Gale (Netball)

Tom Richards (Tennis)

Female Sporting Achievement

Gracie Griffiths (Race Walking)

Helen Carrington (Powerlifting)

Seren Thorne (Shooting)

Male Sporting Achievement

Jeremy Cross (Tennis)

Rhys Llewellyn (Athletics)

Sam Coleman (Powerboat Racing)

Boys (U16) Sporting Achievement

Carter Heywood (Football)

Hugo Boyce (Cycling)

Ned Rees-Wigmore (Hockey)

Girls (U16) Sporting Achievement

Cerys Griffiths (Swimming)

Chloe John-Driscoll (Shooting)

Ffion Bowen (Football)

Disability Sport Award

Evelyn Thomas (Powerlifting)

Jules King (Crossfit)

Marc Evans (Cricket)

Junior (U16) Disability Sport Award

Finnley Walters (Boxing)

Jac Johnson (Gymnastics)

Lewis Crawford (Boccia)

Unsung Hero

John Laugharne (Rugby)

Owen Shanklin (Pool)

Sue Christopher (Surf Lifesaving)

Team Achievement of the Year

Alan Evans, Andrew Evans & Michael John (Short Mat Bowls)

Fishguard & Goodwick Ladies Hockey Club

Pembrokeshire County Bowls Team

Junior (U16) Team Achievement of the Year

Chaos Thunder U12’s Netball Team

Hakin United AFC u16’s

Neyland Yacht Club Junior Sailing Team

Young Volunteer of the Year

Anna May (Tennis & Surfing)

Caitlin Chapman (Netball)

George Richards (Cricket)

Club Organiser

Nadine Tyrrell (Gymnastics)

Nick Shelmerdine (Cricket)

Paul Hudson (Short Mat Bowls)

Club of the Year

Camrose AFC Women & Girls Football

Haverfordwest Gymnastics Club

Strength Academy Wales Cymru

Pictured above: The 2023 Club of the Year winner – Pembroke Cricket Club.

Crime

Man jailed for Pembroke Dock cannabis farm involvement

Published

6 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Madeline Knox

AN ALBANIAN man, Armando Beti, 37, was sentenced to two years and eight months in prison at Swansea Crown Court on Friday (Nov 15) for his role in producing class B drugs.

Beti, who has prior convictions in 2022 and 2023, was arrested on October 3, 2024, at 10:00am after police found him hiding in a neighbouring building’s attic. The arrest followed a raid on the former Woolworths building on Dimond Street, Pembroke Dock, where officers discovered three rooms containing 594 cannabis plants. The crop was described as part of a wholesale operation, with an estimated street value of between £64,000 and £196,000, depending on yield.

Using an aerial drone, police tracked Beti as he attempted to escape by crossing two rooftops. He pleaded guilty immediately after his capture, claiming the cannabis farm was already operational when he arrived 10 days earlier. Beti described himself as merely the gardener, tasked with watering the plants, and alleged he was coerced into the role by individuals he met at an immigration detention centre to repay a debt.

Beti’s defence counsel stated: “He is under no illusion regarding the seriousness of his offending. He is eager to start his prison sentence so he can ultimately reunite with his wife in Albania.”

However, Judge Geraint Walters rejected Beti’s claims, citing a pattern of similar excuses in previous cases. The judge noted that Beti had been convicted in Cardiff in 2022 for cultivating over 600 cannabis plants, during which he also claimed to be a coerced gardener with little knowledge of the operation.

In delivering the sentence, Judge Walters said: “People like you need to understand that judges are not completely naive. We know what is going on. We are well aware of the activities of criminal Albanian gangs in this country, as are you.”

Police believe the operation uncovered in Pembroke Dock is linked to a wider network of organised crime targeting rural locations for cannabis cultivation.

Community

Pembs Agricultural Society’s Christmas Fair expands to an all-weekend event

Published

9 hours ago

November 15, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE AGRICULTURAL SOCIETY’S Christmas Fair will be an all-weekend event next month. The Christmas shopping extravaganza is all set to take place on Saturday, 14 December as well as Sunday, 15 December.

The Parkhouse building on the Haverfordwest Showground will be transformed into a Christmas paradise. There will be even more stalls this year with a wide variety of quality local businesses exhibiting as well as festive music, Santa in his Grotto and an outdoor food court.

Judith Roach and Emma Thomas, the event organisers, said, “We are excited to be able to announce that our Christmas Fair will be on for two days rather than just one this year. We continue to build on the success of last year’s event with twice the opportunities to attend and even more stallholders. It will be the perfect start to the festive season as the Parkhouse Building will be transformed into a one-stop-shop for those preparing for Christmas.”

The Fair will be open from 10am until 4pm and admission is free. Visitors will find unique gifts, handmade decorations, art and beautiful homeware. Some of the county’s very best food and drink producers will also have stalls to give visitors the opportunity to stock up on all their festive treats. From decadent chocolate brownies, fudge, festive spirits to Welsh cheeses, there’s something to tantalise everyone’s tastebuds. There will also be a range of outlets for ‘on the go’ eating and drinking.

One special guest at the event will be everyone’s favourite bearded gentleman in red – Santa will be taking time out from his busy schedule to attend the event. There will be a charge of £3 per child to visit Santa and all proceeds will go directly to Sandy Bear charity to support their work. Each child will receive a small gift from Santa as part of their visit. Parents can book in advance via the website: www.sandybear.co.uk/santa

Adam Thorne, Pembrokeshire Agricultural Society’s President is looking forward to the festive event. He said, “The Society would like to thank Judith and Emma for all the hours they have put in, voluntarily, to organise the two-day Christmas event. We’re delighted to be able to offer visitors the opportunity to do all their Christmas shopping whilst enjoying the festive atmosphere.”

Follow Pembrokeshire County Show’s Christmas Fair event page on Facebook for a full list of stallholders in the run up to the event.