News

‘Recruitment process’ underway as Withybush Hospital director retires

Published

8 years ago

February 25, 2018

COLLEAGUES and friends have bid a fond farewell to Dr Iain Robertson-Steel, who has retired from his role as Hospital Director at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest.

Dr Robertson-Steel who lives in Solva, Pembrokeshire, started his 45 year long career in the National Health Service as a medical student in University of Birmingham Medical School in 1973.

Having qualified as a doctor in Birmingham in 1979 he worked in various clinical roles in England, then joined the Royal Air Force and took up his post as Junior Medical Officer based at RAF Brawdy in Pembrokeshire in 1980. Some years later he moved to the Royal Wolverhampton Hospital where he was appointed Consultant in 1994, after which he worked for West Midlands Ambulance Service and NHS Direct before returning to Wales in 2006. More recently, Dr Robertson-Steel was the Hospital Director at Withybush Hospital and County Director & Commissioner for Pembrokeshire with Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Withybush Hospital has seen a number of significant achievements and new developments under Dr Robertson-Steel’s leadership, including the Emergency & Urgent Care Unit (A&E), and in more recent years, the Pembrokeshire Haematology & Oncology Day Unit, the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit, the Medical Day Unit, the Discharge Lounge and the Adult Ambulatory Care Unit. He has also been pivotal in securing a number of excellent consultant appointments in the hospital’s A&E, care of the elderly, palliative care, general medicine specialties, as well as ensuring that the current GP training scheme is full to capacity.

Dr Robertson-Steel said: “I have loved every minute of my career in the NHS, particularly here in Pembrokeshire and, whilst I am sad to leave at a time of great opportunity for change in the future, it’s the right time personally for me to follow other interests in my life.

“I firmly believe the health board’s proposal to radically change local healthcare services is the right thing to do, for the hospital, the local population and the health board in the future. There is a clear need for significant modernisation and I’m confident that the Transforming Clinical Services programme will deliver a successful model for the future. It’s our last chance to get it right.”

“I am honoured to have worked with the amazing and talented staff at Withybush Hospital and in the community – I have never been part of a more dedicated and committed team. I am thankful for their support over the years and pay tribute to them for their professionalism and hard work in continuing to provide the best possible care to our local population, especially during times of extreme pressure.”

Joe Teape, Director of Operations and Deputy Chief Executive added: “Dr Robertson-Steel has been a well-liked, respected and extremely valued member of our team both in his leadership role at Withybush Hospital and across the wider health board. He has shown great commitment, dedication and leadership and will be greatly missed by us all. On a personal level Iain has always been willing to provide advice and support and I sincerely wish him all the best in his retirement.”

Dr Robertson-Steel will continue to live in Pembrokeshire, the place he calls home, having loved bringing up his family here. He plans to continue in his role as a local magistrate, spend more time with his growing family, including supporting his daughter as she too trains to be a doctor, and sailing in Solva.

A recruitment process is underway to appoint his successor. He retired on February 23.

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
Common assault
Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

3 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second count of assault
Criminal damage
An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

4 hours ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional non-fatal strangulation
Common assault on a woman
Criminal damage in a domestic context
Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.