HYWEL DDA UNIVERSITY HEALTH BOARD’S Optometric Team has been honoured with the Health Board Support Award at the Optometry Wales Awards 2025.

The award – sponsored by the Royal National Institute of Blind People (RNIB) – was presented by BBC Wales broadcaster Lucy Owen during a ceremony held in Cardiff on 29 November 2025.

Organised by Optometry Wales, the awards celebrate outstanding achievement across the eye-care sector in Wales. They recognise individuals and teams whose work goes above and beyond through clinical excellence, innovation, sustainability, mentoring, and service development.

Recognising leadership and support during major reform

Hywel Dda’s Optometric Team received the award for its significant support to practices across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire during the rollout of the new national Optometry contract.

Their nomination highlighted the team’s strong leadership through the transition period and their commitment to ensuring practices were fully equipped to deliver high-quality eye health services under the new contract.

A key part of this work was developing new clinical pathways to ensure more patients could be safely managed in primary care. These pathways have improved access to timely local care and reduced the need for hospital appointments, ensuring people receive the right care in the right place.

Over 13,300 community appointments delivered

Since January 2024, more than 13,300 appointments have taken place in community settings using these enhanced pathways. Previously, many of these cases would have required referral to the hospital eye service. Now, an average of only 13.9% of patients require hospital referral — a significant shift demonstrating the positive impact of strengthened community-based care.

The team has also played a central role in developing Optometry Collaboratives, bringing together local practices to share ideas, improve services, and meet the needs of the local population.

“A fantastic achievement”

Rachel Absalom, Head of Optometric Services at Hywel Dda UHB, said: “We are incredibly proud to receive this award. It reflects the dedication of our committed team and the strong relationships we have built with practices across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion and Pembrokeshire.
“The new pathways have made a real difference for patients, enabling more care to take place closer to home, and we are grateful to our colleagues in primary care who have worked with us to make this possible.”

Professor Philip Kloer, Chief Executive, added: “This is a fantastic achievement and recognises the vital work of our Optometric Team in supporting the rollout of the new national contract. Their leadership has strengthened local services and helped patients receive care closer to home.
“I’m also delighted to see several independent practices from our region recognised on the night, which demonstrates the exceptionally high standards of care delivered across Hywel Dda.”

Six regional wins on the night

A total of six awards were won across the Hywel Dda region. They included:

• Optometrist of the Year: Andy Britton (Specsavers Haverfordwest)
• Independent Practice of the Year: MN Charlton (Concept Eye Clinic, Fishguard)
• Dispensing / Contact Lens Optician of the Year: Samantha Houghton (Specsavers Haverfordwest)
• Sustainability Practice of the Year: Specsavers Haverfordwest
• Technology Practice of the Year: Specsavers Haverfordwest

Photo (left to right)

Lucy Owen (Presenter)
Sally Hodson (Optometric Advisor, HDUHB)
Rachel Absalom (Head of Optometric Services, HDUHB)
Hannah Rowlatt (External Engagement Officer, RNIB)
John Dixon (NHS Wales Engagement Manager, RNIB)
Jaynie Scourfield (Quality Assurance Manager – Primary Care, HDUHB)
Mary Owens (Head of Dental and Optometry, HDUHB)

DYFED-POWYS POLICE is urging farmers to be vigilant after a digger was stolen and an attempted burglary reported at rural properties off Old Hakin Road, Haverfordwest, in the early hours of Sunday (Dec 14).

Officers say a small digger was taken from a farm and driven around a mile from the scene before being abandoned nearby. A second incident was reported shortly afterwards, in which someone attempted to enter several vehicles and outbuildings at another address before leaving empty-handed.

Rural crime warning

Police have issued fresh crime-prevention advice to the farming community following the two reports, stressing the importance of securing boundaries, machinery and outbuildings.

Farmers are being urged to:

• Install and maintain fences, gates and warning signs.
• Use high-quality locks on barns, sheds and storage units.
• Keep keys to high-value equipment in a safe, secure location.
• Install security cameras in strategic places.
• Join or participate in Farm Watch schemes to share intelligence with neighbours and police.

Dyfed-Powys Police’s Rural Crime Team is also offering farm visits to help mark equipment and carry out security audits. These can be arranged by emailing [email protected].

Further advice on preventing rural crime is available at:
https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/advice/advice-and-information/rc/rural-crime/

Appeal for information

Enquiries are ongoing and police are asking anyone with information to contact them using any of the following methods:

🖥️ Online form: https://www.dyfed-powys.police.uk/contact/af/contact-us-beta/contact-us/
📧 Email: [email protected]
💬 Direct message via social media
📞 Call 101

Information can also be given anonymously to Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111.

Please quote reference 25001019854.

(Image of digger is for illustrative purposes only and may differ from the actual digger stolen.)

Officers monitor local tensions following terror attack on Jewish event in Sydney

DYFED-POWYS POLICE have issued reassurances to communities across west Wales following the mass shooting at Bondi Beach in Sydney, where gunmen opened fire during a large Hanukkah celebration, killing numerous people and injuring many more.

The attack, which took place at the “Chanukah by the Sea” event attended by around 1,000 people, is being treated by Australian authorities as a terrorist incident targeting the Jewish community. One of the attackers was shot dead by police at the scene, while another was detained after being disarmed by a bystander.

In response, Dyfed-Powys Police said they are closely monitoring any local tensions and maintaining contact with community groups to offer reassurance.

A spokesperson said: “We are deeply saddened to hear of the events that have been reported from Australia, and our thoughts are with all those affected, particularly members of the Jewish community. We will continue to monitor any tensions in our area closely. Local teams will be engaging with different groups, businesses, and key individual networks throughout Dyfed-Powys to provide reassurance to the community.”

No specific threat identified in west Wales

The force has not announced any increase in patrols, but says that routine engagement with faith groups, schools, and community organisations will continue as part of their ongoing reassurance work.

Impact on local Jewish community

West Wales is home to small but longstanding Jewish communities who have previously worked with Dyfed-Powys Police on hate-crime awareness and safeguarding campaigns.

The force says it will continue dialogue with these groups in the coming days as international reactions to the Bondi Beach attack unfold.