News

Health board statement on ’20-year journey’ in full

Published

6 years ago

September 26, 2018

THIS is the full statement from Chief Executive Steve Moore of Hywel Dda University Health Board following the extraordinary meeting on Wednesday (Sept 26) at County Hall, Carmarthen:

HEALTH BOARD STATEMENT

Hywel Dda University Health Board will embark on an ambitious 20-year journey to transform the way we receive health care and support in Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and borders, it was decided at a public board meeting.

Twelve recommendations from clinicians (doctors, nurses and a range of healthcare professionals such as health scientists and therapists) were approved and can be read in full here https://bit.ly/2NJxft5.

Headline decisions included:

more investment will be made in the integration of social care with health and well-being across the seven localities (north and south Ceredigion, north and south Pembrokeshire, Taf/Tywi, Amman/Gwendraeth and Llanelli)
a hospital model, will be adopted and includes:
- a business case to be made for a new hospital in the south of Hywel Dda (somewhere between Narberth and St Clears) to provide specialist urgent and emergency care services and planned care
- hospital services to be retained and developed at Bronglais Hospital, Aberystwyth, in-line with the Mid Wales Joint Health & Social Care Committee recognising importance of hospital in delivery of services to populations of Ceredigion, Powys and South Gwynedd
- acute medicine (hospital services that need medical input) to be retained at Prince Philip Hospital, Llanelli, following recent modernisation of services developed with the local community and serving a densely populated area
- re-purposing Glangwili (Carmarthen) and Withybush (Haverfordwest) hospitals to support community health needs including overnight beds, day case procedures, out-patient and walk-in services such as minor injuries and much more

This follows one of the largest local NHS consultations in the UK (Hywel Dda Our Big NHS Change), which was held between April and July, and which saw a huge and passionate response from the local population. Responses included more than 5,400 questionnaires, 4,000 attendees at events and workshops, hundreds of written submissions, five petitions and extensive social media debate.

Board members considered all they heard from patients, staff, the general public and interested organisations, not just during the consultation, but also in the pre-consultation engagement and option development period.

They also considered recommendations made by Hywel Dda Community Health Council, the clinical viewpoint following consultation, and other matters including safety standards the NHS has to meet and the ability to provide services in the future.

Whilst some key decisions were made, the health board received really insightful feedback from people during the consultation and wants to investigate further, and demonstrate, some developments, including:

commitment to work with people and organisations to develop integrated networks (as opposed to hubs) which are unique to the needs of their community and to consider the geographical areas highlighted in the consultation as gaps in current provision

work with the community on an early model of the above in Pembrokeshire, focusing on the ability to provide more community based care 24/7 and to demonstrate how it could work and the impact it could have
work with local people to explore potential for a range of different types of beds within the local community – whether in existing community hospitals, at home or another setting review, test and challenge the model for acute medicine to be responsive to demand and changes in patient flows associated with the whole system change
work closely with Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board on services where patients could benefit from a regional approach
examine the opportunities a new hospital and community model could offer maternity and child health services to ensure doctor and midwifery led care, and care for children (paediatrics) and sick babies (neonatal) are maintained within the boundaries of the Hywel Dda area
align with the transformation work in mental health services to ensure mental health and learning disability assessment and treatment units are provided at the new urgent and planned care hospital
investigate the practicalities and impacts (through a feasibility study and options appraisal) of locations between Narberth and St Clears for the new hospital
work with people living and working in the areas furthest from a new hospital to provide additional support for emergency and urgent care (potential to look at things like placing paramedics within in a community as opposed to within a vehicle)
respond to public anxiety over the ability to manage emergency conditions that are time sensitive (e.g. ST Elevation Myocardial Infarction STEMI, stroke and sepsis) consider the opportunities a new hospital in the south would provide Bronglais Hospital
work closely with other organisations, including county councils and the third sector, to develop Glangwili and Withybush hospitals
develop a detailed plan to address concern heard in consultation regarding access, travel, transport and infrastructure, working with the Regional Transport Group, communities (including those with protected characteristics in response to the difficulties we heard about from people and the equality impact assessment) and Welsh Ambulance Services NHS Trust
formally state the Health Board’s support for building a case for provision of a 24/7 service to bring medics to the scene of an accident (e.g. the Emergency Medical Retrieval Transport Service, which operates 12 hours a day and CHANTS (Neonatal Retrieval Service))
develop a plan to maximise use of technology in health and care, backed up by secure IT so patient data is safe and joined up between services in the hospital and community
put in place a staff plan to deliver future models and provide opportunities for staff
work with education and university partners to train a workforce with the skills and expertise to work in the new service model, and drive research, innovation and evaluation into our service development
continue to talk the public, staff and interested organisation about all that we do, especially focusing on people with protected characteristics

Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “Today is a hugely momentous day as we confirm we will take a new direction to providing much more preventative and community based healthcare to our population. We’ve heard the concern people have with current healthcare provision and our ability to deliver this sea-change in the years to come but our clinicians have led this work and we believe what has been put before us today offers us the best chance to deal with the fragility our NHS faces and to provide the population with safe, effective care that meets their needs.”

Chair Bernardine Rees added: “We are really grateful to everyone who got involved in our consultation as it has given us really rich feedback. Our ambition is to continue that conversation and input so that we can grow services in our seven localities, using schemes we have already delivered, such as the front of house project at Prince Philip Hospital and Tenby walk-in, as the basis of what can be achieved.”

The next step will be for clinicians and staff to work with the public and other organisations to bring the additional detail together into a draft Health Strategy to put before public Health Board at the end of November.

Medical Director and Director of Clinical Strategy Dr Philip Kloer said: “We’re aware that some people, particularly those who live furthest from the new hospital zone between Narberth and St Clears may be anxious about these changes. They will not happen overnight and we are committed to working with those communities and our partners to demonstrate and test what additional provision can be made, particularly for time-sensitive emergency conditions.

“For example we are working with partners to build the case for the Emergency Medical Retrieval Team (doctors who are brought to the scene to treat and then transfer) and CHANTS (the Neonatal Retrieval Team) to be a 24-hour service, and also investigating the potential to place advanced paramedics in communities so they are available solely to that community.

“Another important factor in providing life-saving treatment is getting people quickly to the definitive hospital which will provide their care. At the moment, people in our coastal areas of Pembrokeshire have to travel to Glangwili for some treatment, which in the future, we will be able to offer at a more equitable location, for the south of Hywel Dda, in the new hospital zone.”

The new hospital will be dependent also on a full business case, which will be made to the Welsh Government.

News

New 45-metre wind turbine set to be built near Fishguard

Published

6 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A CALL to replace a Pembrokeshire community wind turbine which has raised more than £76,000 for local groups with a larger one has been backed despite a recommendation to refuse.

In an application before Pembrokeshire County Council’s planning committee meeting of January 14, Abergwaun Community Turbine Ltd, through agent Machynlleth-based Dulas Ltd sought permission for a larger turbine to replace the existing Abergwaun Community Turbine.

The proposed turbine, in a pasture field at Trebover Farm, to the south of Fishguard, would be 67m tall, the existing 2015 one being 45 metres.

In supporting statements, parent company Transition Bro Gwaun said: “The Community Climate Fund (CCF) is the mechanism by which Transition Bro Gwaun (TBG) is fulfilling our ambition of funding projects in Fishguard, Goodwick and across North Pembrokeshire, using income from the community wind turbine.

“The core themes for grants are climate change mitigation and adaptation, enhancement of biodiversity and improvements to community resilience through promotion of community engagement and resource sharing.”

Profit generated by sale of electricity from the turbine is split 50:50 between TBG and Parcy-Morfa Farms Ltd through the jointly-owned trading arm, Abergwaun Community Turbine, with community grants awarded through TBG’s Community Climate Fund, amounting to £76,036 to date.

2024 awards of £20,917 were made to six projects, including Theatr Gwaun, Parc Cerrig Growers, Caerhys Organic Community Agriculture, and Nevern Valley Veg.

The scheme was recommended for refusal on the grounds including “significant detrimental visual impact” on the area, “including areas of high sensitivity in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park and in Fishguard,” on the Conservation Areas of Goodwick, Fishguard and Lower Town, Fishguard.

At the January meeting, local member Cllr Jordan Ryan made a call for the scheme to be approved against officer recommendations: “I think it’s a good application, I think it’s good for Pembrokeshire; a single wind turbine isn’t going to affect people in the area too greatly.”

He was backed by Cllr Alistair Cameron, who said he supported the scheme due to “the need to tackle climate change and the economic benefit to the area,” adding: “We have to accept some visual consequences from that, that’s the reality we are in.”

Another in support was Cllr John T Davies, himself the owner of a windfarm scheme, who pointed out the existing turbine was granted on appeal, with any refusal of the latest scheme potentially being overturned by a planning inspector.

The committee’s unanimous backing of the proposal takes the form of a ‘minded to’ support, meaning the proposal will return after a ‘cooling-off’ period to a future meeting as it is against an officer recommendation, and, if supported a second time, will ultimately have to be decided by full council at a later date.

News

Landslides close section of Pembrokeshire coastal path once again

Published

6 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Bruce Sinclair - Local Democracy Reporter

A SECTION of a south Pembrokeshire beach-side coastal path has been closed once again after a number of landslips in the last week.

The fall happened towards the western end of the Wisemans Bridge to Coppet Hall cycleway, between the Coppet Hall and Wisemans Bridge tunnels, and affects access between Wisemans Bridge and Coppet Hall beach.

The top path remains open.

Pembrokeshire County Council’s geotechnical advisor has recommended that the path be closed until a remedial solution can be implemented.

***Previous works on the landslide-hit coast path. Picture: Gareth Davies Photography. (Image: Gareth Davies Photography)***

A council spokesperson said: “Given that we are in the middle of winter, there are a number of triggers that could reactivate the partially failed sections of the rock mass, such as frost and heavy rain in the short term – and the likelihood of rock fall reaching the path is high.

“The Authority has engaged a specialist to assess the cliff face where a detailed survey of the slope will be undertaken to determine the nature and depth of the rock fall. This will allow the design of remedial works, which could include removal and regrade of the rock fall, plus the installation of a catch fence.

“A review into the rock fall and necessary remediation work, which is subject to affordability, will now be evaluated. This is likely to take a number of months.”

The coastal path, known as the Tramway, was previously closed after it experienced ‘substantial rock falls’ in late 2023 and early 2024

Last March Pembrokeshire County Council’s Cabinet backed works expected to cost some £600,000, with a hoped-for finish date of the start of the summer holidays.

Reopening was delayed until early August “as a consequence of additional works required, including the occurrence of another landslip along the path,” with additional remedial works needed.

During last year’s works, local councillor Chris Williams hit out at “selfish” path users putting others at risk by repeatedly cutting open safety barriers and fencing while the repair works were being undertaken.

Barriers and warning signs were put in place at the entrance to the ‘short tunnel’ – the first of the two which lead from Coppet Hall to Wisemans Bridge, along with fencing on the Wisemans side.

But because the signs have been ignored by some people, along with damage caused, a gate was put in place on the Coppet Hall side.

Fencing on the opposite side was also targeted, with a hole cut through.

Education

New resource to support Welsh medium pupils

Published

7 hours ago

January 16, 2025

Tom Sinclair

EDUCATION researchers have published a special booklet to support pupils in Welsh medium schools from homes where the language is not spoken.

Entitled Partner, Promote and Provide, the booklet was co-created in workshops led by Aberystwyth University which brought together education partners from Ceredigion and Powys, with input from parents and pupils.

It builds on a series of research studies by the School of Education which began during the Covid-19 lockdowns in 2020 and which explored the impact of the pandemic on pupils along with the additional challenges facing Welsh-medium schools in extending support to children from non-Welsh-speaking homes.

Dr Siân Lloyd-Williams Director of Research at Aberystwyth University’s School of Education, said:

“Based on the studies we carried out between 2020 and 2024, it was clear we needed to continue the work so that we could evaluate, identify and measure the impact of our recommendations on supporting non-Welsh speaking families.

“We set out to organise a series of workshops, bringing together representatives from the local education authorities, teachers, parents and others to hear their experiences and gather evidence. As a result, we have co-created a special booklet that teachers can use to support pupils from non-Welsh-speaking homes who attend Welsh medium schools.”

Another member of the research team at Aberystwyth School of Education, Dr Rhodri Aled Evans, said:

“This is an example of effective and purposeful collaboration between academics and practitioners on the ground. We hope this booklet, together with the recommendations of our previous studies, will be a valuable resource for the education sector and beneficial for teachers, pupils and families alike.”

The Director of Education for Ceredigion County Council, Elen James, said:

“It has been extremely valuable to collaborate with the University’s researchers to create dedicated resources that offer practical help on how to further improve the experiences of Welsh-medium pupils from non-Welsh speaking homes. This work is important and an excellent starting point for further collaboration. We look forward to developing the project further in the future.”

The Partner, Promote and Provide booklet was launched at a training event for teachers held at the University on 16 January 2025 and can be downloaded from the University’s website as a PDF or hard copies can be sent on request.

Pictured: L to R: Susan Ferguson (Research Impact and Knowledge Officer, Aberystwyth University), Prysor Davies (Interim Head of the School of Education, Aberystwyth University), Dr Rhodri Evans (Lecturer in Education, Aberystwyth University), Rhiannon Salisbury (teacher), Alwyn Ward (Ceredigion County Council)