News

Crisis? What crisis?

Published

10 years ago

June 16, 2014

THE HERALD can reveal that in recent days, expectant mums expecting to deliver their babies at West Wales General Hospital, Glangwili, were turned away and sent to Withybush Hospital instead. A shortage of maternity beds meant that patients could not be admitted at the Carmarthen Hospital.

• As SCBU cut looms, Glangwili can’t cope

• Transport plans questioned

In addition, the Herald understands that four C-sections, two elective and two emergency, were recently performed at Withybush within one twentyfour hour period. In the case of the emergency C-sections, Welsh Health Minister Mark Drakeford’s purported “safety net” would have been of no use at all in keeping mums and babies safe. The Herald has been told that such was the shortage of SCBU spaces in the Local Health Board area that a baby from Carmarthen requiring special care had to be transported to North Wales to receive appropriate treatment, while another mum had to be transported to Bridgend to have her baby delivered. We spoke to Peter Milewski, retired consultant surgeon and health campaigner: “As a result of the service cuts, I dread to think what is going to happen if the Withybush SCBU is closed in August. The Board will probably find that it’s full and there’s nowhere for the babies to go, so it won’t be able to close it (or relocate the staff that run it). “For many years, significant numbers of Grade 1 or 2 Caesarean sections have taken place each week at Withybush. Grade 1 or 2 means 15 minute urgency so obviously wouldn’t reach Carmarthen. Some of them occur out of the blue in low-risk multiparous women of exactly the type who would be considered (by the health board, not by me!) suitable for an isolated midwifery unit. “These are the women who will lose their babies, and, occasionally, their lives. “On top of that, there are the women who develop their complication at home and will be supposed to be taken to Carmarthen. That can never be eradicated. It’s clear that some will not make it, whereas they would have to Withybush. “It is common for babies to be shifted in various directions between SCBUs. For example Swansea may be full and transfer their babies to Withybush (I’ve seen that happen myself, and it’s not an isolated incident). Again, what’s going to happen to them?” Another confidential source working in the Health Board has confirmed that in 2012 there were 60 Grade 1 (immediate) or Grade 2 (within half an hour) emergency Caesarean sections. That’s at least one expectant mum and baby each week who would not make it to Carmarthen. There were 120 less urgent C-sections. Even some of those may not have made it to Carmarthen. While under the new arrangements, some of those 60 will have been recognized as high risk and sent to Carmarthen, ostensibly low risk and unpredictable patients would not have been sent there. There is no indication that that 2012 was different from any other year. We asked Peter Milewski about the figures and he told us: “It certainly accords with my impression when I was working. When I was in theatre it was not uncommon for me to have to postpone a case to make way for an emergency Caesarean Section.” Patient transport, a major issue which is yet to be resolved has also been thrown into sharp relief with the revelation that expectant mums cannot be transported by Air Ambulance in an emergency. David Williams, from Pembrokeshire Health Concern said: “It has always been the case that women in labour or likely to go into labour cannot be transported by air ambulance for lack of room, equipment and expertise. “Patients are loaded feet towards the tail of helicopter so no room to work at business end and currently helicopter staff are not allowed to go below waist. The Health Board – apparently – did not know this. When challenged it said the Board would get bigger helicopter. However, due to the new A & E, dialysis unit and car park changes nothing bigger than current helicopter can land at Withybush, anyway. To use a larger helicopter, the Board would either have to build bigger helipad or land at Withybush airport and have patients transferred to that location by road ambulance, assuming one is available. “When it comes to emergency consultant cover, the Welsh Government has said that it is not how far away a consultant can live from the relevant site but the time taken to be able to return for emergency work purposes. It is for local employers to consider service needs and establish local limits. “The Deanery requirement for full A & E cover, which is required to meet the out-of-hours paediatric plan, is that the consultants are to be within 20 minutes of hospital 24/7. Therefore transferring to Glangwili, which is minimum of 45 minutes away, means A & E cover will be lacking. “The Health Board may try to say all consultants will have to live around Whitland (!), but as the Board claims to have a recruitment problem (disputed and shown to be contrived). So, telling consultants where to live will not making recruitment easier. “How many are you going to need to keep on call 24/7, as those on duty at Glangwili will be more than twenty minutes away from of Withybush and those off duty surely cannot be on call 24/7 – and that’s without factoring in staff sickness, absence, or holiday cover. A Health Board spokesperson told The Pembrokeshire Herald: “I can confirm that nobody was transferred to another Health Board due to capacity issues. “We would like to reassure the public when our obstetric services is on one site there will be no reduction in beds. Locating our obstetric services on one site is only part of the service modernisation of our maternity services. “In addition to the obstetric service there will be a midwifery led unit on both the Glangwili Hospital and Withybush Hospital sites.”

News

Campaigners urge Welsh Government to adopt proportional representation for Local Elections

Published

34 mins ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

CAMPAIGNERS are calling on the Welsh Government to introduce the Single Transferable Vote (STV) system for local elections, following moves by two councils to shift away from the First Past the Post (FPTP) system being blocked on technical grounds.

Yesterday (Nov 14), Ceredigion Council voted narrowly, with an 18 to 17 majority, in favor of adopting STV. This follows Gwynedd Council’s decision last month, where 65% of councillors backed the move. However, both councils have been prevented from implementing STV due to a requirement for a two-thirds majority under the Local Government and Elections (Wales) Act 2021.

In recent consultations, public support for STV has been overwhelming, with over 70% in Gwynedd and 67% in Ceredigion favoring the change. Only Powys Council rejected the proposal, despite 60.5% of its respondents supporting STV. Campaigners argue that the current system deprives voters of representation, citing that over 100,000 people were denied a vote in the 2022 elections due to uncontested seats.

The Electoral Reform Society Cymru (ERS Cymru) highlights the contrast with Scotland, where the introduction of STV for local elections in 2007 has significantly reduced uncontested seats. According to ERS Cymru, Scotland has had fewer uncontested seats in the last four elections combined than Gwynedd Council recorded alone in 2022.

Jess Blair, Director of ERS Cymru, said:

“Decisions made in council chambers affect everyone in those areas, so every vote should count. It’s absurd that councils choosing STV are blocked by a technicality, leaving them stuck with an outdated system that denies representation to thousands. The Welsh Government must act to avoid repeating the undemocratic outcomes of the last elections.”

Campaigners are now calling on the Welsh Government to introduce STV across all councils in Wales, ensuring representation that reflects the electorate’s wishes.

Business

Upgrades completed at Port of Milford Haven’s simulator suite

Published

1 hour ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

UPGRADES have been completed to state-of-the-art equipment within the Port of Milford Haven’s navigation simulator suite at Milford Waterfront enabling marine professionals to receive bespoke specialist training. The virtual reality simulation system can safely replicate a range of scenarios that seafarers may experience in real world situations such as extreme weather conditions, emergency situations and escort tug work.

The upgrades provided by Netherlands-based company MARIN contain the latest hardware in terms of processing power and graphics, as well as upgrades to MARIN’s ‘Dolphin’ software, increasing the capability to create scenarios. These are complemented with new 4k visuals on 75” screens which increase the depth and field of vision, adding to the realism.

Recently, a training day was led by Training Pilot Captain Mark Johnson, assisted by ex-Pilot Andy Hillier, involving members of the Svitzer team as well as Pilots Matt Roberts and Ian Coombes. As part of the scenario, they were faced with a loss of engine power and steering along with worsening weather and sea conditions. The Pilots had to communicate with Svitzer in order to successfully instruct them on how to tow and direct a drifting tanker. While scenarios like these are uncommon within port operations, it is important to rehearse procedures that would be implemented if they are required and enhances participants’ skill sets.

Marine Pilot and Simulator Instructor, Captain Ewan McNicoll, said “This simulator suite has future proofed our training capabilities, both internally for Pilots and marine staff, but also externally for clients wishing to use the facility, be it for training purposes or research and development. We can create any type of scenario with any type of ship, ranging from practicing ship handling manoeuvres to emergency situations, it really is game changing! Working with our partners at MARIN has been a complete success and I am very proud of our new facility.”

For more information about training at the navigation simulation suite please contact the Port of Milford Haven at [email protected] or 01646 696100.

Business

Thousands of homes in rural Wales gain from faster 4G boost

Published

7 hours ago

November 14, 2024

Tom Sinclair

RURAL Wales is seeing a major upgrade in mobile connectivity, with faster 4G now live in several areas. Seven locations across North, South West, and West Wales are benefitting from new 4G mast upgrades funded by the UK Government’s Shared Rural Network (SRN), aimed at closing the digital gap between rural and urban areas.

The upgrades, which went live on Thursday (Nov 14), bring improved 4G coverage to communities including Bontddu, Llanelltyd, Llanarmon Dyffryn Ceiriog, Penmaenpool, Tabor, Snowdonia National Park, and Bontgoch. Local businesses, emergency services, and residents are expected to benefit from faster internet access, which supports daily communication, business opportunities, and economic growth.

***There is a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties***

Technology Secretary Peter Kyle said: “Fast, reliable connectivity is essential for modern life and should be available from Cardiff to the remotest parts of Wales. Today’s upgrades bring us closer to making this a reality.”

SUPPORTING DIGITAL INCLUSION

As part of the rollout, Peter Kyle and Telecoms Minister Sir Chris Bryant visited Ebbw Vale to discuss digital inclusion with charity and industry leaders. They met with representatives at BGfm, a digital inclusion hub in Blaenau Gwent, to learn about how connectivity impacts daily life in Welsh communities.

Telecoms Minister Bryant said: “We are working tirelessly to make sure rural communities aren’t left behind online.

“These upgrades mean businesses can now operate without connectivity limitations, 999 services are better equipped to respond, and residents and tourists can stay connected across the Welsh countryside.”

ADDRESSING CONNECTIVITY GAPS

An estimated 1.5 million homes across the UK remain without internet access, limiting people’s ability to access essential services such as banking and healthcare. In addition to the SRN upgrades, the Chancellor has allocated over £500 million in next year’s budget for digital infrastructure expansion, targeting these underserved areas.

Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens highlighted the importance of this investment, particularly for rural Wales, where fast, reliable internet can be transformative.

“Connectivity is critical for day-to-day life in rural areas – from supporting local businesses to ensuring emergency services are just a call away,” Stevens said.

The upgraded masts, previously limited to EE customers and emergency 999 calls, now serve a wider user base, bringing essential internet access to more people without requiring new infrastructure.

Ben Roome, CEO of Digital Mobile Spectrum Limited, said: “With the activation of five new SRN sites, Wales is seeing the tangible benefits of the Shared Rural Network, bringing crucial connectivity to rural communities.”

GOVERNMENT INVESTMENT IN REMOTE WALES

The improvements come alongside a £170 million agreement with Openreach to provide gigabit-capable broadband to 70,000 remote Welsh properties, helping future-proof digital access in even the most isolated locations.

The latest upgrades mark another step in the Government’s mission to improve mobile coverage and close the connectivity gap across Wales, creating opportunities and supporting economic growth across rural communities.