News
Crisis? What crisis?
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.”
Business
Crown Estate invests in Welsh offshore wind projects
THE CROWN ESTATE has allocated funding to four Welsh organisations in the first round of its £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator programme, aimed at advancing the UK’s offshore wind sector. Across England, Wales, and Scotland, 13 organisations have received a share of £5 million to support early-stage supply chain projects.
The Welsh projects will contribute to the development of floating wind platforms, operations and maintenance facilities, and skills training. The funding is expected to unlock over £9 million in immediate investment, with the potential for £400 million in future capital expenditure. These initiatives align with The Crown Estate’s Celtic Sea Blueprint, which forecasts 5,300 new jobs and a £1.4 billion economic uplift through the deployment of floating offshore wind capacity in the region.
The Welsh recipients include:
- Marine Power Systems Ltd.
- Neath Port Talbot Group of Colleges (subject to contract)
- Pembrokeshire College (subject to contract)
- Tugdock Ltd.
Catalyst for change
Ben Brinded, Head of Investment at The Crown Estate, described the funding as a pivotal step for the UK’s renewable energy goals:
“This is a significant moment for The Crown Estate as our first funding into the UK’s offshore wind supply chain. We are fostering collaboration with industry and government partners to catalyse net zero, restore nature, and drive economic growth. The Supply Chain Accelerator is a vital step in maturing propositions that attract public and private investments.”
Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens welcomed the funding as “an important boost to build local jobs and skills in South Wales,” highlighting that floating offshore wind technology provides cheaper energy and creates future-proof jobs.
Rebecca Evans, Welsh Government Cabinet Secretary for Economy, Energy, and Planning, echoed these sentiments, emphasizing Wales’ ambition to generate sufficient renewable energy to meet its own needs by 2035.
Expanding potential
The Crown Estate, which oversees the seabed around England, Wales, and Northern Ireland, launched the £50 million Supply Chain Accelerator fund earlier this year. With £45 million earmarked for future rounds, the programme aligns with the UK’s Industrial Growth Plan for offshore wind, aiming to unlock more opportunities in the renewable energy sector.
About The Crown Estate
The Crown Estate is a business mandated by Parliament to manage a £16 billion portfolio that includes offshore wind assets, urban centres, and rural holdings. Profits from its operations, totaling £4 billion over the past decade, are returned to HM Treasury.
News
Welsh Labour criticised for ‘failing thousands of families’ on childcare
THE WELSH GOVERNMENT’S draft budget has sparked debate, with the Welsh Liberal Democrats labelling it a “missed opportunity” for failing to deliver on childcare, while Labour officials defend their record on supporting families.
The Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that the government missed a “golden opportunity” to support Welsh families during the ongoing cost-of-living crisis while delivering a boost to the Welsh economy. They claim that high childcare costs are forcing more parents out of work, and the extra £20 million allocated in the budget will only “paper over the cracks.”
The Liberal Democrats have proposed a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for all children in Wales aged 9 months to 4 years. Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds MS expressed disappointment, stating:
“Instead of taking this opportunity to steer Welsh families away from sky-rocketing childcare costs, the Welsh Government has instead left them to fend for themselves. Thousands of people from across Wales are being forced to make the difficult choice between paying out of pocket for childcare or leaving work.
This shouldn’t be the case. We want to see a universal offer of 30 hours of funded childcare per week for every single child in Wales between the ages of 9 months and 4 years old. By taking away the burden of childcare costs, we can help people get back into work, which will give our economy a huge boost.
The UK Labour Government has been talking about encouraging more economic growth, but it appears as though their colleagues in Cardiff Bay didn’t get the message.”
However, the Welsh Government has countered these claims, highlighting existing childcare support schemes and their broader efforts to ease financial pressures on families. A Welsh Government spokesperson said:
“Our government remains committed to supporting families across Wales. Our existing childcare offer provides up to 30 hours a week of funded childcare for working parents of 3- and 4-year-olds during term time, which we extended to include support during the school holidays.
In addition, we are investing £20 million to enhance childcare provision further, ensuring families who need it most can access support. We are continually working to develop policies that benefit Welsh families and strengthen our economy.”
The debate comes amid growing scrutiny of government policies as families grapple with the rising cost of living. Critics and supporters alike will be watching closely to see how the draft budget evolves and whether further measures are introduced to address childcare costs.
Community
New Year, new bus services as changes introduced
A NUMBER of changes to key local bus services in Pembrokeshire will be introduced in January 2025, including reinstating some reduced services.
The changes are designed to improve punctuality and service performance on key routes.
In addition, several services that had been reduced in recent years will be reinstated.
This includes an hourly year-round service between Haverfordwest and Tenby via Pembroke Dock, a Saturday service between Tenby and Pendine and additional daytime journeys between Haverfordwest and Broad Haven, and between Merlin’s Bridge and Haverfordwest town centre.
Cllr Rhys Sinnett, Pembrokeshire County Council Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services said: “We have listened to feedback from passengers and worked with bus operators to put in place these improvements with additional funding through the Welsh Government Bus Network Grant.
“We hope these changes will provide a better and more reliable service for bus users in Pembrokeshire.”
Passengers using Fflecsi Pembrokeshire services may also notice that the Fflecsi app now provides details of bus timetables where a fixed route bus service is available for the journey they have requested. This will help improve the availability of the Fflecsi service for journeys where there is no other public transport option.
A temporary timetable will also be introduced on the T5 service operated by Richards Bros between Haverfordwest and Cardigan, due to a major road closure in Newport.
For further information about copies of the new timetables, please visit https://www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk/bus-routes-and-timetables/planned-bus-service-changes or contact [email protected]
The changes are as follows:
From 04/1/25
351 – Tenby-Amroth-Pendine (Taf Valley Coaches)
- Service will now also run on Saturdays during the winter.
From 6/1/25
301 Haverfordwest Town Service (Pembrokeshire County Council)
- Service will no longer call at Augustine Way. Alternative bus stops are available at St Thomas Green or Horsefair.
- New stop on Scarrowscant lane near the junction with Tasker Way.
302 – Withybush Hospital –Hubberston (First Cymru)
- Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.
307 Haverfordwest to Merlins Bridge (Pembrokeshire County Council)
- New service mid-morning (Monday to Friday) and mid-afternoon (Fridays only).
308 Haverfordwest – – Llangwm-Burton circular (Pembrokeshire County Council)
- Afternoon journey will call at Withybush hospital and retail park.
311 Haverfordwest – Broad Haven (Pembrokeshire County Council)
- Two additional journeys provided, mid-morning and mid-afternoon.
322 Withybush Hospital – Glangwili Hospital, Carmarthen (First Cymru)
- Change to route in Carmarthen. Bus will go from Carmarthen bus station around the bypass to Glangwili hospital, and then return via the town.
- Connection with 381 in Narberth for travel to/from Tenby has been maintained.
Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.
349 Haverfordwest-Pembroke Dock-Tenby (First Cymru)
- Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass to Picton Place.
- 14.25 service from Haverfordwest will run throughout the year, not just in school holidays.
- New later bus from Pembroke-Haverfordwest at 19.40.
- Improved connection with 381 in Tenby.
- Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality.
381 Haverfordwest-Narberth-Tenby (First Cymru)
- Change to route in Haverfordwest. Bus will depart from Bus Station to Withybush hospital, then around the bypass on its way out of town towards Narberth. Passengers for Withybush retail park will use the stop outside Home Bargains for both inward and return journeys.
- Connection with 322 in Narberth for travel to/from Carmarthen has been maintained.
- Improved connection with 349 in Tenby.
- Extra time added to journeys to help with punctuality
T5 Haverfordwest-Fishguard-Cardigan-Aberystwyth (Richards Bros)
- A temporary timetable will be in place from 6/1/25 for at least 8 weeks, due to a road closure in Newport.
- Buses will not be able to use the main bus stop in Newport. Alternative bus stops will be available at Newport Memorial Hall and the Golden Lion.
- Due to the narrow diversion route, a low-floor accessible minibus will be provided between Fishguard and Cardigan.
- All passengers will have to change at Fishguard for onward travel towards Cardigan or Haverfordwest.
- The 07.45 from Haverfordwest will terminate at Fishguard.
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