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Accessing eye care during the COVID-19 pandemic

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As community optometrists across Hywel Dda continue to provide an essential eye care service for our patients, some temporary operational changes have been put in place during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Patients will receive their eye care in a different way during this time, with some patients seeing a different optometrist than usual. With some optometry practices within Hywel Dda having to temporarily close because of the COVID-19 pandemic, 12 practices (listed below) will remain open and continue to provide services for those with urgent eye care needs, such as sudden change in vision, eye pain, eye redness, flashing lights or floating spots or loss/breakage of spectacles or low vision aids which you cannot function without.

 

Practice Telephone
Specsavers, Pembroke Dock 01646 623090
Browes Optometrist, Llanelli 01554 833777
Specsavers Opticians, Llanelli 01554 773555
Vision Express, Llanelli 01554 778052
Specsavers, Ammanford 01269 590190
Celtic Opticians Ltd, Carmarthen 01267 223476
Jones and Murphy Optometrists, Carmarthen 01267 236545
Specsavers Opticians, Haverfordwest 01437 767788
MN Charlton Optometrists, Fishguard 01348 873234
Pritchard Cowburn, Cardigan 01239 612004
Probert and Williams Eye Care, Aberystwyth 01970 611555
Specsavers Opticians, Aberystwyth 01970 636170

Patients who need eye care advice are being asked by Hywel Dda University Health Board to phone one of the above optometric practices, who are currently providing eye care on behalf of other practices in that area. Alternatively, patients can call the Hywel Dda University Health Board central eye care enquiry line on 01267 248793, and they will be directed to their nearest open practice.

Patients should always phone first. Optometric practices are operating a closed-door policy and, in line with social distancing rules, where possible queries will be dealt with over the phone, with face-to-face appointments only offered where absolutely necessary.

Fishguard based Community Optometrist Michael Charlton, said: “These are challenging times but we are working hard to provide primary eye care within the community. Whilst normal routine services are suspended, we are dealing with emergencies such as foreign bodies in eyes, or sudden changes in vision.

“Please use the local service as your first point of contact and if we can help, we will or, if necessary, we can refer you appropriately. All our practices are working collaboratively to provide continuity of care for local people.”

Jill Paterson, Director of Primary Care, Community and Long-term Care for Hywel Dda University Health Board said: “We appreciate this decision may cause some inconvenience but it is a much needed step to allow the safe and continued service for patients who need it most and we appreciate your patience and understanding.”

If you or anyone in your household has a temperature or a new and continuous cough, even if it’s mild, please do not visit the optometry practice.

If you are self-isolating, please speak to your community optometrist for advice about how they can help.

If you are advised to visit an optometry practice, please respect social distancing precautions to protect yourself, staff and other members of the public.

For the latest news and updates from Hywel Dda University Health Board visit www.hduhb.wales.nhs.uk

Crime

Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property

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A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.

Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.

The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.

The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.

The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.

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News

Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’

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THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”

The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.

Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”

NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.

“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.

“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”

The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”

This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.

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Community

Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed

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RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.

The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.

Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.

Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.

The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.

With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.

“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”

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