THE SDEC unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen will reopen to patients and staff on Monday (Mar 30) following a major £2m refurbishment.

The upgrade, funded by the Welsh Government, has delivered additional consultation rooms, a redesigned reception area, and improved facilities aimed at enhancing the experience for both patients and staff.

Health board chiefs say the revamped unit is expected to ease pressure on the hospital’s Emergency Department and forms part of wider efforts to improve urgent care services across Hywel Dda University Health Board sites, including the Minor Injury Unit at Prince Philip Hospital.

Keith Jones, Director of Operational Planning and Performance at Hywel Dda, said: “We are very grateful to the Welsh Government for the £2.096 million investment, which has allowed us to increase capacity within the SDEC unit at Glangwili.

“We expect these improvements will help reduce pressure on the Emergency Department and enable our teams to deliver a smoother, faster experience for patients.”

During the works, several services were temporarily relocated to Y Lolfa, formerly Padarn Ward. These will now return to the SDEC building, including the Discharge Lounge, Medical Day Unit and the Primary Care Out of Hours Service.

Cancer support services, including the Cancer Information and Support Service (CISS) and Cancer Psychological Support Service (CaPS), will also move back to the unit.

Access routes for services that remained at the Priory Day Hospital during the refurbishment – including podiatry, neuro-rehabilitation and occupational therapy – will return to normal.

Patients are advised to follow on-site signage or ask staff for directions. The health board said appointment letters will include updated information, but urged patients to double-check details and contact departments directly if unsure.

Mr Jones added: “I would like to thank staff, patients and visitors for their patience during these works.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles said the investment would deliver “real improvements” for patients and staff.

He added: “This is part of our ongoing commitment to improving hospital facilities across Wales, ensuring people receive the right care, in the right place, as quickly as possible.”

OFFICERS from Milford Haven and Neyland Police have seized an off-road bike following multiple reports of reckless and anti-social driving in the Hakin area.

Members of the public raised concerns about the manner in which the bike was being ridden, prompting police action. The vehicle was seized yesterday (Tuesday) as part of efforts to address ongoing issues linked to illegal off-road biking.

Police have reminded residents that such bikes are not road legal and must only be used on private land with the landowner’s permission.

Officers are urging the public to continue reporting incidents and sharing information to help tackle the problem in local communities.

Anyone with information can contact Dyfed-Powys Police online, via email at [email protected], or by calling 101.

Information can also be passed anonymously to Crimestoppers by calling 0800 555111 or visiting crimestoppers-uk.org.

Pembrokeshire-born singer to speak publicly for first time about kidnap ordeal

PEMBROKESHIRE-born singer Duffy is set to break her silence about the traumatic events that led to her disappearance from the music industry, as part of a new feature-length documentary for Disney+.

The award-winning artist, who rose to global fame with her hit single Mercy and debut album Rockferry, will speak in detail for the first time about the kidnap and sexual assault she revealed in 2020.

The project was announced at the Series Mania television festival in France by Disney+’s head of content for Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Angela Jain, who described the documentary as a “powerful” and sensitive piece.

She said Duffy had “entrusted us with her story,” adding that the platform recognised its responsibility to handle the subject matter with care.

Duffy stunned fans six years ago when she disclosed in a social media post that she had stepped away from music in 2011 after being drugged, kidnapped and raped.

In a later, detailed account published on her website, she said she had been drugged on her birthday in a restaurant before being held captive and taken abroad for several weeks.

She wrote that the ordeal left her fearing for her life, explaining why she did not immediately go to the police.

“It didn’t feel safe to go to the police,” she said at the time. “I felt if anything went wrong, I would be dead.”

She later reported the incident but said she had felt “petrified” ever since.

The singer’s sudden withdrawal from the spotlight at the height of her success had long puzzled fans. Her debut album Rockferry became one of the best-selling records in the UK, earning critical acclaim and multiple awards.

In recent years, there have been tentative signs of a return. In 2025, Duffy appeared briefly in a social media clip promoting a remix of Mercy with dance artist E.motion, sparking excitement among fans.

However, no new official release has followed, and she has largely remained out of public view.

The upcoming Disney+ documentary is expected to shed light on the events behind her decade-long absence and offer insight into her recovery.

Production is due to begin shortly, with no release date yet confirmed.