Health
Pembrokeshire residents are exercising their way to happiness during Pandemic

PEMBROKESHIRE residents are turning to exercise to help them improve their mental health during the Covid19 Pandemic.
According to a YouGov survey carried out in December, a third of those living in mid and west Wales said exercise has helped sustain or improve their mental health since the start of the pandemic.
It comes as the Welsh Government is encouraging people to ‘help us, help you’ by practicing self-care and adopting small changes to help improve mental well-being, particularly at a time when levels of anxiety are higher than usual.
The traditional benefits of exercise have been to improve and maintain physical fitness but, more recently, the benefit of exercise to improve mental health has come to the fore. Exercise decreases the stress hormones such as cortisol and increases endorphins. Endorphins are the body’s natural ‘feel-good’ chemicals, and when they are released through exercise, your mood is boosted naturally. As well endorphins, exercise also releases adrenaline, serotonin, and dopamine. These chemicals work together to make you feel good.
Professor Jon Bisson, Deputy Director of the National Centre for Mental Health (NCMH) and Director of Traumatic Stress Wales, said: “There are several important ways to help reduce the risk of developing mental health consequences due to the COVID-19 pandemic. Eating healthily, taking exercise on a regular basis, keeping regular sleeping patterns, establishing a good structure for our days, and engaging in relaxing activities are always important to promote health and wellbeing.
“I would like to stress that if you are experiencing a mental health crisis or feel the need for additional support, please do ask for help. Some of us will need more formal input and services remain available and are keen to provide this.”
With more than £700m invested annually, The Welsh Government spends more on mental health than on any other aspect of the NHS.
If you are concerned about your mental health and would like confidential help and advice then you can call the mental health listening and emotional support line which is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week on 0800132737. Alternatively, you can text ‘help’ to 81066.
One rural mental health charity, the DPJ Foundation, based in Pembrokeshire, is encouraging farmers and those living rurally across Wales to run during the month of January to help with their mental health.
Emma Picton-Jones, founder of the DPJ Foundation, helped create the @_run1000 challenge which is happening throughout January 2021. The challenge is between England, Ireland, Scotland, Wales and the rest of the world to see whose team could run 1000 miles first. All countries have now reached the 1000-mile mark and are now competing to see who can run the most miles throughout the month whilst raising awareness of the importance of rural mental health, and raising money for rural mental health charities including the DPJ Foundation.
Emma Picton-Jones said, “January can be quite a tough month for farmers and those of us living rurally and this year we have lockdown to contend with as well. We wanted to create something positive for everyone to take part in that gets them out and active. It is not too late to get involved – just find @_run1000 on social media and there’ll be a link for more details. It might be the only way Wales beat England if the six nations doesn’t go ahead!”
The DPJ Foundation was set up in July 2016 following the death of Daniel Picton-Jones. Daniel’s suicide rocked the community and his wife Emma realised very quickly a lack of support available for those suffering with poor mental health in rural communities. It was announced at Daniel’s funeral that a fund would be set up to provide support to those, like Daniel, who were suffering from poor mental health. It also became clear that the agricultural industry carried the highest rate of suicide, yet little was being done to help this.
Sarah Jones, a self-employed mother of two boys who lives in Carmarthenshire took up running less than a year ago and signed up to the @_run1000 challenge to help her mental health and keep her running motivation going during lockdown. She said, “Perhaps homeschooling has hit a groove, you’re comfortably working from home, you have time for you, and you feel supported and in control. For many of us, though, the opposite of all those things is true. Just as with the first lockdown, never has my running been more important. I go for a run to have a bit of time to myself to manage my thoughts and then the rest of my day feels a bit more manageable.”
Health
Welsh public want NHS, cost of living and infrastructure prioritised

Report highlights top concerns and calls for long-term vision
THE WELSH public want the government to prioritise improvements to the NHS, tackle the cost of living, and invest in infrastructure, according to Deloitte’s latest State of the State report.
The 2025 report, published in partnership with the independent think tank Reform, reflects the views of both public sector leaders and the people who use public services.
For the third consecutive year, the state of the NHS and the cost of living were the most pressing concerns for people in Wales, with both issues cited by 75% of those surveyed. Social care for the elderly and vulnerable adults followed, mentioned by 48%.
Jobs and the economy (47%) and affordable housing (43%) were also high on the public’s list of priorities. One of the most notable increases was in concern about infrastructure—roads, railways and broadband—with 42% calling for improvements, a rise of six percentage points on last year.
When asked about the biggest drivers of future growth, respondents in Wales chose improving the nation’s health (45%), boosting education and skills (44%), and increased investment in infrastructure (39%).
Despite these priorities, most people were pessimistic about the outlook. Some 75% expected the NHS to stay the same or get worse, while 74% said the same about infrastructure.
Council chief executives interviewed for the report stressed that government infrastructure spending would be key to future growth. Other public sector leaders highlighted progress in Welsh transport, crediting a clear vision and strong partnership working for recent successes.
The biggest challenge facing public services, according to respondents, was a lack of funding, with 66% citing it as a concern. A further 55% expressed fears about a loss of trust in public services.
While trust in the Welsh Government remains higher than in the UK, Scottish or Northern Irish governments, the public remain sceptical about delivery. Some 63% said they had low trust in its ability to deliver major projects on time and on budget, while 61% doubted it could deliver outcomes people want.
On the question of taxation, Welsh public opinion was divided. Some 31% supported higher taxes and public spending, while 37% preferred lower taxes and reduced spending. Nearly half (47%) said they expected higher taxes and spending regardless of their preference.
Deloitte’s interviews with senior public sector leaders revealed ambitious long-term goals, including frictionless digital interaction with government services, improved collaboration between agencies, place-based planning for integrated transport and healthcare, and a shift toward long-term, commercially aware decision-making.
Dave Tansley, Deloitte’s senior partner for the South West and Wales, said: “The State of the State 2025 report shows the Welsh public remain concerned about the cost of living and the NHS. But our survey also found heightened interest in infrastructure, more so than in other parts of the UK, suggesting the public recognises the importance of connectivity to economic growth.”
He added: “Infrastructure investment supports jobs, housing, roads and rail—but more importantly, it provides the platform for long-term economic resilience. With public finances under pressure and the 2026 Senedd election approaching, the next administration faces difficult choices and the chance to deliver transformational change.”
Ian Howse, Deloitte’s senior partner for Wales, said: “Public sector leaders want bold reform—services that are joined-up, citizen-focused and tech-driven. While the Welsh Government is addressing immediate pressures, our research points to the need for a long-term vision. Leaders report growing urgency to deliver ahead of the next election, especially on economic growth, which is a positive sign for the future.”
Health
Campaign launched to reverse sharp fall in organ donation consent in Wales

Woman from Pembrokeshire in campaign to raise awareness
A NEW campaign has been launched to reverse a worrying decline in family consent rates for organ donation in Wales—now the lowest in the UK.
Just five years ago, Wales had the highest consent rate in Britain. Today, it lags behind all other UK nations, with a 56% consent rate—down from 77% in 2018/19—despite having pioneered a “presumed consent” law in 2015.
Under that system, unless individuals opt out via the NHS Organ Donor Register, they are presumed to have agreed to donate their organs after death. But transplant specialists say the law may have had an unintended consequence: fewer families are talking about donation.
“Many people think presumed consent means everything is sorted, so they don’t have the conversation,” said Bethan Moss, a specialist nurse in Wales. “But families are always asked to confirm, and if they’re unsure, they often say no.”
The new campaign—The Best Thing You’ll Do Today—encourages people to both sign the register and speak with their loved ones.
“It’s about peace of mind,” Moss added. “If families know what their relative wanted, they’re far more likely to agree.”
More than 1.3 million people in Wales have declared their willingness to donate organs since the register began in 1994. Over 10,000 patients in Wales have received life-saving transplants. But the lack of conversation is proving deadly.
Across the UK, consent rates are falling, but the drop in Wales is steepest. Current family consent rates are 60% in England, 61% in Scotland, and 66% in Northern Ireland.
“Talking is key,” said Joanna Chalker, a senior nurse with NHS Blood and Transplant who has worked in Wales for 16 years. “When someone has signed the register or told their family, the consent rate jumps to 90%. That can mean the difference between life and death.”
One of those lives saved was 35-year-old Pembrokeshire mum Jessica (pictured), who was diagnosed with Primary Biliary Cholangitis—a rare liver condition—in 2016. After two false alarms, she finally received a successful transplant in 2022.
“I’d always been healthy, so the diagnosis was a shock,” she said. “But I was ready. Now I’m walking the kids to school again and loving life. Organ donation gave me everything back.”
Every day in the UK, someone dies waiting for a transplant. Right now, around 8,000 people—including over 200 children—are on the waiting list. A single donor can help up to nine people.
To register your decision or find out more, visit: www.organdonation.nhs.uk/register-your-decision
Health
Welsh Government advances Baby Bundle initiative to support families

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT is set to roll out its revamped Baby Bundle programme aimed at easing the financial burden on expectant families, particularly in some of the country’s most deprived areas. The initiative, which remains a cornerstone of the Programme for Government, was detailed by Dawn Bowden MS, Minister for Children and Social Care, in a recent statement.
Under the new scheme, £2.5 million has been earmarked for the 2025–26 financial year. Families living within core Flying Start areas will receive a Baby Bundle designed to provide essential items such as a warm blanket, clothing, and crucial information about local support services. The bundles are intended to help reduce everyday costs for families and are aligned with the Government’s broader Child Poverty Strategy.
In addition to the primary distribution, health practitioners will be able to offer Baby Bundles through Flying Start Outreach to a limited number of families outside these designated areas who are in need of extra support. The programme’s targeted approach is expected to make a tangible difference by alleviating some of the financial pressures faced by those living in economically challenged communities.
The tender specification for the procurement of the Baby Bundle programme is scheduled to go live later this week. The procurement process will run until mid-May 2025, with officials set to assess bids and aim for a contract award by the end of June. Once the process is successfully completed, the registration for receiving the Baby Bundle is anticipated to commence by the end of November.
The Government is also working closely with midwives and other health professionals to finalise the registration process, ensuring a smooth rollout. As part of its wider efforts to boost the uptake of Welsh Benefits, the Baby Bundle initiative will feature prominently in campaigns designed to raise awareness among families about the available support.
This proactive step underscores the Welsh Government’s commitment to not only meeting immediate needs but also to fostering long-term improvements in family welfare across the region. Further updates on the programme’s progress are expected in the coming months.
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