Health
5* rating for Pembrokeshire’s Bluestone as thousands plan wellness breaks to beat the winter blues
ONE of Pembrokeshire’s short break destinations is celebrating a five-star rating for its luxury spa as more than two million people living in the UK plan a wellness break.
Bluestone National Park Resort, near Narberth has been awarded a 5* Bubble Rating for its Well Spa Retreat from The Good Spa Guide. It comes after the spa was revealed as ESPA’s Flagship Wales Spa of 2021.
Figures reveal more than two million UK residents plan to book a wellness break to escape the winter blues, according to travel association ABTA.
The Good Spa Guide awarded the Well Spa the accolade for its wide range of treatments, its Thermal Suite of saunas and steam rooms, high quality staff and spa therapists, food, changing facilities and more.
It followed a “mystery visit” by the guide’s spa experts. They look for standards of facilities, cleanliness, customer service and the range of treatments, created in-house, including the use of handcrafted hot stones made from actual bluestones.
The Well Spa Retreat sits within the centre in the heart of a private village within the 500-acre resort near Narberth. It’s surrounded by luxury lodges, cottages, and apartments in the Pembrokeshire Coast National Park, renowned for its natural beauty and tranquillity.
“We’re really happy to have been awarded five bubbles stars from The Good Spa Guide. The guide is one of the UK’s leading authorities on spas and to know we’re among the best in the country is recognition of our team and the high standards and customer service we always strive to attain,” said Samantha Hewer, Manager of The Well Spa.
“Many of our guests at Bluestone book into the spa because they want to enhance their wellbeing. Whether it’s one of our unique treatments, designed by us, or relaxing in one of our brick saunas or one of our herbal steam rooms. Combining the spa with their short-break stay, or by experiencing one of our spa breaks, is a great way of relaxing and recharging the batteries.”
According to The Good Spa Guide: “Five bubble spas will give you the whole package; an uninterrupted spa journey, tip top treatments, first rate facilities and fabulous customer service. They may have a wider choice or facilities or cutting-edge treatments. Be prepared for a slice of spa luxury.”
It adds: It’s all about expectation and promise fulfilment: As long as a spa does what it says it does well, we’re happy Spa Spies.”
The Well Spa is about to launch a new range of treatments in the spring. Samantha added: “We’re keeping tight lipped about our new treatments for the Spring, needless to say our guests, old and new, will enjoy the new range and they’ll be getting five-star treatment with it.”
The Well Spa Retreat is offering a range of health and wellbeing breaks. These include the Spa Escape Break which includes staying in a luxury studio apartment within the resort’s private village where guests can explore the 500-acre resort, as well as enjoying dining at one of the many eateries.
They can even have an invigorating splash into the Blue Lagoon Waterpark or take to the woods for a range of Steep Ravine activities and much more.
The break includes a one-night stay, a 60-minute treatment per adult (over 18 years), and a one-hour visit to the Thermal Suite per adult. Prices start at £214 based on two people staying on 1st February 2022.
Health
Over 1500 patients in Wales blocked from leaving hospital
THE First Minister Eluned Morgan has been pressured on her government’s failure to clear hospital beds in Wales, leading to delays for people seeking urgent medical care.
According to a report from BBC Wales, there are currently 1,600 patients across Wales waiting to be discharged from hospital compared to England where there are currently 12,000.
However, when comparing population sizes, it’s revealed that Wales is performing worse than its closest neighbour, with 0.05% of the population of Wales stuck in hospital beds compared to 0.02% in England.
The Welsh Labour government have been criticised for their failure to clear out backlogs in the system,
The Liberal Democrats have now called on the Welsh Government to provide urgent social care funding to local authorities to help alleviate pressures on the NHS in Wales.
Speaking in the Siambr on Tuesday, The Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS described how over twenty years of Welsh Labour government in Wales had let to a “desperate situation in our NHS, with services nearing breaking point.
Welsh Labours refusal to change their approach and fix a system clogged up by mismanagement is directly responsible for the current situation faced by thousands of patients.
Delays in discharging patients from hospitals are placing huge pressures on both staff and those awaiting care, but there is a way out of this mess and the answer lies in social care.
I have been told by numerous professionals working in healthcare that the first step towards fixing our NHS is made by providing local authorities with the funding to fix social care services within their respected areas.
By dedicating adequate investment into our social care services, we can make life easier for patients discharged from hospital while also lifting the strain on health services throughout Wales.”
Education
Concern over ‘highest-ever’ school bullying rates
RATES of bullying in Welsh schools have reached record levels, with more than one in three children and young people reporting being bullied, the Senedd heard.
Gareth Davies raised concerns about a 6% increase in bullying between 2021 and 2023, according to a survey of more than 130,000 pupils in 200 secondary schools.
The Conservatives’ shadow mental health minister told the Senedd: “These results are higher than ever previously reported in the survey, which is deeply troubling.”
He said the latest survey showed regression on “just about every metric of pupil wellbeing”, including growing social isolation and a rise in behavioural issues.
Mr Davies, who worked in the NHS in north Wales for more than a decade, pointed to a 2021 legal duty to have regard to the mental health of children and young people.
He said: “The mental health of pupils has declined and reports of bullying in schools have only increased, so the Welsh Government have failed in that duty, unfortunately.”
Plaid Cymru’s Cefin Campbell called for an update to 2019 anti-bullying guidance for school governing bodies following a commitment from the Welsh Government eight months ago.
The shadow education secretary focused on the impact of poverty, warning the high cost of school uniforms can cause stress and lead to bullying.
Mr Campbell, a former lecturer, expressed concerns about penalties, such as detention, for pupils over non-compliance with uniform policies.
Raising a report on “horrific” experiences of racism in Welsh schools, he said one pupil was told a classmate did not want to sit next to them due to the colour of their skin.
“That’s entirely unacceptable in our schools,” said Mr Campbell.
Labour’s Carolyn Thomas warned children’s mental health is at an all-time low, pointing to smartphones and social media as major contributing factors.
She said: “They can be used to bully, manipulate and control, sending young people into an isolated world of despair, not thinking they can get out of it or go to somebody for help.”
The North Wales politician highlighted a petition calling for a ban on phones in schools.
Rhys ab Owen, an independent who represents South Wales Central, stressed that bullying can impact people for decades to come after school.
“But it’s an issue that doesn’t affect learners equally,” he said. “In Cardiff, around a third of learners come from ethnically diverse backgrounds.
“And I was staggered to read a survey from 2020, which said that 61.5% of learners had expressed stereotypes over skin colour, religion and nationality.”
In a statement on November 12 to mark anti-bullying week, Lynne Neagle accepted that bullying continues to be an issue in Welsh schools.
Pledging to prioritise the problem, Wales’ education secretary said new statutory anti-bullying guidance will be published for consultation after Christmas.
Ms Neagle pointed to concerning trends, including 42% of girls scoring high or very high in a questionnaire on psychological problems compared with 27% of boys.
She told the Senedd: “I wouldn’t want to be a teenager growing up today.”
Ms Neagle stated the Welsh Government provided more than £800,000 this year for one of the biggest surveys of children and young people in the UK.
She said: “The link between bullying and mental health is well known. At its most extreme, young people have taken their own lives as a result of being bullied. This is a tragedy for the young life lost, for their family and friends and for whole communities.”
Health
Fundraising events raise over £4,000 for ICU
VICKI COLES and Sophie Moncrieff have raised a fantastic £4,140 for the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at Withybush Hospital in memory of Henry Coles, Vicki’s husband.
Vicki and Sophie, with the help of their family and friends, organised a number of charity events, a charity wax, a raffle and charity night at The Bull Inn in Prendergast.
Henry sadly passed away in March 2024 and Vicki wanted to raise money to say thank you for the amazing support he received at the ICU.
Vicki said: “The care Henry received, and the support given to us by the ITU staff, was amazing and we can’t thank them enough.
“I want to say a big thank you to everyone who has helped at this very difficult time. We look forward to doing another fundraiser for Henry’s birthday next year.”
Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer said: “Thank you to Vicki and your family and friends for raising an amazing amount for the ICU at Withybush, it is a lovely tribute to Henry. We hope you take comfort in knowing the funds will make a big difference to the patients, families, and staff at the ICU at Withybush Hospital.
“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”
For more details about the NHS charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk
Pictured above: Vicki Coles and Sophie Moncrieff with staff from the unit
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