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Save Withybush: Locals protest A&E closure plan

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ROUGHLY 300 people attended a protest on Wednesday (Feb 23) outside Withybush General Hospital.

The ‘Save Withybush’ campaign aims to save the hospital and its A&E department from closure.

In new plans by Hywel Dda University Health Board, Withybush would be ‘repurposed’ into a community hospital with a 24/7 urgent care centre led by GPs that would only be capable of dealing with minor injuries, such as: upper body injuries, infections, head injuries, illnesses, animal or insect bites, some broken bones, minor burns and eye injuries.

They’re hoping for £1.3 billion in funding to “fundamentally improve the way in which health and care services are provided”.

If the plans are approved, the A&E units at Withybush General Hospital and Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital could close.

Locals are concerned that the additional travel time to other hospitals could be the difference between life and death.

One of the protesters, Moira Lewis, has said: “We are so far away from other hospitals.

“It’s 44 miles from Goodwick to Carmarthen, and ambulances don’t turn up as quickly as they could.

“This will all add to the pressure. At the end of the day, somebody could die before they arrive.”

Jaqueline Doig, of ‘Save Withybush’, a group who have also created a petition to get the ‘repurposing’ discussed in The Senedd, said: “Moving care out of county puts adults & children at risk of poor outcomes or even death. It wastes crucial time, when time is not on our side.”

“[Hywel Dda University Health Board] may infer that the “Golden Hour” is no longer relevant, with better equipped ambulances & higher trained staff, but that is dependent on an ambulance being available to help & give that immediate care.

Protest at Withybush Hospital (Image M Cavaney)

“That is increasingly not the case, as ambulances fail to attend, as they are being sent out of county, unable to offload and unable to return to county, to give the help needed.”

“We have lost faith & trust in HDUHB and do not believe that they are working in the best interests of Pembrokeshire.”

Steve Moore, the health board chief executive, says that a new hospital is vital.

“We are stretched very thin at the moment, and that means we struggle with staffing,” he said.

“Quite often, people struggle with waiting times.

“While they may be able to get to the hospital front door, it can be a real challenge for our staff to see them in a reasonable timescale, and that creates a poor service for the public.

“Building a new hospital will allow us to do much better at that.”

Crime

Man charged with strangulation and assault offences after October incident

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A MAN recorded in court as having no fixed abode has appeared before magistrates charged with intentional strangulation and two further assault offences.

Michael Sudbury, 50, whose address was not read out in court, but in Herald records is Glan Hafan, Llangwm, appeared before the bench facing multiple charges.

The charges relate to an incident on 22 October 2025 and include:

  • Intentional strangulation, contrary to section 75A of the Serious Crime Act 2015
  • Common assault
  • Assault by beating

No further details of the alleged incident were opened in court, and no plea was entered at this stage.

Sudbury was remanded on conditional bail, with the case listed to return to magistrates later this month.

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Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

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Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of A 49-year-old Haverfordwest resident has been committed to Swansea Crown Court to face trial on multiple serious charges deemed too grave for magistrates to handle.

David Guy, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates facing a series of allegations stemming from a single case. The charges, which were not detailed in open court, include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • A second count of assault
  • Criminal damage
  • An additional allegation of interpersonal violence
  • A public order offence

Magistrates declined jurisdiction, determining that the matters exceeded their sentencing powers, and sent the case in its entirety to Swansea Crown Court.

Guy was remanded in custody pending his next appearance. The court register notes: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A date for the initial Crown Court hearing will be set administratively. Guy will remain in custody until then.

The Pembrokeshire Herald will provide further updates as the case progresses in the Crown Court.

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Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

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Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string A 40-year-old man from Castlemartin has made repeated appearances before magistrates this month in connection with a series of serious alleged offences, including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), intentional non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, is facing six linked charges stemming from incidents said to have occurred earlier this year. These appear to relate to the same complainant in what is understood to be a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution.

During recent administrative hearings at Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court, Alcock did not enter pleas while matters of bail and case management were addressed.

Charges Include:

  • Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
  • Intentional non-fatal strangulation
  • Common assault on a woman
  • Criminal damage in a domestic context
  • Additional assault allegations involving the same complainant
  • Breach of bail conditions

Alcock was initially granted conditional bail but was subsequently brought before the court on two occasions for alleged breaches. On those instances, magistrates remanded him in custody ahead of further hearings. He was later re-granted conditional bail, subject to strict conditions such as no contact with the complainant and exclusion from specified locations.

Magistrates have now declined jurisdiction, ruling that the case—particularly the more serious charges involving non-fatal strangulation—is too grave for summary trial. It has been committed to Swansea Crown Court for plea, trial, or sentencing.

No detailed evidence has been presented in open court at this preliminary stage. Alcock remains on conditional bail pending his next appearance at the Crown Court.

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