News

SCBU closure: ‘Nurses said our baby would be dead if he was born next month’

Published

10 years ago

July 26, 2014

freddie2 A YOUNG couple who are convinced their baby would have died without the help of the special care baby unit at Withybush Hospital have sent a heartfelt message to Heath Minister, Mark Drakeford urging him not to close the unit.
Freddie, who is one of the last babies treated at the unit, was born on July 25, weighing less than three pounds. He is twelve weeks premature.
Dad, Myles Bamford Lewis, 22, from Milford Haven told The Herald: “It was so emotional at the hospital because the nurses were crying. They knew if Freddie had to go to Carmarthen he wouldn’t have made it. The paramedics told us they wouldn’t have got much further than Canaston Bridge before Freddie would have died.”
New mum, Jasmine McGinley, age 19, from Fishguard was in her home town when the ambulance was called.
Jasmine said: “It’s upsetting to think that babies and mothers will be put at risk at the closure of the SCBU.”

She added: “I’m just glad it was still open. The unit is closing a week Monday. The midwives, doctors and nurses nicknamed him ‘Lucky Freddie – a week later and he wouldn’t be here.”
This is the message Jasmine and Myles have sent to Dr. Drakeford: “This is a picture of my son, who will be one of the last to be born at Withybush SCBU under your new plans. Without Withybush he would have been born most probably around Canaston Bridge judging the time scale of my other half’s labour. It took 15 minutes for an ambulance team to get to Fishguard from Withybush, a further 15 minutes to get back. Within 20 minutes my son was born. He then needed medicine to open his lungs properly so he could breath. Being 12 weeks early he is at the end of his development before he starts to grow.”
myles The letter went on to say: “I’m not sure if your a father or whether you’ve ever had any problems with pregnancy but unless you start packing ambulances with machines comparable to the ones in an intensive care unit then Pembrokeshire babies will die on the way to Glangwili.”
“Without Withybush SCBU my son would have died. As a father, I beg that you see sense that SCBU is vital to give children the best chance they can get. Your toying with lives here. SCBU is something that should be invested in and not shut down… I’m just glad im not in your shoes, I would hate to be the one who has to tell a grieving father why his child died in the back of an ambulance because you want to save a few pennies.”

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9 Comments

wayne marshall

July 26, 2014 at 11:49 pm

Dear sir,
I have heard that camarthen hospital is not ready for the switch yet as the baby unit is not up to scratch so what will happen if the switch goes ahi ead without camarthen being ready i dread to think
Georgiana

July 27, 2014 at 10:29 am

Only someone who lives in the city would make decisions such as closing the SCBU. They don’t appreciate how long it takes to get to various hospitals in the ‘sticks’.

I was told that something like this happened in England. They close the local baby unit and women had to drive 30+ miles to get to the nearest one, babies died and years later they reopened the original unit.
Gareth

July 27, 2014 at 1:12 pm

There are good and bad out comes of this. Withybush is only a levle two care and they say they can take 30 weeks pregnant with only level 2 care. Our son was 33 weeks and was left ventilated until a team from Swansea came down to take him to a level 3 care hospital. He got to Swansea in 30 mins. Now with this scubu unit closed withybush will have to take full tearm only reducing risk. That being said every pregnancy is a risk but if needed to be transferred it would be done in an ambulance just for this job and trust me the ambulance has more in it that the whole scubu unit in Haverfordwest. So I wouldn\\\’t say it\\\’s all doom and gloom people only look at the negatives. I personally think it will force hospitals to manage not only cost but risk. People might have a negative out look on this comment but trust me we have been there and done it and with better management in a higher care unit our son would of had a less complex birth and after care
Noo

July 27, 2014 at 2:16 pm

Gareth, I think you miss the point here, Carmarthen is also a level 2 unit, without SCBU in Pembs and a specialist team these very premature babies have no chance of survival in those vital few hours, I’m afraid you have been misinformed regarding the equipment aboard the retrieval ambulance they do not carry Ventilators etc, every child deserves the right to life in this day and age
jane perkins

July 27, 2014 at 4:10 pm

My son was born 23 years ago. Without the special care baby unit he would not be alive now. I lived in St Davids and the nurses would call us when he need to be fed by me and we did until he could come home. But if he had been in Carmarthen we wouldn\’t have made it on time. So no son. Sadly this is awful news for the people of Pembrokshire and im horrified
Kelly John

July 27, 2014 at 8:56 pm

Glangwilli is nowhere near ready to look after extremely premature babies, my daughter was transferred here from singleton during her sbcu, she picked up 3 infections before she was transferred back to recover, it\’s understaffed, not up to specs for these babies without immunity to germs. This is the worst news I\’ve heard for a while and I feel so sorry for the family\’s that will undoubtably suffer 🙁
Tommo

July 28, 2014 at 9:07 am

In response to the comment left by Gareth, in no way do ambulances have the same equipment in them that a specialist SCBU unit does. So many specialist medications and machines are needed to keep a premature baby alive. Also specialist nurses who are specifically trained to use these medications and equipment. Babies lives will be lost. 30 minutes is to long. And that\’s on a good day.
Natashia

July 28, 2014 at 3:13 pm

I don’t usually agree with suing hospitals, but in this case I hope everyone who looses a loved one with the closure of Withybush does sue. Hit them where it hurts, their pockets!
David Williams

July 29, 2014 at 12:35 pm

Gareth, there is no neonatal 2 in Withybush or Glangwili. Withybush is neonatal 2 in everything but name and Hywel Dda only aspire to Neonatal 2 in Glangwili some time in future, not when changes come into effect. In your case nothing would have changed because your baby would still have had to go to Swansea for neonatal 3 except you would have had to take your wife to Carmarthen when he arrived early. Did the air ambulance take the baby to Swansea as there was no way he could have got there from Withybush otherwise. Any pods & staff have to be supplied by Withybush for the emergency ambulance (ambulance service only provide ambulance & driver) so I cannot see how they will have better equipment. Especially as the space is much less in an ambulance than the excellent SCBU at Withybush . Neither will there be consultants at hand as currently until it gets to Glangwili. Unfortunately I think you have been misinformed or not researched enough.

Community

Tractor run lights up Pembrokeshire and raises funds for charity

Published

18 mins ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE PEMBROKESHIRE ILLUMINATED TRACTOR RUN took place today (Dec 21), raising funds for two vital charities: the Catrin Vaughan Foundation and Wales Air Ambulance.

Starting at Clarbeston Road AFC at 6:00pm, the brightly lit convoy of nearly 200 tractors made its way through Withybush Hospital and Haverfordwest High Street before finishing at the Pembrokeshire County Showground.

The annual event has become a highlight of the festive calendar, drawing large crowds to witness the spectacle of tractors adorned with colourful lights and decorations.

Funds raised from the event will support the Catrin Vaughan Foundation, which provides crucial assistance to families facing hardship, and the Wales Air Ambulance, delivering life-saving emergency medical care across the region.

Organisers praised the dedication of local farmers and volunteers, whose commitment ensures the event’s continued success year after year.

(Image: Nia Marshall/Facebook)

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

8 hours ago

December 21, 2024

Tom Sinclair

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.