Health

Statement insisting that there will be no closure of Withybush ‘is meaningless’ say campaigners

Published

4 years ago

April 15, 2022

HYWEL DDA Health Board’s recent statement insisting that there will be no closure of Withybush Hospital is meaningless and irrelevant, Save Withybush Campaigners have told The Pembrokeshire Herald

A petition, which has recently topped 10,000 signatures, and will now go to the Senedd petitions committee was set up by the Save Withybush Campaign with the specific aim of saving and retaining the A&E at the hospital.

The petition is demanding that: ‘Withybush General Hospital must retain 24 hour, 7 days a week, Consultant Led urgent care.’

Campaigners say that the health board’s assurance that they will not close the hospital bears no relevance to the issues at hand. “Our campaign is against the downgrading of the hospital and the closure of our A&E.

“In 2014 they removed the Special Care Baby Unit (SCBU) and Consultant led maternity, leaving us with only a midwife led unit. This has already created a very unsafe maternity situation as any remotely risky pregnancies & births, plus emergencies have to be dealt with in Glangwili.

“In 2020 they removed Emergency Paediatrics to Glangwili.

“These moves are causing undue stress, prolonged travel times and financial burdens for families in Pembrokeshire. Nearly everyone in Pembrokeshire has a horror story about this. The ambulance service is
already at breaking point so our argument is that the downgrading and closure of the A&E at Withybush cannot and will not ever be safe.”

In the recent statement from Hwyel Dda, Mr Lee Davies, Director of Strategic, Development and Operational Planning, said: “Our ambition is to move from a service that treats illness to one that keeps people well, prevents ill-health or worsening of ill health, and provides any help you need early on.”

Campaigners say that there is absolutely no way to mitigate against serious injury or sudden life threatening illness and say this statement is meaningless when you hold it against the Health Boards plans to close the A&E. Pembrokeshire is home to industrial hot spots such as the Valero Oil and Gas refinery, we also have a huge population boost during the holiday tourism seasons. The point is, that without a fully functioning A&E at Withybush thousands of lives will be put at risk.

The Health Board’s recent Programme Business Case which is available to view on Hywel Dda’s website outlines several options which are under consideration for the future planned infrastructure and hospital footprint if a new build hospital near St Clears goes ahead.

The options listed range from ‘Minor’ though to ‘Maximum’ with ‘likely’ potential redevelopment scenarios for the Withybush site.

A protest in 2018 against closure of services at Withybush Hospital (Pic Herald)

Page 206 of the plan titled: ‘Opportunities and Observations’ clearly shows a potential redevelopment plan for Withybush where the A&E would be completely demolished while the main hospital footprint would be vastly reduced in size.

Several of the options involve new build scenarios which describe leaving only [quote] “a functional requirement at Withybush which includes a minor injuries unit with GP out of hours service and satellite imaging, four outpatient clusters and 16 renal treatment chairs. includes two 24-bed inpatient wards.”

Other key statements contained within the Business plan include: “As part of a wider site redevelopment strategy there may be an opportunity to demolish or re-develop some of the peripheral buildings around the site.” and “With a reduction in the building footprint and less car-parking required there is the potential to dispose of circa 6-7 acres in the future.”

Campaigners say this clearly demonstrates the Health Board’s intention not just to downgrade the hospital and to remove its A&E but to sell off the remaining land as well.

Adding: “These plans are not only unsafe but have been based on an out of date consultation which was worded in such a way that people were not even given the opportunity to object to the proposed closures or to the new build hospital.

“Under the Future Generations Act and the Social Services and Wellbeing act Welsh Government and the health Boards have legislative obligations to engage in co production with residents when planning any changes to services, this means they have to design services in partnership with all cross sections of the community which will be affected.

“They have abjectly failed in their responsibility to do this.”

Health

RCN Wales appoints Nicola Williams as Executive Director

Published

2 days ago

March 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

NICOLA WILLIAMS will take up the role in April, bringing more than three decades of experience in nursing and senior leadership.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) has announced the appointment of Nicola Williams as its new Executive Director for Wales.

She joins the organisation from Velindre University NHS Trust, where she currently serves as Executive Director for Nursing, Allied Health Professionals and Health Care Scientists. With 38 years of experience in nursing and more than six years at executive board level, she is widely recognised across NHS Wales for her work in improving patient outcomes.

A highly experienced strategic leader, Williams has worked across a wide range of clinical and organisational settings. She has led major transformation programmes, strengthened national clinical leadership networks and championed innovation and evidence-based improvements in care. Her work has contributed to changes adopted across Wales and has been recognised with national awards.

Speaking about her appointment, Nicola Williams said: “I feel privileged to be appointed as Executive Director of RCN Wales. I’m a proud nurse, passionate about patient safety and improving care standards.

“Delivering the best care is only possible when nursing staff are supported to work in safe, inclusive environments. I will stand alongside members and their patients.

“Nursing staff are the backbone of health and care. I am determined to support our members across Wales, wherever they work, to meet the challenges ahead and shape the future of our profession.

“I look forward to meeting members across Wales and ensuring our work is informed by their experiences and expertise.”

In her new role, Williams will lead the RCN’s work in Wales and provide strategic leadership across key priority areas spanning the UK.

She succeeds Helen Whyley, who has held the position since February 2019 and will move into a new role as Director of Service Innovation at the RCN.

Health

Decision pending on adult mental health referral pathway

Published

3 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board will decide next week whether to make changes to the GP referral pathway for routine adult mental health services permanent.

The decision will be taken at a public Board meeting on Thursday (Mar 26).

Board members will consider a proposal to formalise changes already introduced in Ceredigion and, if approved, roll out the revised pathway across Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

Since March 2025, adults in Ceredigion seeking routine mental health support have been advised by their GP to contact the NHS 111 Wales ‘Press 2’ service, rather than being referred directly to the county’s Community Mental Health Team.

The temporary change was introduced in response to ongoing staffing shortages. Health Board officials say the approach has helped maintain timely access to face-to-face assessments for those who need them, while directing initial contact through a single access point.

The 111 ‘Press 2’ service provides telephone assessments by local wellbeing practitioners, supervised by registered mental health nurses, offering advice, support and onward referrals where required.

At its November 2025 meeting, the Board agreed to extend the temporary pathway until the end of March 2026. A nine-week engagement exercise followed, running from December 8 to February 9, to gather feedback from patients, professionals and stakeholders on the potential long-term impact.

Andrew Carruthers, Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “I would like to thank everyone who took the time to share their views and experiences.

“I would also like to thank West Wales Action for Mental Health for supporting engagement with patients, including those with lived experience, alongside GPs, primary care teams, mental health staff and third sector partners.

“Our priority is to ensure mental health services remain accessible, fair and sustainable. The temporary changes in Ceredigion have shown some positive benefits, and the feedback we have received from across the three counties will play an important role in shaping the Board’s decision.”

The Board will review all evidence and feedback before making a final decision on the future of the adult mental health referral pathway.

GPs will continue to refer patients with urgent or complex needs directly to community mental health teams where appropriate, and have access to a dedicated NHS 111 professional line for additional clinical advice.

Further details, including the full Board papers, are available here:
https://biphdd.gig.cymru/amdanom-ni/eich-bwrdd-iechyd/cyfarfodydd-y-bwrdd-2026/agenda-a-phapuraur-bwrdd-26-mawrth-2026/

The meeting will be streamed live from 9:30am on Thursday (Mar 26) via:
www.youtube.com/hywelddahealthboard1

Health

Parents urged to check children’s vaccinations after meningitis cases

Published

3 days ago

March 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Local pharmacy reports MenB vaccine shortage amid rising concern

PARENTS and carers across west Wales are being urged to check their children’s vaccination status following recent meningitis cases in the UK.

The warning comes as a local pharmacy has confirmed a shortage of the Meningitis B (MenB) vaccine, highlighting growing pressure on supplies.

Mendus Pharmacy said it currently has no availability of the vaccine due to what it described as a nationwide supply issue.

***Mendus Pharmacy: No availability of the vaccine***

In a statement, the pharmacy said: “We would like to inform our patients that, due to ongoing supply issues, we currently have no availability of the Meningitis B vaccine.

“Unfortunately, this is a nationwide shortage and all stock is currently unavailable.

“We understand this may be particularly concerning given the recent outbreak reported in Kent, and we completely appreciate the importance of timely vaccination.”

The pharmacy confirmed it is operating a waiting list and will contact patients once supplies return.

Health officials say keeping vaccinations up to date remains one of the most effective ways to prevent serious illness and reduce pressure on NHS services.

Dr Ardiana Gjini, Executive Director of Public Health at Hywel Dda University Health Board, urged parents to act.

She said: “Vaccination is one of the most effective ways we can protect children and young people from serious illness.

“Ensuring your child is fully vaccinated not only safeguards their health but also helps prevent the spread of infections within our communities.

“I strongly encourage all parents and carers to check their child’s vaccination status. If you are concerned that your child may have missed routine vaccinations, please speak to your GP.”

Meningococcal disease is a serious and potentially life-threatening infection that can lead to meningitis or septicaemia. While many people recover, some are left with long-term physical, neurological or psychological complications. Around one in ten cases can be fatal.

Although the disease can affect anyone, babies, young children, teenagers and young adults are at greatest risk.

In Wales, vaccines protecting against meningococcal strains A, B, C, W and Y are offered as part of the NHS immunisation programme. Infants receive the MenB vaccine, while teenagers are offered the MenACWY vaccine.

Latest figures from the Health Board show that uptake among 16-year-olds for the MenACWY vaccine stands at 76.4%, meaning a significant number of young people remain unprotected as they approach adulthood.

For younger children, uptake of the MenB vaccine is higher but still below the recommended 95% target. Around 92.8% of infants are vaccinated by their first birthday, rising slightly to 91.8% by their second.

Health officials say these figures reflect strong engagement from families and primary care teams but stress that continued vigilance is needed.

Families are being advised to check their child’s vaccination record with their GP or by contacting the Health Board directly. Parents should also ensure babies receive their scheduled MenB doses and that teenagers receive their MenACWY and 3-in-1 booster vaccines, which are currently being delivered in schools.

Parents are also urged to remain alert to the symptoms of meningitis and septicaemia and to seek urgent medical advice if they have concerns.

Further information on symptoms is available via NHS 111 Wales.