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Health board’s next steps for the new hospital site consultation

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HYWEL DDA University Health Board says that it has now received the final independent report from Opinion Research Services (ORS) following the end of its 12-week public consultation on the potential sites for a new urgent and planned care hospital in the south of the Hywel Dda region.

Held between the 23 February and 19 May 2023, the consultation invited the public, health board staff, partner organisations, and the wider community to share their views. Respondents considered three potential site options for a proposed new urgent and emergency care hospital; two located near Whitland and one near St Clears.

Last year, the health board submitted ambitious plans to the Welsh Government, which if successful, could result in around £1.3billion investment into health and care in mid and west Wales.

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning for Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Following our 2018 consultation with communities and staff our vision was developed to bring as much care as possible closer to people’s homes.”

“With plans for a series of integrated health and care centres across Carmarthenshire, Ceredigion, and Pembrokeshire, this new hospital will be a pivotal piece in enhancing specialist care services in Hywel Dda and will provide a sustainable hospital model fit for future generations. “

“This approach is intended to address some long-standing challenges including ageing hospital buildings, maintaining clinical rotas across multiple sites, and challenges with staff recruitment and retention.”

Opinion Research Services (ORS) was commissioned to independently advise, collate, and manage the consultation responses. Their comprehensive report on the consultation findings is now available for review on the health board’s website: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/about-us/healthier-mid-and-west-wales/. The consultation process for the selection of a site for the new hospital has achieved a Best Practice Quality Assurance from the Consultation institute.

As part of the formal consultation process, a number of health board stakeholder groups were asked to conscientiously consider the ORS report. In doing so, they were asked if there were any further mitigations the health board should be considering, if the report has identified all equality issues, and any final points that had not already been captured.

The ORS final report, together with the output of the conscientious consideration process, and the technical and commercial reports, will be considered at an extraordinary meeting of the Board at 10:30am on 14 September. During the meeting, Board members will be asked to consider the key findings from the ORS report and will also be asked to consider reducing the short list of sites for the new urgent and planned care hospital from three sites to two, and to decide upon the two sites to take forward.

The extraordinary meeting of the board is available for public viewing, details of how to do so can be found on the health board’s website: https://hduhb.nhs.wales/about-us/your-health-board/board-meetings-2023/ The Board papers that will be discussed at the meeting, which will include further technical information relating to the three sites, are also available at the same link.

The health board would like to thank the community, staff, partner organisations and everyone that took the time to meet with and share their views during this consultation process. The Board looks forward to the next steps in the consultation process as it considers all the feedback received.

For further information on the consultation, please visit the health board’s website: New hospital site – Hywel Dda University Health Board (nhs.wales)

Health

Hywel Dda scientist wins top UK healthcare award

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A WEST WALES health board manager has been named Biomedical Scientist of the Year at a prestigious UK awards ceremony.

Craig Baker, Cellular Pathology and Mortuary Service Manager at Hywel Dda University Health Board, received the accolade at the 2025 Advancing Healthcare Awards, held in London on Friday (May 23).

The annual awards recognise outstanding achievements by healthcare scientists, allied health professionals, and those working alongside them across the UK.

Craig was presented with the Biomedical Scientist of the Year award, sponsored by the Institute of Biomedical Science and awarded by its president, Joanna Andrew.

Reacting to the honour, Craig said: “Winning Biomedical Scientist of the Year at the UK Advancing Healthcare Awards 2025 is a huge honour and an achievement that I am incredibly proud of.

“This award reflects the unwavering commitment, dedication, and outstanding work of Biomedical Scientists across the profession, both within Hywel Dda and throughout Wales.

“I hope this recognition will help highlight the invaluable contributions of Biomedical Scientists and Health Science Professionals, and the critical role we play in delivering patient care.”

Dr Jonathan Arthur, Deputy Director of Health Science at Hywel Dda, added: “I would like to congratulate Craig on winning this well-deserved award. His work is vitally important for the patients and communities we serve.”

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Health

Have your say on NHS changes in Pembrokeshire

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Drop-in events planned across the county as Hywel Dda consults on future of key services

A SERIES of public events is being held in Pembrokeshire this month and next as part of a major consultation by Hywel Dda University Health Board on the future of local NHS services.

The consultation, which covers nine different areas of care, could lead to significant changes in how services are delivered at hospitals and community facilities across west Wales – including Haverfordwest, Tenby and Pembroke Dock.

The Health Board says the aim is to tackle long-standing issues, reduce waiting times, and improve standards of care.

The services under review include:

  • Critical care
  • Dermatology
  • Emergency general surgery
  • Endoscopy
  • Ophthalmology
  • Orthopaedics
  • Radiology
  • Stroke
  • Urology

Proposals include reorganising how and where these services are delivered – something which may affect Withybush Hospital and community clinics across the county.

Local residents are being urged to attend one of several drop-in events, where Health Board staff will be available to answer questions and gather feedback.

Public events in Pembrokeshire include:

  • Friday 27 June – HaverHub, Haverfordwest, SA61 1BG, 2:00pm–7:00pm
  • Friday 4 July – Tenby Leisure Centre, SA70 8DU, 2:00pm–7:00pm
  • Thursday 10 July – Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6DD, 3:00pm–6:00pm

A further event will be held in neighbouring Ceredigion at The Guildhall in Cardigan on Tuesday 8 July, from 2:00pm to 7:00pm.

There will also be a series of online consultation events, each focusing on specific service areas. People can register via the Hywel Dda website.

Lee Davies, Executive Director of Strategy and Planning at Hywel Dda, said: “No decisions have yet been made and no options have been preferred at this stage. This consultation is your chance to shape how services are delivered in the future. We are keen to hear from residents about what matters to them and how services can be improved.”

The Herald understands the proposed changes are part of the Health Board’s long-term strategy to build a more sustainable NHS in Mid and West Wales, but local campaigners have previously voiced concerns about potential downgrading of Withybush Hospital.

Pembrokeshire residents can share their views by attending an event or by completing an online questionnaire.

Full information about the proposals – including the consultation documents and registration links – is available at:
👉 hduhb.nhs.wales/clinical-services-consultation

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Health

Welsh residents urged to wear sunglasses year-round, not just when it’s Sunny

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WELSH residents could be putting their vision at risk by only wearing sunglasses when the sun is shining – with only 20% of people in Wales admitting to putting on their sunnies year-round.

Alarmingly, 50% of Welsh adults only reach for their sunglasses when it’s sunny, while just 36% wear them when the skies are overcast. This is despite the fact that UV rays can penetrate cloud cover and reflect off surfaces like water, sand and snow.

The research, commissioned by Specsavers, which polled 2,000 UK adults, also revealed that nearly 13% in Wales mistakenly believe that darker lenses offer better protection from UV rays. As a result, 23% have purchased sunglasses under this misconception, unaware that UV defence has nothing to do with the tint of the lens.

Ayad Shafiq, Cataract Clinical Lead at Newmedica, said: “Protecting your eyes from UV rays is essential to reduce the long-term risk of serious conditions such as cataracts, macular degeneration, and even skin cancer around the eyelids. Wearing UV-blocking sunglasses and wide-brimmed hats can significantly lower this risk. However, it’s important to note that individuals with existing cataracts or macular degeneration often require enhanced lighting to see clearly, so their need for light must be balanced carefully with UV protection. Consulting an eye care professional can help tailor the right approach for each individual.”

The research also uncovered a range of myths and misunderstandings around eye health. Almost a quarter of Welsh respondents (23%) wrongly believe sunglasses block all types of light damage, while 20% assume sunglasses never expire – both of which are false. Furthermore, 12% of people admit they rarely wear sunglasses even when it is sunny. Among this group, 32% say it’s simply not a habit they’ve picked up, and 26% find them inconvenient due to wearing prescription glasses.

When it comes to choosing new shades, most people in Wales spend just over 30 minutes researching the right pair, with 13% admitting they don’t wear sunglasses often enough to justify putting much effort into the decision. Of those, 46% want a pair that suits their face shape and feel more confident when they like how they look in sunglasses, and 29% say it’s essential their shades match their personal style.

Despite the confusion, many people are aware of the potential long-term damage UV rays can cause – with retinal damage (41%), photokeratitis (35%) and cataracts (26%) rated most highly. However, more than a third (35%) don’t associate cataracts with UV exposure, believing the condition is purely age-related. In fact, 27% say they’ve never seen any public health messaging linking the two.

According to the research, 41% admit they don’t know much about cataracts, even though 55% are worried about developing the condition.

To book an eye test, or to find the right pair of UV protection sunglasses for you, visit Specsavers.co.uk.  

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