News

What safety net?

Published

11 years ago

September 2, 2014

THE REVELATION of the extent of the Welsh Ambulance Service crisis could not come at a worse time for the local health board.

Having scrapped SCBU and a consultant-led obstetric service and replaced it with a 24/7 dedicated ambulance, the Herald revealed two weeks ago that an advert for staff to crew the vehicle did not expire until after the service at Withybush had been removed. The Herald understands that despite Freemasons providing a specialist transport pod for babies to Withybush Hospital, that equipment has been commandeered for use at Glangwili.

As a result, Pembrokeshire neonates and infants travelling to Glangwili in an emergency will be reliant upon a heated mattress. A standard specification ambulance does not carry the equipment a sick neonate requires. To transport a sick neonate or baby needs specialised transport from the ground up. The ambulance must have the floor attachments to secure 200kg of neonatal transport incubator. All of the equipment must be the size for a neonate. While paramedics will do their best they are not a specialist neonatal transport nurse, of which two are required. Safe in the knowledge that the summer recess was coming, Health Minister Mark Drakeford claimed a robust safety net would be in place to ensure patient safety.

Mr Drakeford has avoided scrutiny for now, but is sure to face questions on how the Board persuaded the government that an understaffed and under-resourced service was either safe or robust. He will hardly need reminding that any mishap or tragedy will be laid firmly at his door. It also appears that despite repeated assurances that mothers will not have to travel outside the health board area to deliver their babies, and in spite of planning the closure of SCBU at Withybush for years, facilities are still not ready at Glangwili.

The Pembrokeshire Herald has been contacted by Martin McGeown, whose wife Bianca is expecting twins, a boy and a girl: “We have had a few complications with the little boy so we were back and forth to Cardiff. We are now in Singleton, Swansea. No cots were available at Carmarthen and we were sent to Bridgend hospital on Friday. “I then drove at 12 at night with Bianca down to Swansea as a bed become available. We were told if no cots were available in Wales we would have had to go to Birmingham that day.

“I’m so sad about our hospital and my heart is with all the midwives who have been treated so badly. I hope we can do something about this, as you don’t realise until it happens to one of you “Me and my family have been pulled from pillar to post not knowing were our children would be born. Swansea Singleton are amazing but deep down it should have been at Withybush. “This is not going to get better and has to be sorted.” Commenting on the closure this week of the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital, MP Stephen Crabb said: “I was deeply disappointed to see SCBU close this week. Pembrokeshire residents have fought long and hard to retain this vital service but the Welsh Labour Health Minister has pushed on regardless.”

“I have discussed these changes with both the Health Board and the Welsh Health Minister. At no point have I been reassured about the apparent safety-nets planned to deal with emergencies in future. We do not know if these are even operational. With SCBU now closed, this is a damning indictment of Welsh Labour’s health policy.” “People are right to be concerned. Even if the A40 is free from problems, Welsh ambulance response time targets have been missed year after year. Already this week we have seen reports of police cars across Wales transporting patients to hospital because ambulances are not available.” “I have written again to the Welsh Health Minister voicing my concerns. Pembrokeshire residents deserve, at the very least, to be given assurances that adequate plans are in place for dealing with emergency cases.”

Crime

Milford Haven man to appear in court on seven child sex charges

Published

59 minutes ago

November 17, 2025

Sarah-Jane Absalom

A 45-YEAR-OLD man originally from Lower Priory, Milford Haven will appear in court on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, charged with a series of child sexual offences alleged to have taken place in Cornwall.

James Kershaw, now living in Pounda, Quethiock, Cornwall, faces seven charges linked to incidents said to have occurred in Liskeard, Cornwall between 26 October and 1 November 2023.

The complainant has automatic anonymity under the Sexual Offences Amendment Act 1992.

Sexual communication with a child

Kershaw is accused of intentionally engaging in sexual communication with a child under 16 for sexual gratification.

This offence, under Section 15A of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, carries a maximum sentence of two years’ imprisonment if tried in the Crown Court.

Causing a child to watch sexual activity

Two charges allege that on 28 October and 29 October 2023, he caused a child aged 13 to 15 to watch him engaging in sexual activity.

These offences fall under Section 12 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years’ imprisonment on indictment.

Causing or inciting sexual activity

Kershaw also faces two counts of causing or inciting a girl aged 13 to 15 to engage in non-penetrative sexual activity.

These offences are under Section 10 of the Sexual Offences Act 2003, carrying a maximum sentence of 14 years’ imprisonment.

Breach of Sexual Harm Prevention Order

He is additionally charged with two breaches of a Sexual Harm Prevention Order (SHPO) imposed by Derby Crown Court on 31 May 2022.

Prosecutors allege that between 26 October and 1 November 2023, Kershaw:

Used an undeclared social media account;
Deleted online messages despite being prohibited from doing so.

Breaches of a SHPO carry a maximum sentence of five years’ imprisonment.

Court appearance

Kershaw is due to appear in court at 2:00pm on Tuesday, 18 November 2025, where the case is expected to be sent to the Crown Court due to the seriousness of the charges.

Community

Operation targets untaxed and abandoned vehicles in Haverfordwest

Published

2 hours ago

November 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Garth Ward clear-up sees multiple removals

POLICE have organised the removal several untaxed and abandoned vehicles from the Garth ward in Haverfordwest following a joint operation earlier today.

Neighbourhood officers from Haverfordwest NPPT, working alongside the Roads Policing Unit, carried out enforcement action after a number of vehicles were found to have no valid road tax and had been left parked or abandoned for extended periods.

A police spokesperson said the operation was aimed at improving safety, accessibility, and the general appearance of residential streets where long-term abandoned vehicles had become an issue.

Millforge Garage were brought in to assist with the removals, with officers praising staff for their work in recovering vehicles that were “in awkward and difficult positions”.

Under UK law, it is illegal to keep or park an untaxed vehicle on any public road. Vehicles must be taxed or declared SORN (Statutory Off Road Notification), but a SORN declaration is only valid if the vehicle is kept entirely on private land. Leaving a SORN vehicle on a street, layby or pavement breaches DVLA regulations and can result in immediate enforcement action.

DVLA enforcement teams and police have the power to clamp or remove any untaxed vehicle found on a public road without warning. In many cases, removal fees, daily storage charges and unpaid tax must be settled before the vehicle can be released — and if not collected, the vehicle may ultimately be scrapped.

The Herald understands that further inspections will continue over the coming weeks as part of ongoing efforts to tackle nuisance and abandoned vehicles across the town.

Community

Old Haverfordwest Library car park to be free until New Year

Published

2 hours ago

November 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Temporary suspension of charges as new operating arrangements are reviewed

ATEB has confirmed that parking charges at the Old Haverfordwest Library car park on Dew Street have been suspended from this week (November 17) until the New Year while the organisation reviews how the site is operated.

The update was shared with residents by Castle Ward county councillor Thomas Tudor following a statement from ATEB chief executive Nick Hampshire.

Mr Hampshire said the organisation is “currently reviewing the Dew Street car parking operations” and will therefore not charge users during the review period. However, he stressed that motorists use the site “at their own risk,” as clearly set out on the on-site notices.

New arrangements expected in 2026

ATEB says its intention is to introduce new parking arrangements early in the New Year. These are expected to mirror the terms, rates and conditions used in Pembrokeshire County Council-run car parks, providing consistency for shoppers, visitors and local residents.

“Until we agree the new arrangements, we will not be in a position to share more detail,” Mr Hampshire added.

Cllr Tudor encouraged residents with any queries to contact him directly.