News
Board looks to advance cancer plans
A DOCUMENT released by the Local Health Board and sent to the Pembrokeshire Herald has revealed the extent of the deceit previously practised by the Board towards local cancer services fund raisers.
The document states that NO business case for the construction of a CDU has ever been presented to the Welsh Government by the Board. This means that assertions made in the past to campaigners that the construction of a CDU was near were pie in the sky promises which the Board knew – or should have known – that it was not in a position to fulfil. In addition, the Board has not provided any guarantees that oncology services will be developed at Withybush at all.
The Board has expressed its commitment to improving cancer services at Withybush only in conditional terms and made no outright promise to provide those services at Withybush. Instead of a written and firm commitment the Board said: “We are unable to provide you with a fixed timescale for the work to begin at this stage. A plan is being developed which requires the movement of other services within the Withybush Hospital site. Progress is also dependent on a robust service model for the provision of oncology services within Pembrokeshire which as you know is being addressed by a Review Group.”
Cancer campaigners at the meeting were also aghast at the Board implying that oncology services will not be provided at Withybush at all. On the one hand the Board has said that the provision of a Cancer Day Unit is “a major objective for the Pembrokeshire County Team”, the same document injects an element of doubt by saying: “Should the new unit be created within the Withybush site …”
The conditional nature of the last expression continues to cause considerable disquiet among the county’s campaigners. At its Executive Board meeting at Withybush on July 24, local authority representative Simon Hancock commented upon the Health Board’s failure to reassure cancer campaigners: “The Chemotherapy Day Unit and Ward 10 are not just the elephants in the room, they are a whole herd of elephants in the room. “The Board has got to regain public trust.” Local campaigner Lyn Neville says that the failure of the Board’s communication strategy in Pembrokeshire was acknowledged by the Board’s new Chair Bernadine Rees at the meeting of the Oncology Services Committee on Monday, August 4.
Lyn Neville told the Herald that he was aware the Board had lost the confidence of people in Pembrokeshire and she was very keen to regain and develop trust with the community. “In response to my direct question, Bernadine Rees not only said that improved cancer services would be provided but that they would definitely be provided at Withybush. There is a project group meeting on September 8 and I am hopeful that the Board will finally provide a firm public commitment on this matter without any reservations whatsoever. “It appeared to me that there are encouraging signs that Bernadine Rees means what she says on this topic. It is about time the Board got moving and reassured Pembrokeshire that the commitment to a CDU and improvements to Ward 10 at Withybush will be delivered upon.”
Business
Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure
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
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.
Crime
Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm
THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.
Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.
Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.
The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.
Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.
A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.
“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.
“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.
“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”
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Tomos
September 14, 2014 at 1:58 pm
I’ve had ppl slating me as they think it’s a complaint about the medical staff in Withbush – IT IS NOT – they do a great job with the resources given them by over paid pen pushers.
in the 80s/90s Maggie Thatch cut services and budgets to the bone, Blair only in his second term started spending money, even throwing money at the NHS to try and catch up with “civilised” countries – sadly a lot of this saw an increased over paid management structure – a bit like BPJ and the councils once again comparing themselves with the private sector just because they have large budgets to administer.
Now we’ve had cuts again it’s the drugs, the treatment, the old and the sick that are suffering – that management structure hasn’t changed – they’re bomb proof – we’ve even seen trusts where ppl have in their hundreds have died, managers have left with huge pensions (and golden goodbyes as it’s written into their contracts) then they miracously get better and go off and damage another health trust – SOMEONE PLEASE TAKE RESPONSIBILITY
have another look at management structures, have another look at contracts which mean it’s nigh on impossible apparently to sack tem whatever they’ve done, have another look at salaries for the top 5%
rant over 🙂
PS Welsh politicians with their free parking and free prescriptions for all leaving even less in the pot for sick people have made things even worse than england and that’s saying something