Health

Medical waste and toxic emissions causing health issues, say residents

Published

5 months ago

February 20, 2024

NEW photographs have emerged this week from the Withyhedge landfill site, near Haverfordwest, now dubbed “a stink bomb on steroids” by the local community. The photos, show that the dump is currently accepting hazardous and medical waste. Over the last few months, the site has become a thorn in the side of residents, and now according to them, is causing health issues.

Colin Barnett, a local resident at the forefront of the battle against the landfill’s toxic emissions, has reached out to public health officials in the NHS in a desperate plea for action. Despite presenting medical evidence from 2022 and recent compliance notices that highlight the concerning presence of healthcare waste, Barnett and the community feel ignored.

The lack of response from public health representatives, especially in light of a crucial community meeting set for February 26, has only added to their frustration.

The community’s concerns are well-founded, with a recent straw poll revealing significant health impacts: 31% of residents report suffering from headaches, 14% from nausea, 6% from breathing difficulties, 9% from increased anxiety levels, 19% from sore eyes, and 18% from sore noses or throats. These alarming statistics, coupled with 822 reports made to Natural Resources Wales (NRW) in January 2024 alone, underscore the severity of the issue.

The situation at Withyhedge has been exacerbated by the response from its operators, Resources Management UK Ltd (RML), who have been ordered by NRW to “contain and collect” all fugitive emissions by a revised deadline of 5 April. Despite RML’s apology and assurances of rectifying the issue, the community remains skeptical, especially given the past legal issues involving an RML director and illegal waste dumping.

NRW’s involvement has highlighted the complexity of managing landfill gas emissions and odours, with the regulatory body emphasising that short-term solutions proposed by RML may not suffice in the long term. The community’s battle against Withyhedge is not just about the immediate stench but also about addressing potential long-term environmental and health risks.

As the community gears up for the upcoming meeting, their demands are clear: they seek not only immediate action to mitigate the toxic emissions but also long-term solutions to ensure such crises do not recur. Their fight transcends the odour issue, touching on broader themes of accountability, transparency, and the need for a collaborative approach to safeguard public health and the environment.

The Withyhedge landfill crisis serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced in waste management and the critical importance of regulatory oversight, corporate responsibility, and community advocacy. As the residents of Pembrokeshire stand united in their demand for a cleaner, safer environment, the outcome of their struggle could set a precedent for how similar issues are addressed across the UK, emphasizing the power of community action in the face of environmental adversity.

DAVIES CALLS FOR INTERVENTION

A call for Welsh Government intervention has been made by Senedd Member Paul Davies, after residents in Pembrokeshire continue to suffer as a result of odours from Withyhedge landfill site in Haverfordwest.

Mr Davies raised the matter in the Senedd Chamber and asked for the Welsh Government to intervene to support those affected and to ensure that Natural Resources Wales (NRW) is undertaking its regulatory and enforcement duties effectively.

Following the request Mr Davies said, “Residents are continuing to suffer as a result of the terrible odours at Withyhedge landfill site and it’s vital that the Welsh Government intervenes to support those affected.”

“This is a public health concern and little action has been taken to resolve this matter – and that needs to change.”

“The Welsh Government is responsible for Natural Resources Wales and that’s why I asked for the Welsh Government to intervene and help support residents affected by the odours from the site. It’s crucial now that action is taken – and taken as soon as possible.”

Natural Resources Wales said there is now evidence that a recent proposal made by the company to contain and collect landfill gas to reduce smells was not “compliant with its permit” and was likely to “contain many unknowns with potential problems for the future.”

It considered the short-term benefits of alleviating the smell were “outweighed by the medium-to-longer term risks”.

Describing the decisions required to be made as “complex” the statement said “noticeable reductions in landfill gas emissions and odours are anticipated in the coming weeks”.

The residents are waiting too see if that is true.

There will be a public meeting coming up on Monday (Feb 26) at Crundale Hall 7.00pm.

Health

10-mile trek raises £1,000 for stroke unit

Published

4 days ago

July 23, 2024

Tom Sinclair

A TEAM of 18 from CARA Wales took on a 10-mile trek and raised £1,000 for the Stroke Ward at Withybush Hospital.

The team from CARA Wales, an agricultural and rural consultancy and advice organisation, walked across the Preseli Mountains from Foel Drygan to Foel Eryr on 17th June 2023.

Mererid Sandbrook, who works for CARA Wales, said: “The walk started in Crymych and continued along the Golden Road up to Foel Eryr, the highest point of Preseli Mountain. It was a really enjoyable day.

“We were all really pleased to have raised such a great amount of money. We would like to thank everyone who donated money towards our challenge.”

They also raised £1,000 for Stroke Association.

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “We’d like to say a big thank you to CARA Wales for taking on the 10-mile trek in aid of the Stroke Ward.

“The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

Your donations are making a positive difference to the health, wellbeing and experience of NHS patients, service users and staff. For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk

Health

Hywel Dda to engage on Tregaron Community Hospital beds

Published

4 days ago

July 22, 2024

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board is inviting members of the public to share their views about the potential of decommissioning the nine beds currently at Tregaron Community Hospital.

The proposal for a new model of care, which is part of the broader Cylch Caron project, will see the move of care from the hospital to people’s own homes enabled through a different model of support. This can only be achieved by staff working in different ways, focused on keeping people well at home, and with more available to help people in the community.

Peter Skitt, County Director Ceredigion at Hywel Dda University Health Board explains: “Members of our local community will be familiar with our vision, which includes the development of the Cylch Caron model of care that includes an integrated resource centre.”

Dr Sion James, Deputy Medical Director Primary Care and local GP for Tregaron, adds: “Tregaron Hospital has been a part of our local community for a number of years, and we need to provide our community with a range of services that meets their current and future needs.

“The Centre is an exciting and unique project that aims to offer many opportunities and benefits for people in the area. This will bring together a range of services in a central hub for the Tregaron and surrounding rural areas. The project will create an innovative rural model of community-based care to meet care, health and housing need in the area, which is fit for today and sustainable for tomorrow.”

The Cylch Caron scheme is being developed in partnership between Ceredigion County Council, Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Government. It will consist of a GP surgery, community pharmacy, outpatient clinics and community nursing and social care facilities, as well as extra care flats and integrated health and social care units.

Ceredigion County Council recently announced that they are inviting companies to tender for the design and build of the new fully-integrated health, social care and housing centre.

Peter adds: “While we develop our Cylch Caron scheme, we also need to consider our current model of care for patients at Tregaron Hospital. Despite efforts to recruit to positions, our current level of staffing is insufficient, and our staffing rotas are fragile. Our staff have voiced how challenging it is to support our patients through our current model of care at Tregaron Hospital. Our proposal is to move our staff from being hospital based and looking after the nine beds, to being community based. This will enable us to support more patients in their homes.

The Cylch Caron model of care is focused on providing more community nursing and enhanced care in people’s own homes. This would be achieved through outreach nursing and increased provision of same day urgent care. Outpatient appointments will continue to be provided from Tregaron Hospital and the building will serve as a hub for our staff until the new Cylch Caron Integrated Resource Centre is built.

Peter continues: “We know that being close to home, or in their home, is important for our patients. We want to increase the opportunity for people in Ceredigion to be able to stay well for longer, with the support of enhanced staffing in their own homes.

“At the moment, the patients in our care at Tregaron hospital live more than ten miles away from the hospital, and most are medically fit. And this has been common for a long time. Our proposal to move our staff to focus on advanced care in people’s homes provides a different way of supporting our patients. It will enable us to deliver our community care model quicker and support more people in our communities.

“Patients have consistently shared that they would prefer to be at home, or closer to home, and this tends to enable their recovery. We will work with our patients and their families, and our broader community, to understand their views during the planned period of engagement.”

The proposal to decommission the nine beds and the engagement period will be discussed at the Board meeting held on 25 July. The four-week period of engagement will launch on 1 August and run until 29 August 2024. Individuals will be able to attend online and in-person events and be able to share their views through the Health Board’s Have Your Say portal. Feedback from the engagement will be presented to the September meeting of the Health Board.

Further information on the events and how individuals can share their views will be shared at the end of July.

Health

Equipment and games for Glangwili children’s ward thanks to donations

Published

5 days ago

July 22, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THANKS to donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, has been able to provide equipment and games worth over £300 to Cilgerran Ward at Glangwili Hospital.

The NHS charity funded TV brackets, universal remotes, Nintendo Switch cases and Nintendo games including FIFA, Chocobo and Minecraft Dungeons.

Karen Thomas, Head of Therapeutic Play, said: “We are so grateful that charitable funds have allowed us to purchase more items for Cilgerran Ward.

“The new items will help the therapeutic play team work more effectively and focus their time on the children and young people in our care.

“Being able to play while in hospital means the children and young people can continue an aspect of their normal life. Arts and crafts help as they go through treatments and procedures in hospital, minimising the effects of isolation, stress and anxiety.

“The items will help make the ward and all the areas the children attend more friendly and promote wellbeing for all.”

Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”

For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, go to www.hywelddahealthcharities.org.uk