Health

Man dies following nine-hour wait for ambulance in Pembroke Dock

Published

3 months ago

September 15, 2024

A PEMBROKESHIRE man tragically died after suffering a cardiac arrest during a gruelling nine-hour wait for an ambulance. David Bye, of Hill Farm Park, Pembroke Dock, passed away in the early hours of Monday, 1st July.

His wife Pauline, in the picture with her late husband above, has described the extensive delay as “unforgivable.” The Welsh Ambulance Service revealed that on the morning Mr. Bye died, ambulances across the Hywel Dda University Health Board region spent more than 250 hours waiting outside hospitals to offload patients. This region includes Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire, and Ceredigion.

Recalling the distressing events of that night, Mrs. Bye stated, “Nine hours after falling off the bed and us calling for an ambulance someone finally came, but it was too late, and David died.” David had a long history of heart disease and lymphoedema following a triple bypass and aortic valve replacement four years ago, frequently requiring care at Withybush Hospital.

***Welsh Ambulance Service: “This is not the standard of service we want to provide” (Pic: Herald)***

“I became very worried about David’s condition,” Mrs. Bye continued. “I rang 999 at 6pm for an ambulance but was told none were available. I rang again at midnight and was told there were still no ambulances available and to try and make David as comfortable as possible. By that point, David was still talking to me but was very confused, a worrying sign of a possible cardiac arrest.”

Despite making her husband as comfortable as possible, Mrs. Bye grew increasingly concerned. “He complained of back pain but had no other injuries. His breathing was okay, though he was clearly confused and his responses were delayed. I couldn’t lift him as he weighed 17 stone, and there were no neighbours to help me.”

As Mr. Bye’s condition worsened, Mrs. Bye made a third call to emergency services. “He slowly deteriorated, became more sleepy and stopped talking to me,” she said. “I called ambulance control again at 3.15am and the answer was the same—no ambulances available. While I was on the phone, David had a cardiac arrest. Then it all kicked off. The rapid response team arrived within minutes, followed by more responders, two fire engines, and an ambulance.”

***Ambulances wait to offload patients at Withybush General Hospital (Pic: Herald)***

Mrs. Bye praised the efforts of the emergency services who tried to save her husband but felt compelled to speak out about the prolonged wait. “I’m very angry about it,” she said. “I don’t like to make a fuss, but this has been a horrible experience and a huge shock. We know we live in a rural location and understand ambulances might take a little longer. I might have been able to understand a couple of hours, but to take nine hours just seems unforgivable to me—especially when as soon as he began to die, they arrived very quickly.”

The Welsh Ambulance Service cited wider systemic issues as a contributing factor to the delays. On the night and morning in question, ambulances in the region spent a total of 250 hours waiting to transfer patients into hospitals. Liam Williams, executive director of quality and nursing at the Welsh Ambulance Service, acknowledged the delay, saying, “Regrettably, poor ambulance response times are well documented and unfortunately a symptom of much broader system-wide pressures, including hospital handover delays, which impact our ability to reach patients quickly.”

He also mentioned that in July, the average response time to immediately life-threatening red calls was over eight minutes, an increase compared to pre-pandemic times when the median response ranged between four and six minutes.

Mr Williams added said: “On behalf of everyone at the Welsh Ambulance Service I would like to extend my condolences to the family of Mr Bye on their sad loss.

“This is not the standard of service we want to provide and we recognise that this is not what the public rightly expects of us.

“As a result we continue to work with health board colleagues to find local solutions to the challenges faced and we are also looking at evolving our current service model further.

“As part of this we will increase the involvement of paramedics and nurses in our clinical contact centres when patients call to help ensure that patients like Mr Bye get help quicker. I would like to invite a representative of Mr Bye to contact the trust’s Putting Things Right team so we can investigate the incident fully and offer a comprehensive response to them.

“I would once again like to extend condolences on behalf of the trust to Mr Bye’s family at this very difficult time.”

Charity

£3,800 donated to services across Withybush Hospital

Published

11 hours ago

December 25, 2024

Tom Sinclair

THE CAMROSE VINTAGE WORKING DAY team has donated £3,800 to services across Withybush Hospital.

Their 37^th annual event raised a record breaking £25,000, which has now been distributed among 26 local charities.

They donated the funds to the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit and Heads Up! Hair Loss Initiative at Withybush Hospital. Each service received £950.

The Heads Up! initiative provides a person-centred, holistic hair loss service for cancer patients. It brings together healthcare and haircare professionals from local communities to give patients the knowledge and products needed to manage their hair loss with dignity and choice.

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer, said: “Thank you to Andrew, the team and the supporters of the Camrose Vintage Working Day for your generosity once again. Your donation to each service is amazing and will make a big difference. We are hugely grateful for your wonderful support.

“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.”

Pictured above: Andrew James, Chairman of Camrose Vintage Working Day with Withybush Hospital staff from the Stroke Ward, Specialist Respiratory Team, Chemo Day Unit, Heads Up! Hair Loss initiative.

Health

Hywel Dda urges responsible use of ‘under pressure’ A&E service

Published

5 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

HYWEL DDA University Health Board is appealing to the public to carefully consider how they access healthcare services as local A&E units, including Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, face increasing pressure.

A spokesperson said: “Our services are under pressure. Please help us to help you by choosing how you access our services carefully, ensuring that emergency departments (A&E) are reserved for urgent or life-threatening care needs.”

Unwell and unsure what to do?

If you’re unwell and uncertain about the best course of action, the Health Board recommends visiting the online symptom checker or calling NHS 111 Wales for advice.

When to attend A&E

Emergency Departments should only be used for life-threatening illnesses or serious injuries, such as:

Severe breathing difficulties
Severe pain or bleeding
Chest pain or suspected stroke
Serious trauma injuries (e.g., from a car crash)

Minor Injuries Units (MIUs)

For less serious injuries, MIUs offer treatment for:

Minor wounds, burns, or scalds
Insect bites
Minor limb, head, or face injuries
Foreign bodies in the nose or ear

MIUs are available at Cardigan Integrated Care Centre, Tenby Hospital, and main acute hospitals. Visit the Minor Injuries Unit page for opening hours and directions.

Urgent care, not an emergency

For urgent health needs that cannot wait but are not emergencies, call NHS 111 Wales for advice or access to out-of-hours GP services. This free service is available 24/7.

Mental health support

If you need urgent mental health support, call NHS 111 Wales and select option 2 to speak with a mental health professional. The number is free to call, even from a mobile with no credit.

Community care options

Community pharmacies offer walk-in services for common ailments such as sore throats, hay fever, and conjunctivitis. A full list of ailments and participating pharmacies can be found on the Common Ailments Service pages.

Helping reduce hospital stays

The Health Board emphasizes the importance of reducing hospital stays to ensure acute care is available for those who need it most. If a loved one is ready to be discharged, families are urged to collect them promptly to free up beds for other patients.

For more information on the inpatient experience, visit the Inpatient Information pages.

A thank you from the NHS

The Health Board expressed gratitude for the public’s cooperation: “Your support not only helps you and your loved ones but also eases the strain on NHS and social care services.”

For further updates, contact:
Hywel Dda University Health Board Media Office
Email: [email protected]

Health

More than 300 healthcare workers from Kerala take up NHS jobs in Wales

Published

6 days ago

December 20, 2024

Tom Sinclair

AN EMPLOYMENT agreement has exceeded its target for recruiting healthcare workers from India.

The Welsh Government outlined a commitment to recruit 250 qualified healthcare workers from India as part of a Memorandum of Understanding with the Kerala Government earlier this year.

The recruitment drive has outperformed that goal, with just over 300 healthcare workers taking up positions across all of Wales’ health boards and the Velindre University NHS Trust. Further recruitment is due to take place next year.

The commitment was made as part of Wales in India, a year-long series of events to improve economic, educational, artistic and sporting ties between the two nations.

Sharoon Kolickatharayil Nowshad, 24, had long held ambitions to move to Wales and work as a nurse, inspired by his uncle Siji Salimkutty who began working in the Welsh NHS in 2004.

Since arriving in Wales and beginning his job with Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Sharoon said he has reunited with his family and appreciated the kindness shown by his new colleagues.

“I was really excited to work in the NHS” Sharoon said. “It’s always been my ambition to contribute to society, and now I get to do that here in Wales.

“Everything moved quickly once I saw the opportunity to apply, and I’m proud to work for the NHS. I tell my family and friends that it feels great to help people when they need it the most.

“When you work for the NHS, it’s not just a job or salary. It’s a great life. You feel proud knowing you’ve supported and helped others.

“The NHS has given us a great opportunity and we should always work sincerely because we love our jobs. There are lots of opportunities to advance your career, your colleagues always support you and there’s a great support network.”

Sharoon said he hopes to continue his career in the Welsh NHS by progressing to become an Advanced Nurse Practitioner.

He added: “People in Wales are so kind, they always make time for us, whether that’s at work or at home.

“I would encourage anyone thinking of coming to Wales not to hesitate and to apply, it’s the best decision I’ve made.”

Dr Devangana Bora has taken up a position as a Senior Clinical Fellow in Oncology at Velindre NHS Trust. Born in Guwahati, a large city in the Northeast Indian state of Assam, Dr Bora has worked as an Oncologist since 2019.

“I was really nervous for the interview. When I got there they told me it was in three stages and I became more nervous,” Dr Bora said.

“After the interview, I was offered the job and I was so happy. I thought they were joking. I was so excited to take this next step in my career and move to Wales.

“The weather is cold here but the people are so warm. I have received nothing but support from my colleagues and generally the people in Wales are so friendly and helpful.”

Dr Bora said her sister is currently studying Medicine at university and has been inspired to move to Wales once she completes her studies.

Jeremy Miles, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, said: “Alongside continued investment in training healthcare staff in Wales, international recruitment has always been one of the ways we can help address NHS workforce vacancies.

“India and Kerala in particular has a fantastic record in training doctors and nurses. We are grateful for the commitment to delivering high-quality care our new NHS recruits have shown.

“The contribution of these healthcare workers is already being felt across our NHS and it’s wonderful to see them settling into happy lives in Wales.”

Wales in India was launched on St David’s Day, March 1, by the then First Minister Mark Drakeford and Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan, beginning a year of events and cultural engagements to strengthen links between the two nations.

One of the biggest impacts on policymaking in India drew inspiration from Wales’ innovative Well-being of Future Generations Act. Through partnership working, the Maharashtra Legislative Assembly introduced its own draft law called the Maharashtra Future Generations Welfare Bill in July.

Welsh Government, the British Council and Wales Arts International also made commitments to further cultural collaborations between Wales and India by investing in arts projects through a dedicated culture fund. With the support of these organisations, as well as the Deputy High Commission in Kolkata, Wales was recently a partner country for Hornbill, one of India’s largest music festivals, which saw Mari Mathias and Gareth Bonello perform on the main stage with Indian musicians Seyievinuo Chuzho and Benedict Hynniewta.

In February 2025, 10 young women, chosen from 140 applicants, will travel to Kolkata to complete humanitarian work as part of a joint project with Urdd Gobaith Cymru and Her Future Coalition. The volunteers will provide support to vulnerable girls including survivors of trafficking and other forms of gender-based violence. Sport and art workshops for children will also be run by the group.