News

Social care crisis reveals urgent need for funding reform

Published

1 year ago

April 24, 2025

INCREASING demand, flatlining budgets, and systemic neglect are pushing adult social care to the brink—especially in rural areas like Pembrokeshire.

Across Wales and England, councils are sounding the alarm: local government funding is no longer sufficient to sustain social care services without sacrificing other essential provisions. Pembrokeshire, facing one of the steepest funding gaps in Wales, is at the sharp end of the crisis.

Mounting pressures on councils

In Wales alone, councils identified £106 million in in-year pressures for adult social care in 2024–25, with a further £223 million forecasted—amounting to 40% of all local government funding pressures. An ageing population and increasingly complex care needs are driving costs ever higher. National projections suggest that by 2037, spending on community care services for older people will have risen by 177%.

Pembrokeshire is particularly exposed. The county’s demographic profile, combined with historic underfunding, leaves it struggling to meet rising demand. The gap between the actual cost of providing care and the budget allocated to pay for it is one of the widest in Wales.

When social care costs exceed budget forecasts, councils are left with stark choices: cut other services, lay off staff, or dip into reserves. Pembrokeshire County Council has established a reserve fund to tackle in-year pressures—but this is a temporary fix, not a long-term solution.

The consequences are already visible. Day-care closures, reductions in library and leisure funding, and hiring freezes have all taken their toll. County Hall, once a hub of local services, is now a ghost of its former self.

Care homes under strain

While councils administer social care budgets, most care home services in Pembrokeshire are delivered by private providers—businesses that must remain profitable to survive. Yet the rates they receive vary wildly between counties. Pembrokeshire pays higher rates than its neighbours, but even this is not enough to guarantee stability.

Care homes face rising costs, particularly from increases to National Insurance and the Real Living Wage. One local group running six care homes reports a £150,000 annual cost increase due to these changes. This raises the risk of closures and forces families to shoulder top-up fees.

Smaller, independent care homes—of which Pembrokeshire has many—are particularly vulnerable. Without urgent intervention, some may shut their doors for good.

Chronic staff shortages

Recruiting and retaining staff in rural areas is another serious challenge. Pembrokeshire’s geography and limited transport infrastructure make it harder to attract qualified care workers. The result is high workloads, stress, and burnout for existing staff.

Domiciliary care services are especially strained. Community providers such as Community Interest Care CIC rely heavily on overseas staff, as many local residents are unwilling or unable to take up care work. The reasons are clear: physically demanding roles, unsocial hours, and poor pay compared to less stressful jobs.

According to Care Inspectorate Wales, nearly a quarter of social care workers are experiencing financial hardship, and a significant number are dissatisfied with their pay.

The burden of unpaid care

The crisis extends beyond formal care. Research from Carers Week shows that 23% of Welsh adults—around 584,000 people—now provide unpaid care to family or friends, the highest proportion in the UK. In total, unpaid care in Wales is estimated to be worth £8.1 billion annually.

This hidden workforce provides 96% of all care, often at enormous personal cost. Nearly half of unpaid carers have given up paid work, while many more have cut back on food, heating, or transport to make ends meet. Over half say they cannot manage monthly expenses, and a growing number are turning to foodbanks.

Yet the Welsh and UK governments continue to rely on unpaid carers as a cornerstone of their care strategy, offering minimal financial support in return. While small-scale grants exist, access is limited and the process is often confusing and burdensome.

A system in denial

The situation lays bare two urgent and interlinked policy failures: the outdated model of local government finance and the fragmented, underfunded system of social care provision.

Councils are being asked to deliver 21st-century care with 20th-century funding tools. Piecemeal reform—pilot schemes, short-term pots of money, and local fixes—cannot address the scale of the challenge.

Comprehensive reform is needed, but political appetite is lacking. Promised reviews of local government funding remain stalled, while plans to better integrate health and social care remain vague and underfunded. The idea of a national care service has merit, but no roadmap exists—nor any clarity on how such a service would be paid for.

The uncomfortable truth is that as people live longer, often with complex conditions, the cost of care will only increase. Without bold action and honest debate—on taxation, on responsibilities, and on priorities—the crisis in social care will deepen.

And in places like Pembrokeshire, the cracks are already wide open.

Local Government

Milford Haven civic service marks start of mayoral year

Published

3 hours ago

June 21, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Mayor’s charities named as civic leaders gather at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church

THE CIVIC SERVICE of the Mayor of Milford Haven, Cllr Mark Woodward, took place at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (June 20).

The service marked Cllr Woodward’s election as Mayor and First Citizen of Milford Haven.

It was conducted by Rev Dr Adrian Furse and Canon John Cecil, with music from church organist Richard Stephens, Gelliswick Community Choir and Milford Haven Town Band.

Guides and Brownies, Milford Haven Sea Cadets and Royal Marines Cadets were also among those taking part, with councillors Colin Sharp and Yvonne Southwell acting as ushers.

Refreshments followed at Milford Haven Bowling Club.

Local MS Paul Davies was among those attending the service and wished the new mayor all the best for his term in office.

Cllr Woodward’s chosen charities for the year are Patch Charity and Greenacres Rescue.

Photo caption:

Civic guests attended the Mayor of Milford Haven’s service at St Katharine and St Peter’s Church on Saturday (Pic: Supplied)

Charity

Toy Story fans fill charity toy box at Haverfordwest cinema

Published

14 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Donations pour in for SNAP Specialist Play as families embrace Toy Story 5 launch

A TOY STORY-themed charity appeal at a Haverfordwest cinema has got off to a flying start, with families donating toys to support children with additional needs across Pembrokeshire.

The Palace Cinema has teamed up with local charity SNAP Specialist Play to collect new and pre-loved toys during screenings of the newly released Toy Story 5.

The appeal centres around an “Andy’s Toys” donation box, inspired by the beloved Pixar films, which has already been filled by generous filmgoers.

***Toy Story magic: The Palace Cinema foyer has been transformed with themed decorations to celebrate the film’s release***

Cinema manager Hannah Cramp said the response from the community had exceeded expectations.

Families attending opening screenings have arrived carrying bags of toys, with many children keen to share their own treasured items to help others.

The cinema has transformed its foyer into a colourful Toy Story-themed experience, complete with hand-painted decorations, character silhouettes, bunting and famous film slogans including “Reach for the Sky” and “To Infinity and Beyond”.

Many visitors have also embraced the spirit of the occasion by attending in costume as their favourite Toy Story characters.

***Specialist support: SNAP’s sensory facilities help children with additional needs learn and develop through play***

The toys are being donated to SNAP Specialist Play, a charity based within the Child Health Department at Withybush Hospital.

SNAP supports pre-school children with additional and complex needs through specialist play sessions designed to encourage communication, physical development and sensory learning.

Its facilities include sensory rooms, therapeutic play spaces and bespoke equipment used by speech and language therapists, occupational therapists and physiotherapists.

Project manager Cindy Jenkins said the charity was delighted by the partnership and grateful for the generosity shown by local families.

She said every toy donated would be put to good use, either during specialist play sessions, at family events, or through seasonal initiatives such as Christmas gift boxes for children and their siblings.

The appeal will continue until mid-July, with organisers hopeful that even more donations will be received over the coming weeks.

Anyone attending Toy Story 5 at the Palace Cinema is invited to bring along a new or good-quality pre-loved toy to support the appeal.

Cover photo:

Fancy dress fun: Palace Cinema manager Hannah Cramp helping launch the Toy Story charity appeal.

Health

Medicine shortages now ‘most severe on record’, health leaders warn

Published

14 hours ago

June 20, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PATIENTS are facing some of the worst medicine shortages ever seen in the UK, with pharmacists warning the situation now poses a serious risk to safety.

The National Pharmacy Association said shortages affecting commonly used medicines are becoming more frequent, lasting longer, and causing increasing disruption for patients, GP surgeries and pharmacies.

The warning comes as Serious Shortage Protocols for Creon, used by people with pancreatic cancer and cystic fibrosis to help digest food, have been in place since May 2024 and have now been extended until July 10, 2026.

HRT treatment Estradot has also been under a Serious Shortage Protocol since December 2024, with the current extension also running until July 10.

Patients travelling between pharmacies

A survey by the National Pharmacy Association found that 98 per cent of pharmacies had encountered patients who had visited several pharmacies in one day to find a prescription.

It also found that 96 per cent of pharmacies believed the current situation posed a serious risk to patient safety, while 89 per cent said they had been unable to dispense a medicine at least once a day because of supply problems.

Some pharmacy teams have also faced anger and abuse from patients unable to obtain medication.

Olivier Picard, Chair of the National Pharmacy Association, said: “Medicine shortages are becoming more frequent, lasting longer and causing increasing disruption for patients.

“These shortages are some of most severe the UK has experienced.

“It is deeply distressing to find patients who have travelled from pharmacy to pharmacy to find the medicines they need without success.”

Calls for urgent taskforce

The NPA is calling on the government to convene an emergency taskforce involving manufacturers, wholesalers, clinicians and pharmacists.

It also wants changes to rules which currently stop pharmacists from making simple substitutions, such as changing a tablet to a capsule or a cream to an ointment, even where a safe alternative is available.

Professor Victoria Tzortziou Brown, President of the Royal College of GPs, said medicine shortages were frustrating for patients, GPs and pharmacists, and added pressure to already stretched services.

She said the College supported pharmacists being able to make limited changes to prescriptions where a medicine is unavailable and a safe alternative exists.

She added: “The most important thing is that patients are able to access the medication they need safely and without delay.”

The Cystic Fibrosis Trust and Pancreatic Cancer UK have also raised concerns about the impact of shortages of pancreatic enzyme replacement therapy, including Creon, on people who rely on the medication to digest food, maintain weight and stay well enough for treatment.