News

Hospital “downgrade” fear

Published

12 years ago

November 20, 2013

THE WALES Deanery could withdraw training for junior doctors at Withybush Hospital as an indirect result of the transfer of services offered by the Special Care Baby Unit to West Wales General Hospital, Carmarthen.

The reduction in births at Withybush would mean not enough births would be taking place at the Hospital for training in essential skills to take place. The additional cessation of overnight paediatric care at the hospital could lead to further service cuts, as insufficient junior doctors would be available to provide medical cover.

Speaking to The Pembrokeshire Herald, local campaigner David Williams of Pembrokeshire Health Concern, said: “We have been fighting these cuts for years. One of the problems we have had is getting the public to believe that the effect of cutting one service would have such a serious knock-on effect.

“Now, it seems, what we have been saying all along would happen is likely to happen.

“We understand, from our own confidential sources among Health Board employees, that it is likely that SCBU, maternity, paediatric care will all transfer to Carmarthen and that Ward 12 will close.

“The Health Board has said it had no intentions to close these services, but must have known what the effect of cutting key services away from Withybush would be. It’s not as if my colleague and friend Peter Milewski (a consultant surgeon) has not pointed this out to the Board on any number of times.”

Mr Williams went on to say: “Childbirth is a difficult and stressful experience, even at the best of times. But imagine having to be whisked up to Carmarthen on poor rural roads. It’s not as if the Wales Ambulance Service’s performance can fill you with confidence.

“Look at a practical issue: if you have young children, how are you going to be able to find a family member or friend to take care of them if there is a complication of if you go into labour unexpectedly? Can you imagine what it would be like having to take a couple of kids up to Carmarthen and hope that someone will be available to pick them up, take them home, and look after them in an emergency?

“Pembrokeshire needs to have paediatric services and paediatric consultants close at hand. I speak from personal experience. When my grandson was poorly, his GP suggested it was a minor illness. Dr Gustav VasFalcao saw him in short order at Withybush and my grandson was immediately taken to Cardiff to be treated for leukaemia. I was able to get him seen quickly at Withybush, but would that be possible with the nearest consultant forty miles away in Carmarthen?

“The lives of mothers and children will be put at risk by the loss of services at Withybush. We have been saying this all along but the Local Health Board has not listened.”

The Pembrokeshire Herald contacted Hywel Dda LHB for a statement regarding Withybush Hospital.

A spokesperson said: “We are having discussions with our consultants, nurses and midwives that relate to service models for the future that are sustainable and meet Royal College and Deanery standards.

“We face significant challenges – too many services reliant on temporary staff, the provision of training rotas for junior doctors particularly in paediatrics and the ability to meet the necessary clinical standards. We are at significant risk of losing training posts if we cannot find solutions that meet the Deanery’s requirements and services may become too fragile unless we plan for the future.

“The Board made a number of decisions in January in relation to neonatal services, complex obstetrics and paediatrics.

“Subsequently, the neo-natal element was referred to Welsh Government and the Health Board was requested to provide further details on our models for gynaecology and obstetrics which is being addressed by this on going planning work.

“It is our responsibility to find the right solution for Hywel Dda and this work is vital to ensure we do so.”

Local Government

Milford Haven Hakin by-election candidates confirmed

Published

2 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE LIST of candidates standing in the upcoming Pembrokeshire County Council by-election for the Milford Haven: Hakin ward has been published.

Nominations have now closed, and the official Statement of Persons Nominated has been released by the local authority.

Eight candidates will contest the seat. They are:

Derrick Abbott – Independent
Sam Booth – Wales Green Party
Lee James Bridges – Independent
Duncan Edwards – Independent
Nicola Catherine Harteveld – Welsh Labour
Brian Taylor – Welsh Conservative Party
Scott Thorley – Reform UK
Sam Warden – Welsh Liberal Democrats

The by-election will take place on Tuesday, March 17.

Residents wishing to vote must ensure they are registered by midnight on Friday, February 27. Applications can be made online via the UK Government website.

Applications for new postal votes, or changes to existing postal voting arrangements, must be received by 5:00pm on Monday, March 2. Applications to vote by proxy must be submitted by 5:00pm on Monday, March 9.

Poll cards will be sent to registered electors ahead of the election. The council has confirmed that registered 16 and 17-year-olds, along with qualifying foreign nationals, are eligible to vote in this election.

Photographic identification will not be required at polling stations.

The full Statement of Persons Nominated, including full party descriptions, is available on the Pembrokeshire County Council website.

Local Government

Independent Group reshuffle as council tax budget battle looms

Published

4 hours ago

February 19, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Leadership change confirmed weeks before key vote amid warning over school cuts

PEMBROKESHIRE County Council’s Independent Group has confirmed a change in its leadership arrangements following a meeting held on Tuesday (Feb 18), with the changes taking effect from March 23, 2026.

Cllr Anji Tinley will become Group Leader, while Cllr Elwyn Morse will serve as Deputy Group Leader and take on the role of Chair of the Services Overview and Scrutiny Committee. Cllr Michael John will remain Chair of the Corporate Overview and Scrutiny Committee, and Cllr Huw Murphy will become Chair of the Social Care Overview and Scrutiny Committee.

The changes reflect the forthcoming appointment of Cllr Delme Harries as Chair of Council at the Annual Meeting on May 15. Under council rules, the Chair of Council cannot simultaneously hold a scrutiny chair role.

The Independent Group also confirmed it will not support the Cabinet’s proposed budget, which includes a 4.6% council tax rise for 2026/27 and a 2% reduction — approximately £2 million — in individual school budgets.

Group members said they hoped councillors across the chamber could work together to agree a budget that avoids cuts to education, particularly in light of recent Estyn inspections that have placed three schools into special measures with safeguarding concerns identified.

However, the Group warned that if a budget is approved that imposes what it described as substantial school funding reductions, it will consider invoking constitutional powers to bring forward a motion to rescind the decision.

Crime

Man who threw corrosive liquid at guest and fled abroad jailed

Published

18 hours ago

February 18, 2026

Court Reporter

A BUSINESSMAN who threw a corrosive liquid into a guest’s face during a row at a spiritual retreat before fleeing the country has been jailed for 18 months.

Dean Mayze, aged 38, from Abercrave in Powys, admitted inflicting grievous bodily harm following the attack at his Hafan-y-Coed retreat in December 2022.

Swansea Crown Court heard the assault happened after an argument with guest Keifer Price, who had complained about the condition of his accommodation, including a lack of heating and washing facilities.

During the confrontation, Mayze produced a blue container and threw its contents upwards into the victim’s face.

The liquid — described as smelling like ammonia — entered Mr Price’s eyes, nose and mouth, leaving him in severe pain and struggling to breathe.

Medical evidence confirmed injuries consistent with a chemical burn to both eyes. He suffered abrasions, a corneal defect and the loss of the outer corneal layer in one eye, requiring significant treatment to prevent permanent sight loss. He has since recovered without lasting injury.

Fled across Europe

Following the attack, Mayze fled the UK, triggering an international search.

The court heard he travelled across several European countries, including Ireland, France, Italy, Croatia and Greece, before eventually being arrested in Romania in 2025.

Despite being on the run, he remained in regular contact with police by text and email, at one point telling officers he would not be returning to Wales.

His partner initially claimed responsibility for the assault and later received a suspended prison sentence after admitting perverting the course of justice.

Previous conviction

The court was told Mayze has a previous conviction for wounding involving a corrosive substance in Kent in 2013.

Defence barrister Andrew Taylor said his client had experienced harsh conditions while detained in Romania, including contracting scabies without treatment, and described him as remorseful.

However, Judge Geraint Walters said it was “pure luck” the victim had not suffered permanent injuries, describing the attack as a “particularly wicked way of inflicting violence”.