Wards at Withybush, Prince Philip and Bronglais hospitals affected as health board urges people with symptoms to stay away

VISITOR restrictions remain in place at wards in three west Wales hospitals following cases of norovirus.

Hywel Dda University Health Board said temporary measures are affecting wards at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Only essential or exceptional visits are currently being allowed, with families urged to contact wards directly or phone hospital switchboards before travelling.

The health board said the measures remain in force until further notice and are being reviewed regularly.

Health officials said the restrictions were introduced after cases of norovirus were identified both within hospital wards and across the wider community.

Norovirus, often referred to as the winter vomiting bug, spreads quickly and can cause vomiting, diarrhoea, stomach cramps, headaches, aching limbs and a mild fever.

Patients and visitors experiencing symptoms are being urged not to attend hospital and to remain at home for at least 48 hours after symptoms stop.

Health officials are also reminding the public to wash hands thoroughly with soap and warm water, avoid preparing food for others while unwell, and keep household surfaces clean to help prevent transmission.

OLDER people in Wales are still paying a heavy price for cold, damp homes and fuel poverty, the Older People’s Commissioner has warned.

Rhian Bowen-Davies was responding to the publication of Public Health Wales’ first annual surveillance reports into the impact of cold weather on mortality and illness in Wales.

She said the reports were an important step forward in understanding how cold weather affects health and wellbeing, but warned that the figures revealed a deeply concerning reality for many older people.

The Commissioner said cold weather continued to have a “profound impact” on older people’s health, independence and quality of life, with poor housing, fuel poverty and the cost-of-living crisis making the situation worse.

She said: “Addressing these issues must remain a national priority, including taking sustained action to improve the quality and energy efficiency of homes across Wales, ensuring that older people can live in warmth and safety.”

Ms Bowen-Davies said consistent data would be vital to track trends and measure whether interventions were working.

But she also called for stronger financial support for older people facing hardship, warning that too many were still being forced to choose between “heating and eating”.

She is continuing to urge the Welsh Government to introduce a dedicated Resilience Fund for older people in severe financial difficulty who are not eligible for Pension Credit or other support.

She added that while public attention may currently be focused on record-breaking temperatures, the report was a reminder that action was needed now to tackle the “unacceptable costs” of cold homes and fuel poverty.

RESIDENTS across Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire are being invited to help shape a new regional Learning Disability Strategy.

Views sought on five-year plan

The strategy, covering 2026 to 2031, will set out the future direction of services and support for neurodivergent people and people with a learning disability across west Wales.

Over the past two years, Ceredigion County Council, Pembrokeshire County Council, Carmarthenshire County Council and Hywel Dda University Health Board have been working with people with lived experience to help shape the proposals.

At present, each county has its own Learning Disability Strategy. The new plan would bring these together into one regional approach, aimed at making services more consistent and joined-up across the three counties.

The draft recommendations have been developed and reviewed by the Regional Improving Lives Partnership, which includes the three county councils, Hywel Dda University Health Board, The Dream Team, Carmarthenshire People First, Pembrokeshire People First, the West Wales Regional Partnership, and projects funded through the Regional Integration Fund.

Cllr Alun Williams, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member for Through Age Wellbeing, said: “We’re committed to ensuring that people with a learning disability and neurodivergent people are at the heart of shaping services that affect them.

“We encourage everyone to take part and share their views to help us develop a strategy that truly meets the needs of communities across West Wales.”

The consultation is open until Sunday, July 5.

Residents can complete the West Wales Learning Disability Strategy Survey online, or request a paper copy from a Ceredigion library or leisure centre. Paper copies can also be requested by calling 01437 764551 or emailing [email protected].

Completed questionnaires should be returned to Norman Industries, Units 1-2, Snowdrop Lane, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1JB.