News

Family reimbursed £22,000 after NHS care funding challenge

Published

1 day ago

June 12, 2026

WEST WALES HEALTH BOARD ASKED HOW MANY FAMILIES MAY BE PAYING CARE HOME FEES UNNECESSARILY

A FAMILY has been reimbursed more than £22,000 after challenging an NHS decision over care home fees paid for a woman with dementia in Carmarthenshire.

Mrs Hughes, who lived at Towy Castle Care Home in Carmarthen, had been paying around £3,400 a month for her care before her family sought legal advice over whether the NHS should have been funding it through Continuing Healthcare.

The case has raised wider questions about whether families across west Wales may be paying thousands of pounds for care which should legally fall to the NHS.

***Lisa Morgan, of Hugh James Solicitors***

Mrs Hughes was a resident at Towy Castle Care Home from March 2012 until her death in October 2023. She suffered from dementia and was described as disorientated to time, place and person.

Her son, Mr Hughes, contacted Hugh James Solicitors in October 2023 after the family had exhausted life savings and run out of options to meet the rising cost of care.

Following an assessment, the health board initially recommended NHS Continuing Healthcare eligibility from October 10, 2023, citing a rapid deterioration in Mrs Hughes’ condition shortly before her death.

However, lawyers acting for the family argued that the evidence showed her needs had increased from January 2023, particularly because of escalating challenging behaviour linked to her dementia.

After representations were made, the health board revised its position and accepted that Mrs Hughes met the criteria for Continuing Healthcare from January 2023 to October 2023.

The estate was subsequently reimbursed for the care fees paid during that period, together with interest, totalling just over £22,000.

Continuing Healthcare

NHS Continuing Healthcare, often referred to as CHC, is a package of care arranged and funded solely by the NHS for people who are assessed as having a primary health need.

Unlike social care, it is not means-tested. This means that if someone qualifies, the NHS is responsible for meeting the full cost of their assessed care needs, including care home fees where appropriate.

However, the distinction between health needs and social care needs can be complex, particularly in cases involving dementia.

The issue comes as care costs continue to rise sharply. Healthcare analysts LaingBuisson reported this year that the average weekly fee for a frail older person had reached £1,465, a rise of 10% over the previous year.

Families are often left selling homes or using lifetime savings to meet care home bills, despite some residents potentially being eligible for NHS-funded support.

Legal challenge

Lisa Morgan, of Hugh James Solicitors, works on cases involving wrongly paid care home fees and NHS Continuing Healthcare disputes.

Her team says it has recovered more than £200m from the NHS in recent years on behalf of families who had paid for care later found to be the responsibility of the health service.

The Carmarthenshire case is being highlighted as an example of why families may need to question decisions, particularly where a relative’s condition has deteriorated or where dementia-related behaviour has become more complex.

The Herald understands that Mrs Hughes’ family accepted the revised eligibility period after the health board agreed to backdate funding to January 2023.

Health board asked

The Pembrokeshire Herald has approached Hywel Dda University Health Board for comment on the case, while recognising patient confidentiality restrictions.

The Health Board has also been asked what safeguards are in place to ensure patients who may qualify for Continuing Healthcare are identified at the earliest possible stage.

The Herald has requested figures for the number of CHC assessments carried out across Carmarthenshire, Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion in each of the last three years, including how many resulted in funding being approved, declined, or overturned on review or appeal.

The Health Board has also been asked whether it has seen an increase in applications, reviews or successful appeals involving dementia patients, and whether it has concerns that some families may be self-funding care unnecessarily because of a lack of awareness.

A response was awaited at the time of publication.

Advice to families

Families who believe a relative may qualify for NHS Continuing Healthcare can request an assessment through the NHS or local authority.

A person does not need to have a particular diagnosis to qualify. The assessment should look at the nature, intensity, complexity and unpredictability of their needs.

Where funding is refused, families can ask for the decision to be reviewed.

The case is likely to add to concern that many families are struggling to understand a complicated system while already dealing with the emotional and financial pressure of caring for a loved one.

Local Government

Council admits 74 rights of way complaints remain unresolved

Published

39 seconds ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Key post vacant since February as walker raises safety concerns over paths near Llanteg and Amroth

PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL has admitted that 74 public rights of way enquiries remain unresolved, as concerns grow over staffing shortages and alleged obstructions on countryside paths.

The admission follows a formal complaint from visitor Daniel Murphy, who contacted the council after walking a number of public footpaths in the Llanteg and Amroth area while holidaying in Pembrokeshire.

Mr Murphy said he had been using the paths to avoid busy roads while carrying his 11-week-old daughter, but claimed he encountered a series of problems including blocked or difficult access points, damaged gates, overgrowth, missing or concealed signage, dumped materials and intimidating conditions for walkers.

The complaint relates to paths identified on the Definitive Map as SP10/11, SP10/13, SP10/14, SP10/15 and SP10/20 on Map 87.

In correspondence seen by The Herald, Mr Murphy said he had first contacted the council on April 3, but had not received a substantive response. He later escalated the matter as a formal complaint.

Among the issues he raised were claims that fencing had been placed across a path, that a kissing gate had been modified with a timber plank, that a gate mechanism had been damaged, and that old roofing sheets had been dumped near one of the routes, raising concerns over potentially hazardous material.

He also reported severe overgrowth at gates and stiles, and claimed one section of path was affected by an aggressive loose dog.

Council response

Pembrokeshire County Council confirmed to The Herald that it had received the formal complaint.

A council spokesperson said an inspection of the footpaths associated with the complaint would be carried out by officers by the end of this week.

The council also confirmed that its Definitive Map Officer post has been vacant since February 1, 2026, while recruitment options are being considered.

Asked whether public rights of way legal enforcement was currently suspended or delayed because of staffing shortages, the council said there were “limited staff resources” available to deal with Public Rights of Way legal matters.

It said cases were being triaged and staff resources were being prioritised towards urgent and critical matters.

The council confirmed that, at present, 74 enquiries remain outstanding in the Pembrokeshire County Council area.

It said that when public rights of way are alleged to be obstructed, an automated holding response is currently issued. The enquiry is then triaged, with priority cases identified and progressed as capacity permits.

The council also said the report of potentially hazardous materials being deposited on or beside the routes would be investigated as part of the planned inspection.

‘Committed to statutory duties’

A council spokesperson said: “The Council would like to reassure the public that it remains fully committed to meeting its statutory duties in relation to public rights of way and to ensuring that routes are accessible and open for all users.

“We recognise the importance of this service; however, there is currently a national shortage of specialist expertise in public rights of way roles.

“Recruitment to the Council’s vacant Definitive Map Officer post has therefore proved challenging. In light of this, we are actively exploring alternative options to ensure that our responsibilities continue to be delivered effectively.

“We are hopeful that the recruitment position will be resolved within the next few months and will continue to keep the situation under close review in the meantime.”

The Herald understands that the routes concerned sit within the wider Llanteg and Amroth footpath network, an area used by both residents and visitors.

The council’s inspection is expected to determine whether the reported obstructions, damaged access points and possible hazardous materials require further action.

Community

Hundreds of pupils unite for special Eisteddfod song

Published

9 minutes ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

MORE THAN 500 CHILDREN FROM 50 SCHOOLS HELP CELEBRATE BRO’R GARREG LAS

HUNDREDS of primary school children from across west Wales have come together to release a special song celebrating the communities, language and landscape of Bro’r Garreg Las.

The song, Croeso i Fro’r Garreg Las, has been recorded by pupils from 50 schools across Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod in Llantood.

The project marks the countdown to the festival, which will be held from August 1 to August 8.

More than 500 children have taken part, with the song celebrating the area’s Welsh language, local communities, culture and sense of identity.

The track has been released on digital platforms alongside a colourful video filmed at some of the region’s best-known locations.

Pupils travelled to sites including Cardigan, Tenby, St Davids, Pentre Ifan and Drefach Felindre to perform and help bring the song to life.

The lyrics were written by poet Ceri Wyn Jones, with the melody by Einir Dafydd. The track was produced by Mei Gwynedd and the video was filmed by Gareth Bull.

Pembrokeshire County Council leader, Cllr Tessa Hodgson said: “We are delighted to be welcoming the National Eisteddfod to Llantood this summer.

“It’s been a pleasure to see young people from the three counties come together to create a special song that celebrates the area, and builds excitement as we look forward to the Eisteddfod.

“Collaboration across Bro’r Garreg Las has been at the heart of this project.”

Cllr Catrin M S Davies, Ceredigion County Council Cabinet Member responsible for Culture, said: “This song celebrates the Welsh language and the unique character of the whole area – from the coast to the countryside.

“Ceri Wyn’s lyrics also offer a taste of our history and heritage. There will be an opportunity for the whole of Wales to enjoy our area in August and to hear some of our stories – come along!”

Cllr Glynog Davies, Carmarthenshire County Council Cabinet Member for Education and Welsh Language, said: “It has been a privilege to work with Welsh and English-medium schools across the counties to create this special song.

“Over 500 children have contributed to it, which is an incredible achievement. It is wonderful to see that the Welsh language and the Eisteddfod belong to everyone.”

The song can be heard on digital platforms now, while the video is available to watch on YouTube.

Photo caption: Children from schools across Bro’r Garreg Las have joined forces to record a special song ahead of this summer’s National Eisteddfod.

Community

Ceremonial gown linked to Prince Charles’ 1969 investiture discovered in Saundersfoot

Published

30 minutes ago

June 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

A CEREMONIAL gown worn by the grandson of former Prime Minister David Lloyd George during the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles has been discovered at an antiques roadshow in Pembrokeshire.

The gown, worn by Owen Lloyd George, 3rd Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor, was found alongside his original invitation from Queen Elizabeth II to take part in the historic ceremony at Caernarfon Castle.

The items were brought to a WeBuyVintage roadshow in Saundersfoot by a member of the public who had acquired them after they were removed from Ffynone House, near Boncath, the Earl’s former Pembrokeshire country seat.

The Earl, who lived from 1924 to 2010, was the grandson of David Lloyd George, Britain’s wartime Prime Minister. He was given a prominent role at the investiture on July 1, 1969, carrying the ceremonial sword during the nationally televised event.

The red ceremonial gown bears the Earl’s name on a label inside and is believed to have been made especially for him for the ceremony. It was kept at Ffynone House for decades.

The current owner said she rescued the items in 2021 after seeing possessions from the house being advertised for sale.

She said: “The owner explained that many historic possessions connected to the Lloyd George family were likely to be discarded following the sale of the house and its contents.

“I felt I could not let that happen with the gown and the letter, as these felt like genuine pieces of Welsh history and I wanted to make sure they were preserved.”

Antiques specialist Neil Church, of WeBuyVintage, said the discovery was immediately significant.

He said: “Every so often, something comes through the door that truly stops you in your tracks, and this was one of those moments.

“Far more than an old ceremonial garment, it was a remarkable discovery directly connected to one of the most significant royal and historic moments in modern Welsh history, the investiture of the now King Charles.

“What made it especially fascinating was its provenance, tracing it back to the grandson of the former Prime Minister of Britain and the family’s historic country seat, Ffynone House.

“While we valued it at around £600, its historical significance reaches far beyond its monetary worth.”

The gown and invitation are now being described as a rare surviving piece of Welsh and royal ceremonial history, rediscovered in west Wales more than half a century after they were used at Caernarfon Castle.

Photo caption: Historic find: The ceremonial gown worn by Earl Lloyd George of Dwyfor at the 1969 investiture of Prince Charles was discovered at a Saundersfoot antiques roadshow (Pic: WeBuyVintage).