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Withybush: Outrage on social media over hospital Costa decision

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Very sad day: The closure of the WRVS at withybush in favour of Costa. (Pic Lesley Cloud)

Very sad day: The closure of the WRVS at withybush in favour of Costa. (Pic Lesley Cloud)

A PHOTOGRAPH showing the final day of the Cafe run by the WRVS at Withybush General Hospital caused outrage on social media on Wednesday (Dec 30).

By the time we were going to press on New Year’s Eve over 500 people had shared and 600 people had liked a post by Lesley Cloud saying: “A very sad say with the closure of the WRVS at Withybush is favour of Costa. Shame on you Hywel Dda Health Board.

Out of 117 people who had commented on Facebook at the time of going to press, not one person had said anything positive about the health board’s plan.

Here is a small sample of the remarks online.

Jane Merrony commented: “ Horrified to read this. The volunteers here are superb, always a smile for whatever news you may have just had or are waiting for. Don’t suppose you will get that from an employee somehow. Thank you to all you special ladies, it must be a very sad time for you all”

Caronline Quirk added : “I am so sorry, as much as I like Costa it has no place in Withybush or any hospital, the WRVS has done well over the years, a big thank you to all.”

Sally Mumford  said:  “This is really sad. I use this lovely cafe every couple of months with my son for his Audiology apps, lovely ladies make u feel welcome. I won’t be using Costa Coffee!”

Angela Atherton said: “ What a loss to the hospital, patients and visitors. Nothing better than a proper fresh sandwich and a cuppa. Costa is far too expensive.”

Hywel Dda has appointed Medirest, part of Compass Group UK & Ireland, to provide new café and retail services for patients, staff and visitors across all acute hospital sites, following a competitive bidding process.

The board has given its approval for Medirest to provide Costa Coffee units and Amigo shops at Withybush, Glangwili, and Prince Philip hospitals, and a Deli Marche coffee and combined shop outlet at Bronglais.

Some facilities will be temporarily closed as the fit-out works are completed, however dining room facilities will continue to be available during this time.

The health board is also working closely with the Royal Voluntary Service (RVS) – which currently provides some of the cafe and shop services – to explore ways of retaining the services of its volunteers in the healthcare community, where they can continue to make a positive difference to patients.

Discussions have already taken place between health board representatives and the RVS with a number of initiatives proposed, including a hospital-based befriending service to complement the strong links the health board has with hospital care services and the RVS at Bronglais.

Steve Moore, Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “Medirest demonstrated they could deliver a great quality and scope of service, as well as refurbished cafe areas.

“We are very mindful that for many years Glangwili and Withybush hospitals have been provided with highly regarded, first class services by the RVS for patients, staff and visitors.

“We hold the RVS employees and volunteers in high regard and we hope to continue to work with them in different roles within the healthcare setting in the future.”

As part of the bidding process, interested parties were asked to outline their plans for the refurbishment of areas of the hospitals at zero cost to the health board, in order to generate income for the organisation through rent and turnover rent. This can be used to improve the hospital environment for patients and visitors.

Andrew Jones, Retail Operations Director Healthcare, Compass Group UK & Ireland added: “We’re looking forward to working with the health board from January, to work across the four hospitals in Wales. We’ll be implementing our trusted partner brands in these sites and we think it will offer an enhanced service to patients, visitors and staff, as well as offer a source of income for the health board.”

Peter Llewellyn, Assistant Director of Strategic Partnerships at Hywel Dda, added: “A positive meeting was held with representatives of the RVS, and a number of initiatives are being proposed to manage volunteers at Withybush and Glangwili hospitals with a view to strengthening our relationship with the RVS in recognition of the huge contribution they have made over a number of years.”

 

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Crime

Police appeal for information after several tractors stolen

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POLICE officers in Pembrokeshire investigating a theft from several tractors, which happened overnight between April 17-18, 2024.

The tractors had been in a field near to Loch Turfin, Haverfordwest.

Included in the stolen items were vehicle keys, tools and waterproof clothing.

A spokesperson said “Police are now appealing for anyone with information that could help them with their investigation to contact PC 772 Boyt either through a direct message on social media, online at: https://bit.ly/DPPContactOnline, by emailing [email protected] or by calling 101.

“Quote reference: 24*355571”

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Pembrokeshire firefighters help deliver fire engines to Ukraine

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FIRE services from across the United Kingdom have rallied together to donate vital firefighting equipment to Ukraine, amidst ongoing conflicts that have seen local fire stations and firefighters come under direct attack.

The Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service (MAWWFRS) was at the forefront of this international goodwill effort, donating three fire appliances and dispatching nine of their personnel to ensure safe delivery.

The initiative, coordinated by Fire Aid UK, involved a total of 11 UK fire services. Over a grueling 5.5-day journey that spanned several countries—starting from Kent Fire and Rescue Service and moving through France, Belgium, the Netherlands, Germany, and into Poland—33 fire appliances were transported to a location just 20 miles from the Ukraine border. They left Kent on April 23.

This convoy, laden with not just fire engines but also 3000 items of critical firefighting gear including cutting equipment, fire hoses, first aid kits, and generators, was a sight of resilience and humanitarian commitment. Watch Manager Rob MakePeace, a Business Fire Safety Officer, and Watch Manager Keith Jenkins, who is retired but still oversees part-time personnel at Haverfordwest, played pivotal roles in the operation from Pembrokeshire.

Speaking on the experience, Keith Jenkins expressed the profound impact of the mission, “It was a fantastic experience to be involved in. The convoy itself was an amazing sight, but the people we met, places we stayed and the reason we were delivering the appliances was something we will remember for a long time.”

The donation comes at a critical time for Ukraine, where daily attacks have not only jeopardized the lives of local firefighters but have also devastated much of the essential infrastructure needed to fight fires effectively. The additional appliances and equipment from the UK are expected to significantly bolster the capabilities of the Ukrainian fire departments, providing them with the necessary tools to save lives and protect property under dire circumstances.

This act of generosity and the strenuous efforts by the UK firefighters underscore a deep commitment to aiding those in peril, transcending borders and showcasing the best of international cooperation and humanitarian assistance.

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Protest outside Stephen Crabb’s office over Rwanda deportations

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SUPPORTERS of West Wales Stand Up to Racism group will attend a protest outside the office of Stephen Crabb MP in Market Street at 6pm on Tuesday evening (May 7).

The protest is to highlight the inhumane scheme to send refugees to Rwanda.

Since the Rwanda Bill was finally passed last week, refugees have already been identified, detained and are being prepared to be flown to Rwanda to have their asylum claims processed there.

Rushi Sunak has said “To detain people while we prepare to remove them, we’ve increased detention spaces to 2,200.

“To quickly process claims, we’ve got 200 trained, dedicated caseworkers ready and waiting. To deal with any legal cases quickly and decisively, the judiciary has made available 25 courtrooms and identified 150 judges who could provide over 5,000 sitting days.”

The protestors are asking: why is all this money being spent when these vulnerable people could have their asylum claims dealt with in the UK?

If the Prime Minister hoped his Rwanda plan would help get more votes for the Conservative Party in the recent elections, it would appear he was mistaken.

A new report from the Refugee Council warns that the UK Government’s flagship Illegal Migration Act and Rwanda Plan will lead to another catastrophic “system meltdown”, trapping over 100,000 people in permanent limbo while costing taxpayers billions.

West Wales Stand Up to Racism has campaigned against the Government’s plan to send refugees to Rwanda from the time this scheme was first suggested.

Supporters have previously met with Simon Hart MP and attempted to deliver a giant postcard to his office.

The group has taken part in the online Hands in Protest project organised by Artisan Avenue, Tenby which allowed everyone to express on line how they felt about Rwanda by submitting drawings of their own hands. The collective Hands In Protest gives a powerful message that the Rwanda plan should be stopped.

The organisers said: “Supporters will be once more taking the giant postcard on Tuesday, to protest about the Rwanda scheme. We will have small post cards for supporters to write messages to Stephen Crabb, telling him how strongly we feel about this.

“All over the UK, anti-racists are picketing Home Office buildings to show their opposition to the Rwanda scheme and are trying to prevent arrests and giving support to the refugees being arrested and detained.

“West Wales Stand Up to Racism supporters want to make their voices heard too.”

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