Connect with us
Advertisement
Advertisement

News

Thousands sign online petition for return 24 hour paediatric care at Withybush

Published

on

A protest last year in Cardiff against cuts to services at Withybush hospital

A protest last year in Cardiff against cuts to services at Withybush hospital

AN ONLINE petition to bring back 24 hour paediatric services to Withybush General Hospital in Haverfordwest has gained over 2000 signatures in only a few hours.

The change.org appeal, started by hospital campaigner Myles Banford-Lewis was launched on social media today and has received a ground-swell of support.

Hospital campaigners Myles Balford-Lewis and partner Jasmine McGinley

Hospital campaigners Myles Balford-Lewis and partner Jasmine McGinley

Myles said: “I am petitioning the Hywel Dda Health Board and Mark Drakeford, the Health Minister to return 24 hour Paediatrics to Withybush General Hospital. Back in August 2014 the Hywel Dda Health board and the Labour Welsh Assembly pushed through a policy of centralisation to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. This now means that there is no Special Care Baby Unit, 24 hour Children’s Ward (currently running on a limited 12 hour service) and no 24 hour antenatal care at Withybush Hospital.

He added: “This in itself has had a completely negative impact on health care in south west Wales with many families being forced to travel for over an hour to reach the healthcare they need at Glangwili. Moreover this has also caused a great deal of hardship on these families, myself included as we have been forced to drive in some cases over 100 mile round trip to reach these service.

“Sometimes even further as Glangwili is often full up with children from both counties. Lives have been put at risk by the removal of services in the Pembrokeshire locality and this is wholly unacceptable in this day and age. Severely ill children that would otherwise be seen locally and stabilised locally are now having to wait for a transport team based in Bristol to come down to Haverfordwest to drive a child to a hospital nearly an hour away for treatment.

“This ambulance (and there is only one to cover everywhere from Ceredigion to Oxfordshire) can take several hours to arrive. It took eight hours to transport my own daughter from Withybush to Glangwili before Christmas. The problems that the current centralisation policy has caused are horrendous to families and need addressing immediately. We need our services back starting with the children’s ward which can be returned to 24 hour status in the quickest possible time.”

TO SIGN THE PETITION CLICK HERE

Myles told The Herald: 'Our baby Freddie would have died if he had been born 10 days later when services stopped’

Myles told The Herald: ‘Our baby Freddie would have died if he had been born 10 days later when services stopped’

 

 

Click to comment

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Business

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

Published

on

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure of Holyhead Port earlier this month.

The disruption, caused by storm damage, has rerouted ferry traffic through Pembrokeshire, leading to long queues and crowded facilities at the terminal.

The Herald can confirm that it has been very busy today with cars, lorries, and foot passengers queuing in large numbers. Staff are working tirelessly to manage the influx, directing vehicles and assisting passengers as they prepare to board the heavily booked ferries.

A spokesperson for the Port of Milford Haven said: “We are working closely with ferry operators and local authorities to ensure traffic flows as smoothly as possible, but the sheer volume of vehicles is causing unavoidable delays.”

Travelers are being urged to arrive early for their sailings and to remain patient as the terminal operates at full capacity.

Both Stena Line and Irish Ferries have increased capacity on their Pembrokeshire routes, deploying larger vessels, including the Stena Adventurer and the MV James Joyce, to handle the surge in demand.

From our position at the terminal, our photographer has captured photos showing long lines of vehicles, groups of foot passengers carrying luggage, and port staff coordinating efforts to ease congestion.

Authorities are advising non-essential travelers to consider rescheduling their journeys where possible and to monitor updates from ferry operators closely.

(Photos: Martin Cavaney/Herald)

Continue Reading

Community

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

Published

on

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation and traditional carol singing to mark the Christmas season.

In the morning, families are invited to the Scratch Nativity at 11:00am. Attendees are encouraged to come dressed as wise men, angels, sheep, or shepherds and take part in an unrehearsed retelling of the Christmas story. Canon Leigh described the event as: “Complete, wonderful chaos for an hour… but with some poignant, thought-provoking moments to centre ourselves on the real meaning of Christmas.”

Later in the evening, the Festival of Nine Lessons and Carols by Candlelight will take place at 7:00pm, featuring the Cathedral Choir. The event, steeped in tradition, will see the cathedral bathed in candlelight as carols and scripture readings fill the historic space.

Doors will open at 5:45pm for those seeking unreserved seating, and a large turnout is expected for this beloved Christmas celebration.

Continue Reading

Crime

Three men from London admit their guilt over illegal cannabis farm

Published

on

THREE men admit their guilt after police discover over 700 cannabis plants during a raid on a former school building in Llandysul.

Officers from Dyfed-Powys Police executed a warrant at the former Ysgol Gynradd Llandysul on Heol Llyn Y Fran on November 15. Inside, they found 737 cannabis plants spread across multiple rooms.

Armeld Troksi, 29, and Njazi Gjana, 27, both from Empire Avenue in Edmonton, London, along with Ervin Gjana, 24, from Durham Avenue in Romford, were arrested at the scene and later charged with producing cannabis.

The three men appeared before Swansea Crown Court, where they admitted their involvement in the illegal operation. Defence solicitor Joshua Scouller requested a pre-sentence report for Ervin Gjana, which was granted by Judge Geraint Walters.

Sentencing is scheduled for January 20.

A Dyfed-Powys Police spokesperson said: “Following a warrant executed at the former school on Heol Llyn Y Fran, officers discovered a significant cannabis grow containing 737 plants.

“We are grateful to the local community for their continued support and cooperation. Officers will remain in the area while the site is secured.

“Our commitment remains firm in disrupting drug production and supply networks across our force area.

“We encourage residents to report any suspicious activity, no matter how small it may seem. Every piece of information can make a difference, and reports can easily be submitted through our website.”

Continue Reading

Business2 hours ago

Ferry Terminal ‘extremely busy’ due to ongoing Holyhead closure

PEMBROKE DOCK Ferry Terminal has been experiencing significant congestion today as ferry services remain under immense pressure following the closure...

Community3 hours ago

Festive celebrations at St Davids Cathedral this weekend

ST DAVIDS Cathedral is set to host two special events on Sunday (Dec 22), offering a blend of joyful participation...

News21 hours ago

Ferry accident causes delay on new Dublin-Fishguard route

IRISH Ferries’ Isle of Innisfree sustained damage during arrival on Friday (Dec 20) at Fishguard port. The incident occurred as...

Entertainment2 days ago

River-themed lanterns light up Cardigan in spectacular parade

THOUSANDS of people flocked to Cardigan on Monday (Dec 18) for the much-anticipated Giant Lantern Parade, hosted by Small World...

Business2 days ago

Pembrokeshire care home group hit by £150,000 budget blow

A COMPANY with six care homes in Pembrokeshire has revealed it is facing a £150,000 financial hit due to controversial...

News3 days ago

Rift between Neyland councillors now ‘as wide as Grand Canyon’

THE DIVISIONS within Neyland Town Council deepened further this week after a controversial attempt to block an Extraordinary General Meeting...

Politics3 days ago

Pembrokeshire Long Course Weekend changes could be made

PEMBROKESHIRE’S annual Long Course Weekend triathlon event could be run on a different route in future, in an attempt to...

Business5 days ago

Wales’ biggest Specsavers store opens in Haverfordwest

SPECSAVERS HAVERFORDWEST has relocated to a larger, state-of-the-art premises in the Riverside Shopping Centre, becoming the largest Specsavers store in...

News5 days ago

Engine room fire caused by loose fuel pipe connection previously flagged

AN INVSTIGATION has been published into a fire that broke out in the engine room of the roll-on/roll-off passenger ferry...

News6 days ago

Heroes of the storm: How Council workers rallied during rare red wind warning

PEMBROKESHIRE experienced a weekend of extreme weather as Storm Darragh brought chaos to the region, prompting an extraordinary display of...

Popular This Week