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

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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’

 

 

 

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Crime

Driver denies injuring dog walker and elects Crown Court trial

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Harry Sutton-Brown, 28, is accused of causing serious injury by careless or inconsiderate driving in Penally

A MOTORIST has elected for a Crown Court trial after being charged with causing serious injury to a dog walker in Penally.

Harry Sutton-Brown, aged 28, is accused of causing serious injury to Joanne Morris by careless or inconsiderate driving on Village Road, Penally.

Haverfordwest magistrates heard this week that the prosecution alleges Sutton-Brown struck Ms Morris on November 22, 2024, as he negotiated a bend in his Hyundai i30.

However, his solicitor said the complainant had been walking “three abreast” with two other people while exercising a dog.

“As the defendant came around the bend, the pedestrians were walking across the road in the central reservation,” his solicitor told the court.

“The defendant was blinded by the sun and he didn’t see the pedestrians in the middle of the road.”

Sutton-Brown, of Boars Head Bridge, Templeton, elected for trial at Swansea Crown Court.

The case will next be before the Crown Court on May 8.

He was released on unconditional bail.

 

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Crime

Questions raised as 81-year-old woman faces drink-drive case

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Defence solicitor tells Haverfordwest magistrates his client was medically unable to provide a breath sample and should have been offered an alternative test

QUESTIONS have been raised over whether the interests of justice are being served after an 81-year-old motorist was charged with failing to provide a breath specimen for analysis.

Kate Telford appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates this week after being listed for trial following her arrest on March 1.

The court heard that she was taken to Haverfordwest police station and asked to provide a breath sample. When she failed to co-operate, she was charged with failing to provide a specimen for analysis.

But her solicitor, Michael Kelleher, challenged the conduct of police officers during the incident, arguing that his client was physically unable to complete the test.

“The prosecution claims this was a deliberate failure to provide a breath sample, but the defendant has a growth in her mouth, a heart issue and her breathing isn’t sufficient to allow her to breathe into a breathalyser machine,” he said.

“All this information can be obtained from her doctors.

“The day she was arrested, the police should have provided her with an alternative method – a nurse was available to take blood, and there was also the option of a urine test. But basically, the police didn’t believe her and thought she was putting it all on. Even her request to sit on a chair was refused.

“This woman has no experience of criminal law, she has no previous convictions and she didn’t know how to argue her own case. Previous appeals have been refused in the interests of justice, but surely the interests of justice aren’t being met by failing to grant an appeal.”

After retiring to consider the submissions, the Bench refused Mr Kelleher’s application to appeal against the indictment.

“We have carefully considered the appeal before us and have gone through each of the five grounds,” said the presiding magistrate.

“We find that none of the factors apply to this case, therefore the appeal fails.”

 

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Crime

Two men sent to Crown Court over alleged drugs supply offences

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Lee Miskin, 52, and Saul Miskin, 21, are accused of offences involving cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine in Pembroke Dock

TWO men have appeared before Haverfordwest magistrates charged with drug offences involving cocaine, amphetamines and cannabis.

Lee Miskin, aged 52, and Saul Miskin, aged 21, both of St Davids Close, Hubberston, are each accused of possessing controlled drugs with intent to supply.

Saul Miskin is charged with possessing 261 grams of cannabis with intent to supply and 47.36 grams of amphetamine with intent to supply. He also faces three further charges of being concerned in the supply of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine.

Lee Miskin is charged with being concerned in the supply of cannabis, amphetamine and cocaine. He also faces two further charges of possessing 261 grams of cannabis and 47.36 grams of amphetamine with intent to supply.

The offences are alleged to have taken place in Milton and Pennar, Pembroke Dock, between January 2023 and February 2024.

Because of the seriousness of the allegations, magistrates declined jurisdiction and sent the case to Swansea Crown Court.

Both defendants are due to enter pleas on May 8.

They were released on unconditional bail.

 

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