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Hospital transport service a ‘God-send‘

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Screen Shot 2016-04-18 at 09.22.20A MOTHER-OF-THREE from Monkton, Pembroke, has praised the Family Support Transport Service for the invaluable support they provided during her pregnancy.

Mum to 10-year-old Chloe, 4-yearold David and 3-month-old Nico, 28-year-old Bethan has Borderline Personality Disorder (BPD) and finds it extremely difficult to use public transport even with the support of her partner – Mark Jones – who is also Bethan’s carer. She said:

“Having access to the transport service helped to ease my anxiety around public transport. I find it difficult to use public transport at the best of times, being heavily pregnant made it impossible.”

Bethan’s pregnancy with baby Nico wasn’t straightforward and left her needing extra health care: “My pregnancy with Nico wasn’t easy; I was diagnosed with anaemia, gestational diabetes, a vitamin B12 deficiency and symphysis pubis dysfunction (SPD).

On top of that I was emotional with pregnancy hormones which made my BPD worse. I honestly don’t know how I would have made it to my appointments without the transport service.

“I’d never been to Glangwili Hospital before and didn’t know my way around. The drivers were so helpful; the first time I visited for an appointment the driver walked me to the department so I didn’t get stressed.

“Because of the gestational diabetes I also had to give birth in Glangwili Hospital. The thought of that was very daunting but all of the drivers were so polite and lovely and made me feel very comfortable. The man who drove me home after I gave birth to Nico even helped carry my bags!

“The service has been a Godsend to me and to my family. I can’t recommend it any more highly than I have.”

Bethan has also praised Flying Start Midwife, Linda Peacock, for arranging her access to the Family Support Transport Service:

“Linda was just brilliant, she was so much more to me than just a midwife.” Linda commented: “The service is fantastic. It is an invaluable help to families who do not have access to their own transport or have specific needs.”

The Family Support Transport Service is provided by Action for Children in partnership with Hywel Dda University Health Board to offer transport support for Pembrokeshire families using women and children’s services in Carmarthen. The service is available Monday-Friday 9am-9pm and on Saturdays and Sundays from 9am- 4pm.

It is primarily used for planned appointments or for transport home following an emergency admission.

They also have the ability to call on alternative transport provision should they be unable to provide the service themselves, for example at peak periods, to ensure that vulnerable families receive transport when required.

Chief Executive of Hywel Dda University Health Board, Steve Moore, explained: “Whilst we know there remains significant concern and desire in Pembrokeshire to see all paediatric services re-instated at Withybush Hospital, we are as a health board looking at what we can do to strengthen services for children at the hospital and how we can make things easier for families when they do need to travel.

“We hope that Bethan’s story will raise awareness of the transport support that is available both amongst staff who advise and assist patients, and the wider public.”

Action for Children work very closely with the Midwife Led Units and Paediatric Ambulatory Care Units at Withybush and Glangwili hospitals and also link with Emergency Departments and community midwives when they require transport for children and young families. Referrals are made through your Consultant or Midwife; if you feel you need extra support please make contact with them.

 

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Entertainment

Yourythmics brings Eurythmics classics to the Torch

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Full-band tribute show led by award-winning Annie Lennox lookalike Stacy Green promises a night of eighties nostalgia in Milford Haven

THE TORCH THEATRE in Milford Haven is inviting audiences to celebrate one of the biggest acts of the 1980s with a night of unforgettable hits and nostalgia.

Taking fans on a journey back in time, Yourythmics brings the music of Eurythmics to life with favourites including Love is a Stranger, Here Comes the Rain Again, Would I Lie to You?, Right by Your Side and, of course, the chart-topping Sweet Dreams (Are Made of This).

Yourythmics promises the ultimate full-band tribute to the legendary duo, combining energetic musicianship, striking costumes and plenty of audience participation. Leading the show is Stacy Green as Annie Lennox.

Stacy has already earned recognition as the UK’s number one Annie Lennox tribute and lookalike, an honour awarded by the National Agents Association. She has also been recognised by Annie Lennox herself.

The production promises an evening of singing, dancing and classic songs that are sure to have audiences on their feet and joining in.

Yourythmics comes to the Torch Theatre on Saturday, June 20 at 7:30pm.

Tickets are £25 and can be booked through the Torch Theatre website or by calling the Box Office on 01646 695267.

 

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Crime

Victims left in the dark after release errors, commissioner warns

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Claire Waxman backs urgent reform after review exposes failures in how victims are notified when offenders are freed by mistake

VICTIMS are still being failed by the justice system when offenders are released in error, the Victims’ Commissioner for England and Wales has warned.

Claire Waxman OBE spoke out after the publication of Dame Lynne Owens’ independent review into releases in error, which was published by the Ministry of Justice on Wednesday (Apr 15). The Government said it had accepted all 33 recommendations in principle and would take forward those that can be delivered within the current spending period.

The review was commissioned after the mistaken release of Hadush Kebatu from HMP Chelmsford, but went on to examine wider problems across the prison and justice system. The Government said recent cases had exposed deep-rooted issues and described the number of release errors as unacceptably high, despite a recent reduction.

According to the Ministry of Justice, there were 179 recorded releases in error from prison between April 2025 and March 2026, a fall of 32 per cent compared with the previous year. Ministers said new checks and a dedicated query unit had already helped prevent further mistakes, while £10m has been committed to digital and AI-based tools aimed at reducing errors.

But Ms Waxman said the review had exposed serious failings in the way victims are informed when offenders are released by mistake.

She said: “Mistaken releases are an appalling failure of our justice system. They cause serious distress to victims and undermine trust and confidence in the justice system.

“Dame Lynne Owens’ report exposes serious failings in how victims are informed when offenders are released in error. In some cases, victims were contacted too late – with one learning through social media – because agencies could not identify which victim contact scheme applied or who was responsible for notifying them.

“I welcome the government’s acceptance of the review and the steps being taken to reduce these errors. But when mistakes do occur, it is paramount that victims are informed first, as quickly as possible and through official channels. Victims should never learn through the media, or by chance, that an offender has been released in error.”

The Victims’ Commissioner said victims should always be told first, as quickly as possible and through official channels, rather than finding out through the media or by chance.

She also backed Dame Lynne’s call for a clear national protocol on victim notification and repeated her own long-standing call for the introduction of a unique victim identifier, which she said would allow agencies to identify, track and contact victims more quickly across the justice system.

Without it, she warned, the system could lose sight of victims at the very moment they most need protection.

The Government said the review’s recommendations covered data and digital systems, governance, process improvements, training and culture. It added that further action would be taken in several areas, with some longer-term reforms dependent on future funding decisions.

The Ministry of Justice said it remained committed to reducing the risk of offenders being released in error and returning figures to pre-prison capacity crisis levels.

 

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Health

Tracy’s firewalk raises £528 for Withybush rheumatology unit

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Long-serving staff member and patient took on 800°C embers to give back to service that has supported her family for years

A MEMBER of staff at Withybush Hospital has raised £528 for Rheumatology Services after taking part in Hywel Dda Health Charities’ firewalk challenge.

Tracy Beynon, who has worked at Withybush for 23 years and has also been a rheumatology patient for 20 years, took part in the barefoot walk across 800°C embers in October to support the department.

She said she had always wanted to try a firewalk and jumped at the chance to do one for her local health board.

Tracy said: “Over the years, I have done some wild things to raise money for various charities, including shaving my head after a Six Nations rugby match 11 years ago.

“Rheumatology have looked after many generations of my family throughout the years, and I wanted to try and give something back to help the team and the patients they serve.

“I was stunned by how much money I raised. After I put a video on TikTok, I had a number of donations from people I have never even met. I will forever be thankful to my friends and family for supporting all of my mad fundraising ideas.”

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer for Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “A huge thank you to Tracy for showing her support to the service that has taken such good care of her for so long.

“The generous charitable donations we receive do not replace NHS funding. Instead, they support additional items and activities outside core NHS expenditure. These small extras make a big difference, and we are so grateful for every donation we receive.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities said donations help provide added items and activities for local NHS patients and staff beyond core NHS spending.

For more information about the charity and how to support local NHS services, visit the Hywel Dda Health Charities website.

 

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