News

Welsh Ambulance Service scoops double award

Published

9 years ago

September 30, 2016

Presented with awards: Staff from the Welsh Ambulance Service and Cardiff and Vale UHB

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE ha s won two NHS Wales Awards in partnership with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board.

The first award, Working Seamlessly Across Organisations, came as a result of a successful collaboration with health, third sector and local authority agencies to reduce the demand on emergency services. The project also landed the Outstanding Contribution to Prudent Health Care Award, presented by Chief Medical Officer Dr Frank Atherton.

In an effort to improve prudent healthcare, the ongoing project focuses on frequent 999 callers and those who regularly attend unscheduled care services, including the Emergency Unit at University Hospital of Wales and the GP Out of Hours Service.

Data is then shared and collated on those who use the services involved more than five times in any given month, allowing the organisations to establish any unmet care that such patients may require. This could include increased care packages or community support via third sector and voluntary agencies.

Robin Petterson, the Welsh Ambulance Service’s Frequent Caller Lead, said: “It has been the culmination of three years of hard work and collaboration with Cardiff and Vale University Health Board and other important agencies involved with this project in seeking patient-centred solutions.

“It’s is a wonderful achievement that this work has also been acknowledged for its outstanding contribution to prudent healthcare.

“This work not only sought patient-centred solutions, but we can now see real evidence in the data that suggests that more ambulance time is being made available through this collaborative work for our other service users.”

Frequent Attendees Case Load Manager at Cardiff and Vale UHB, Anna Sussex, said: “We are incredibly proud that this project has won an NHS Wales Award.

“It is a tribute to the enthusiasm and dedication of partners across health, third sector, local authority and other agencies that we have been able to reduce demand on emergency services whilst supporting extremely vulnerable patients.”

Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport, Vaughan Gething, who attended the ceremony in Cardiff, said: “The winners and nominees have made changes to improve the services they provide – but I know that across the NHS, other organisations will be taking notice of what they have achieved and seeing how they too can make improvements.

“These awards allow us to celebrate fantastic care and dedicated NHS staff and their partners, making a real difference for citizens across Wales every day. I want to congratulate everyone who was nominated for their commitment to improving quality in our NHS.”

Organised by NHS Wales’ national improvement service, 1,000 Lives Improvement, the NHS Wales Awards were first established in 2008 to celebrate the 60th anniversary of the NHS and, in doing so, promote good practice across Wales.

A total of 167 entries were received from various organisations, revealing the high standard of innovative and diverse work that is transforming patient care.

To read more about all of the winners, visit www.nhswalesawards. wales.nhs.uk.

Crime

Haverfordwest man sent to Crown Court on multiple serious charges

Published

9 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded in custody

A HAVERFORDWEST man has been sent to Swansea Crown Court to stand trial on a series of serious allegations following his appearance in the latest magistrates’ court register.

David Guy, 49, of Market Street, Haverfordwest, appeared in court facing multiple charges, all of which have now been deemed too serious for summary trial.

Multiple charges listed in register

The new magistrates’ register shows Guy charged with several offences arising from the same case file. Although individual charge descriptions were not expanded in open court, the register confirms the allegations include:

Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
A second assault charge
Criminal damage
A further interpersonal violence allegation
A public order offence

All entries relate to the same incident and prosecution reference, presented as a multi-count case.

Defendant remanded into custody

Magistrates ruled that their sentencing powers were insufficient and sent the entire case to Swansea Crown Court for trial.

Guy was remanded in custody, with the register stating: “Sent to Crown Court for trial in custody – next hearing at Swansea Crown Court.”

A hearing date will now be fixed administratively by the Crown Court. Until then, Guy remains remanded.

The Herald will provide updates once the Crown Court listing is confirmed.

Crime

Castlemartin man back before magistrates over multiple alleged assaults

Published

15 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Defendant remanded on conditional bail ahead of further hearing

A CASTLEMARTIN man has appeared repeatedly before magistrates this month over a string of alleged offences including assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH), non-fatal strangulation, common assault, and criminal damage.

Anthony Alcock, 40, of Pwll Street, Castlemartin, faces six linked charges arising from incidents reported to have taken place earlier this year. Alcock, who did not enter pleas during the administrative hearings, appeared on several occasions as the court dealt with bail issues and case management.

Multiple assault allegations
The charges listed before magistrates include:
Assault occasioning actual bodily harm (ABH)
Intentional strangulation
Common assault of a woman
Criminal damage relating to a domestic incident
Further assault allegations linked to the same complainant
A breach of bail conditions

The court heard that Alcock had previously been granted conditional bail. However, he was brought back before magistrates twice during the same reporting period for alleged breaches of those conditions, resulting in updated bail decisions.

Bail breached — defendant remanded

On two separate entries in the court register, Alcock was listed as having breached his bail, leading magistrates to remand him into custody pending the next hearing. On other dates within the same week, he was again re-released on conditional bail, with strict terms imposed, including restrictions on contact with the complainant and exclusions from certain locations.

He is now remanded on conditional bail with his next appearance set for Swansea Crown Court, where the more serious matters — including the alleged non-fatal strangulation — will be dealt with.

Case sent to Crown Court

Magistrates directed that the case is too serious to be heard locally and must proceed to the Crown Court for trial or sentence.

The Herald understands that all listed charges fall under the same prosecution reference, indicating they form part of a single ongoing domestic abuse prosecution. No further details were opened in court at this stage.

Crime

Rogue roofer conned homeowner out of thousands

Published

31 minutes ago

December 14, 2025

Court Reporter

Caerphilly investigation leads to court conviction

A ROGUE trader from Pembroke has been ordered to pay more than £6,000 after duping a homeowner into handing over thousands for unnecessary roofing work.

Douggie Whitbread, aged twenty-five and living at Coldwell Terrace, Pembroke, persuaded his victim that he “probably needed a new roof” before charging £4,350 for work that was either unnecessary or not carried out properly.

Whitbread admitted two counts of fraud relating to a property on Griffiths Street, Ystrad Mynach, with the offences taking place between August 12 and October 16, 2023.

He appeared before Cwmbran Magistrates’ Court, where he was ordered to pay a total of £6,130. That includes £4,350 in compensation, £1,500 in prosecution costs, a £200 fine, and an £80 victim surcharge.

The case was brought following an investigation by Caerphilly Trading Standards, who urged residents to be cautious of unsolicited offers of home maintenance work.