News
Consultation on mental health in Letterston
MEMBERS of the public are invited to a drop in event this Thursday (July 6) between 2pm – 7pm at Letterston Memorial Hall to find out more about Hywel Dda University Health Board’s Transforming Mental Health consultation.
Launched on June 22, the consultation will run for 12 weeks until the September 15 with the aim to help change adult mental health services for the better across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion.
‘The Journey to Recovery’ asks people for their opinions on proposals to change how the Health Board provide care and treatment to meet the mental health needs of people now as well as future generations.
A spokesperson for the Health Board said: “Having discussed and explored the issues that our current services encounter together with the people most affected we have worked together to co-design a model that encompasses:
“24 hour services – ensuring anyone who needs help can access a mental health centre for support at any time of the day or night.
“No waiting lists – so that people receive first contact with mental health services within 24 hours and for their subsequent care to be planned for in a consistent and supportive way
“Community focus – to stop admitting people to hospital when it isn’t the best option and provide support in the community when people need time away from home, extra support or protection.
“Recovery and resilience – services that don’t purely focus on treating or managing symptoms, but instead help people to live independent, fulfilling lives with the help and support they need.”
Libby Ryan-Davies, Director of Transformation, said: “The work we have done on Transforming Mental Health has helped us to think differently about how we design, plan and deliver services locally. We know we do not always help people with mental health difficulties at an early enough stage and services do not always feel joined up with people having to endure repeat assessments before they get the right care.
“We want service users to have better access to higher quality services in their communities, helping them stay well and out of hospital where possible.
“We want to do our best for everyone who needs adult mental health services across our counties and we know the best way to do this is to take into account the views from as many people as possible to help us develop plans that meet the needs of our services users, their carers, friends and families.”
Angie Darlington, Director of West Wales Action for Mental Health (WWAMH) said: “Over the last two years we have worked with a variety of service users, carers, organisations and interest groups, I would encourage everyone to get involved with this consultation, to make their views known.
“It is great to see such energy and determination to work together to improve mental health services across Wales. This consultation offers a fantastic opportunity to develop forward thinking recovery focused mental health services, that offer care, compassion and proactive support. By working together to shape this work we can all make a positive difference.”
To take part, residents are asked to read the issues paper and answer an accompanying questionnaire. An easy read version is also available.
Documents can be accessed or requested by:
Emailing: [email protected]
Visiting the website: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/mentalhealth
Writing to them at: FREEPOST HYWEL DDA HEALTH BOARD
Calling us on: 01554 899 056 (please leave a message for us)
You can also complete the questionnaire online at: www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/mentalhealth
Crime
Pembroke Dock woman in court for failing to remove rubbish from property
A PEMBROKE DOCK resident is due to appear before Haverfordwest Magistrates’ Court later today (Nov 25) for multiple alleged breaches of a community protection notice.
Sheena Deacon, of 13 Wavell Crescent, Pembroke Dock, faces charges under the Anti-social Behaviour, Crime and Policing Act 2014, which carries a maximum penalty of a Level 4 fine.
The charges stem from allegations that Deacon failed to remove accumulated household waste from her property on several occasions. According to court documents, the breaches occurred on September 19, September 26, October 2, October 9, and October 17 this year.
The charges indicate that Deacon, despite being issued with a community protection notice, did not comply with the requirements to clear and appropriately dispose of refuse and household waste from her address.
The Herald will bring updates on the case as it progresses.
News
Welsh Conservatives urge Labour to scrap ‘family farm tax’
THE WELSH CONSERVATIVES have announced plans to bring forward a Senedd debate next week (Nov 27) calling on the UK Labour Government to abandon its proposed “family farm tax.”
The tax, introduced by the UK Labour Government, is being criticised as a move that will harm Welsh farming, threaten food security, and increase food prices. Alongside the Welsh Government’s Sustainable Farming Scheme and perceived “anti-farming agenda,” critics argue this new tax amounts to a coordinated effort to undermine the future of agriculture in Wales.
Shadow Minister warns of consequences
Ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Rural Affairs, James Evans MS, condemned the proposal, stating:
“Labour’s family farm tax will put family farms out of business, threaten our food security, and lead to food prices rising. Only the Welsh Conservatives will stand up for our farmers, and that’s why we’re bringing forward a Senedd motion calling on Labour to reverse this decision. No farmers, no food.”
NFU Cymru expresses alarm
NFU Cymru President, Aled Jones, echoed these concerns, highlighting the widespread opposition from the farming community. Speaking about the impact of the tax on Agricultural Property Relief and Business Property Relief, Jones said:
“Earlier this week, hundreds of farmers from across Wales journeyed to London to meet with their MPs and register their deeply held concerns about these misguided and ill-thought-out reforms.
“The proposals unveiled by the Treasury last month to introduce a tax on the passing on of our family farms to the next generation are a massive added burden. They will leave many farmers without the means, confidence, or incentive to invest in the future of their business.
“NFU Cymru reiterates its call for the UK Government to halt these changes.”
The motion to be debated
The motion, set to be debated in the Senedd, reads:
“To propose that the Senedd:
Calls on the UK Labour Government to reverse its decision to impose a family farm tax on agricultural businesses.”
This debate is expected to attract significant attention, with Welsh farmers and rural communities keenly watching for the outcome.
Community
Internet outage for two villages after exchange box destroyed
RESIDENTS of Clunderwen and Llandissilio have been left without internet access following the destruction of an Openreach exchange box just outside Llandissilio village.
The incident occurred yesterday (Nov 23) when the box was reportedly demolished by a vehicle. The damage has resulted in a complete loss of internet services for the two villages, with repairs expected to take at least a couple of days.
Local residents have expressed frustration over the disruption, as the outage affects home businesses, remote workers, and households relying on internet connectivity for day-to-day tasks.
Openreach engineers have cordoned off the site, and work is ongoing to assess the extent of the damage. A spokesperson for Openreach has been contacted for comment but had not responded by the time of publication.
The vehicle involved in the incident has not yet been identified. Anyone with information about the collision is urged to contact the local police.
With repair timelines unclear, affected residents have called for increased communication from service providers to manage expectations during the outage.
“Bringing the community back online is a priority,” a local resident said. “We’re hoping Openreach can resolve the issue quickly and ensure it doesn’t happen again in future.”
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