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Mums in Wales face shortfall in mental health services

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THOUSANDS of women in Wales who need specialist support for mental health problems during pregnancy or following birth are unable to access the care they need because of where they live. And others needing specialist inpatient care must receive it in England because Wales does not have a mother and baby inpatient unit for women suffering the most severe mental health conditions.

Perinatal mental health problems are one of the most common complications experienced during pregnancy and after birth with up to one in five women – and up to one in 10 dads affected. Symptoms include depression, anxiety, obsessive compulsive disorder, eating disorders and postpartum psychosis.

It means that in Wales more than 6,000 new mothers every year will experience a mental health problem during pregnancy or in the 12 months following the birth of their child. If left untreated, these conditions can have a devastating impact on women and their families, making it harder for parents to provide the care babies need for healthy social, intellectual and emotional development.

As the NSPCC launches its new campaign, Fight for a Fair Start, which calls for improved perinatal mental health provision, the charity has highlighted that Wales’s seven health boards have just one specialist health visitor and four specialist perinatal mental health midwives between them.

These roles can offer vital early help and continuity of care to mums and their families affected by perinatal mental health problems and help reduce demands on other services which have to support parents suffering problems.

The charity has also highlighted that new mothers experiencing the most severe perinatal mental health conditions are not able to access appropriate inpatient care in Wales because there is no mother and baby unit. Instead, women who need specialist inpatient care are either admitted for treatment in adult psychiatric wards – where they may be separated from their child – or in mother and baby units in England.

Launching Fight for a Fair Start today (19 July) NSPCC Cymru has called for:

  • Dedicated specialist perinatal mental health midwives and health visitors in each health board area, to help identify and support women and their families affected by perinatal mental health problems.
  • All women and their families to be able to access a mother and baby unit in Wales.
  • Greater investment in specialist services to ensure that all women and their families can access high quality specialist perinatal mental health services, wherever they live in Wales

Dr Sarah Witcombe-Hayes, Senior Policy Researcher at NSPCC Wales, said: “New mums and dads in Wales are still not receiving the mental health support that they need to give their babies the best start in life. Experiencing perinatal mental health problems can make it harder for parents to provide the sensitive and responsive care that babies need at such an important time, and that is why it is so crucial to have the right support in place for families.

“Access to this vital support should not be dependent upon where you live. Having at least one specialist mental health midwife and specialist perinatal mental health visitor in each health board in Wales would be a significant step towards ensuring that these problems are identified early and mums and their families receive the best care.

“Greater investment is also needed. The Welsh Government must make sure that all women and their families affected by the most serious problems can access potentially lifesaving treatment and support from a mother and baby unit in Wales when they need it.”

North Wales mum Sally Wilson developed postpartum psychosis in 2015 just days after the birth of her daughter Ella but was unable to access the locally-based help she needed such as a mother and baby unit. She said: “I experienced delusions, hallucinations and I was terrified I had harmed Ella but I was admitted to a general adult psychiatric unit, which was scary and traumatic, while Ella went home with my partner.

“In North Wales there weren’t any specialist perinatal mental health teams and no specialist mother and baby unit with the nearest two hours away in England. It took me a long time to access the correct treatment and not only did this have an impact on my recovery but it also affected early bonding with Ella.

“In the absence of specialist help, I was fortunate that my partner’s research background meant he was able to investigate evidence-based treatment options, I appreciate that is not the case for everyone. I also relied heavily on the charity Action on Postpartum Psychosis to help me recover. Ultimately, this saved my life.”

Dr Jess Heron, CEO of Action on Postpartum Psychosis added that they supported the NSPCC Campaign. She said: “Most women who develop Postpartum Psychosis will need admission to a specialist Mother and Baby Unit. It is not right that women who become ill in Wales have to be admitted far away from their families in England, or risk being separated from their infant.

“Psychiatric illness is the leading cause of maternal death in the postpartum year in the UK. We fully endorse the call made by NSPCC for women to have immediate access to a mother and baby unit within a reasonable distance of their home if they need it, and to have access to specialist care within perinatal mental health teams wherever they live.”

The NSPCC campaign has been supported by Jo Malone London who also fund direct services to new and prospective parents, focussing on supporting parents with their mental health problems to help them develop secure and healthy relationships with their children.

The NSPCC is inviting people to join the campaign by raising their voice and signing the Fight for a Fair Start petition.

 

Crime

Three more arrested after 18-year-old dies in Gorseinon crash

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Five people are now in custody following a collision involving a car and an off-road motorcycle

THREE more men have been arrested after an 18-year-old died following a collision between a car and an off-road motorcycle in Gorseinon.

South Wales Police were called to Pen Cae Crwn Road at around 12:58pm on Thursday, where the teenager, who is believed to have been from Swansea, was pronounced dead at the scene.

A second man, aged 19, was taken to hospital with injuries.

Two 18-year-old men were arrested on suspicion of murder on Thursday.

Police confirmed on Friday that a further three arrests had been made.

A 33-year-old man from Gorseinon was arrested on suspicion of murder.

A 38-year-old man from Gowerton and a 38-year-old man from Mount Pleasant were arrested on suspicion of assisting an offender.

The latest arrests bring the total number of people detained in connection with the investigation to five.

Several roads in the area remained closed on Friday morning while officers continued their investigation.

Cordons had been removed from some streets, although traffic cones, road signs and police tape remained at the roadside.

Gorseinon Rugby Club chairman Ian Murphy said the local community had been left in “deep shock”.

He said: “For youngsters to get involved in a tragedy like this is shocking and disturbing, very disturbing for us all.

“Everybody was talking about it. All the roads were closed by police and ambulances, so it took a while for it to sink in what was going on.

“We were aware that there might have been a chase involving a car and a motorbike, and the full tragedy unfolded from there.”

South Wales Police has not confirmed the circumstances leading up to the collision, and enquiries remain ongoing.

 

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Health

Hywel Dda patients waited average of 64 weeks for hip surgery

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Freedom of Information figures show more than 1,600 patients remained on the health board’s hip replacement waiting list in May

PATIENTS awaiting elective hip replacement surgery under Hywel Dda University Health Board waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year, according to newly released figures.

The average wait was equivalent to just over 64 weeks, significantly longer than the treatment times set out under Welsh NHS targets.

The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the health board by private healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.

In Wales, the stated aim is for 95% of patients to begin treatment within 26 weeks of referral, with no patient waiting longer than 36 weeks.

Hywel Dda confirmed that 1,608 patients were on its waiting list for hip replacement surgery as of May 28, 2026.

The health board also said 16 patients had been removed from the waiting list during the 2025/26 financial year after choosing to undergo treatment privately.

Hip replacement surgery is most commonly offered to people experiencing severe pain, stiffness and reduced mobility, often after other treatments such as physiotherapy, pain relief, injections and lifestyle changes have failed to provide sufficient relief.

Sara Gezdari, Head of Investor Relations at My Medical Gateway, said prolonged waits could have a serious effect on patients’ physical and emotional wellbeing.

She said: “Many people join NHS waiting lists after already spending months or years attempting to manage their condition through physiotherapy, pain relief medication, injections and lifestyle modifications.

“By the time surgery is recommended, they are often already struggling. The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life.”

She said patients waiting for surgery could experience increasing pain, disrupted sleep, reduced mobility, loss of independence, social isolation and worsening mental health.

Long waits could also have financial consequences, particularly for people whose employment relies on physical mobility.

Ms Gezdari added: “Many patients continue working despite severe symptoms. As pain worsens, productivity often falls. Some reduce their hours. Others leave work entirely.

“The consequences can be particularly significant for self-employed individuals who depend upon physical mobility to earn a living.”

My Medical Gateway said private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950.

The company, which connects UK patients with private hospitals in the European Union, said the average price offered by many European providers was approximately £9,088.

However, travelling abroad for medical treatment can involve additional considerations, including travel costs, insurance, post-operative care and arrangements if complications arise.

The Freedom of Information response was returned by Hywel Dda University Health Board on June 8, 2026.

 

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Education

Saundersfoot graduate secures teaching job before completing degree

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Local school placements helped Millie Brace gain the experience and connections needed to begin her career at Templeton Primary School

A SAUNDERSFOOT student is celebrating after graduating from the University of Wales Trinity Saint David and securing a teaching job in Pembrokeshire before completing her degree.

Millie Brace graduated this week with a BA in Primary Education with Qualified Teacher Status from UWTSD’s Carmarthen campus.

She will begin her first teaching post at Templeton Primary School in September.

Millie said the opportunity to remain close to home and complete placements in Pembrokeshire schools had been a major factor in her decision to study at UWTSD.

“I chose UWTSD because it allowed me to stay close to my family and continue living at home while studying, which was important to me,” she said.

“Another key reason was the opportunity to complete local teaching placements.

“I knew how competitive teaching jobs can be in Pembrokeshire, so gaining experience in local schools was a great way to build professional connections and develop an understanding of the schools and communities I want to work in.”

Her placements allowed her to gain experience in a range of classrooms and helped her develop the confidence needed to apply for teaching roles.

“Before graduating, I was delighted to secure a teaching position at an amazing primary school in my local area,” she said.

Millie praised the support she received from university staff, school mentors and teachers during her final placement at Lamphey Primary School.

“Although I had not previously taught that particular year group, I received fantastic support from my class mentors and staff at Lamphey Primary School,” she said.

“Their knowledge and experience, combined with the research and understanding I developed through my course and assignments, greatly increased my confidence.”

Millie said the flexibility of the degree allowed her to explore subjects linked directly to her classroom experience and professional development.

“My favourite thing about the course was the flexibility of the assignments,” she said.

“They allowed me to explore topics that genuinely interested me and focus on areas that reflected my personal development targets from placements.

“This made the work feel relevant to my experiences in the classroom and helped me connect theory with practice.”

She also valued the sense of community at the Carmarthen campus and the friendships she formed with other student teachers.

“One of the biggest challenges during my studies was adapting to different placement schools and managing the increasing expectations placed on me as I progressed,” she said.

“Each school had its own routines, approaches and learning environments.

“What helped me most was the support of other student teachers. We shared resources, exchanged ideas and helped each other with lesson planning and preparation.”

Outside her studies, Millie continued to enjoy the Pembrokeshire coastline, spending her spare time paddleboarding, walking her dog and learning to surf.

She said she would recommend UWTSD to anyone considering a career in teaching.

“The course provided excellent placement opportunities, allowing me to gain valuable experience in local schools and build professional connections that helped me secure a teaching job before graduating,” she said.

“I have also made friends for life, and the relationships I built have been one of the most rewarding parts of my university experience.”

Millie will now take the next step in her career when she joins Templeton Primary School at the beginning of the new academic year.

 

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