Health
Local teen Elly honoured for remarkable hospital fundraising efforts
13-YEAR-OLD Elyn Neville, known by many as Elly, has become the youngest recipient of the New Year’s Honours in the county’s history.
The Withybush Hospital advocate has been awarded a British Empire Medal (BEM) for her exceptional contributions to charitable services for cancer patients and cancer services in Pembrokeshire.
Elly’s journey began at the tender age of five and a half when she embarked on a fundraising mission, initially raising £500 for the cancer ward at Withybush Hospital, where her father received critical cancer treatment. Now, years later, Elly stands as the face of a monumental fundraising appeal that has amassed an impressive £210,339.21 for the enhancement of cancer services at Withybush Hospital, alongside an additional £16,500 for children’s services.
At the heart of Elly’s philanthropy is the ‘Ward 10 Flag’ campaign, a tireless four-year effort by Elly and the Neville family. Commencing with a flag crafted from bottle tops for a junior school project, the campaign grew exponentially, garnering support not only from the local community but also from notable celebrities who played a pivotal role in reaching the staggering fundraising total.
The funds raised, including generous contributions from companies such as Hasbro, have significantly impacted the Withybush Hospital Cancer Ward. Originally envisioned as an initiative to purchase cushions and rugs for the ward, Elly’s vision evolved into a comprehensive refurbishment of Ward 10, completed in 2019. The revamped facility now caters specifically to oncology and haematology patients, as well as those with complex palliative care needs.
Elly expressed her joy at receiving the BEM, stating, “It is amazing to be given a BEM and a big surprise. I am just really happy to have been able to help people who are going through cancer like my dad did.” Her father, Lyn Neville, shared in the pride, remarking, “We are just so very proud of all that Elly has achieved.”
The Pembrokeshire Herald has extensively covered Elly Neville’s extraordinary journey, from the humble beginnings of her junior school project to the monumental success of the Ward 10 Flag Appeal. Elly’s fundraising legacy is now immortalised in the newly refurbished Ward 10, where her flag proudly resides, symbolising hope, resilience, and the power of community-driven initiatives.
Health
Bathing water samplers set for a busy season of water quality checks
WHILE families across Wales start making plans for the summer, samplers from Natural Resources Wales (NRW) are embarking on their annual programme of bathing water quality tests.
This year, there are 110 designated bathing waters which will be sampled multiple times between 15th May-30th September, in line with the UK Bathing Water Regulations. 109 of these are coastal waters, and one inland lake (Llyn Padarn).
Last month the Welsh Government announced that Nefyn Beach in Gwynedd had been added to the list of designations, following a successful application.
Bathing water samples are sent to NRW’s laboratory in Swansea, where they are tested for levels of Escherichia coli (E. coli) and intestinal enterococci (IE).
Results from a four-year rolling period then determine the classification for the next bathing water season; excellent, good, satisfactory or poor.
Last year, 98% of Wales’s designated bathing waters met stringent environmental standards, with 80 out of 109 meeting the ‘excellent’ criteria.
Clare Pillman, Chief Executive of NRW said:
“More and more people are enjoying the benefits of open water swimming, and where better to take a dip than at one of the many fantastic bathing waters Wales has to offer.
“Our blue waters offer a wealth of recreation opportunities, providing a vital boost to Wales’ tourism sector and the health and well-being of our communities.
“Our teams continue to work hard to tackle the many sources of pollution which threaten our water quality, including from agriculture and storm overflows. Much progress is being made, and we are pressing for record levels of water company investment for the environment in the coming years to safeguard the future health of our waters.”
Prior to the start of the traditional bathing water season, NRW officers undertake a number of pre-season checks and samples. This includes checking to ensure permit conditions for nearby discharges are being complied with.
Issues or deteriorations flagged in last year’s results are investigated by local teams to identify any sources of pollution which may be contributing to high bacteria levels found in samples.
Information about where to find designated bathing waters, and the standard of bathing water is available on NRW’s website.
Visit the Adventure Smart website for information about swimming safely in open waters.
Health
Calls for Welsh Govt to improve both maternity and neonatal safety
LEADING pregnancy charities have urged the Welsh Government to take stronger measures to enhance maternity and neonatal services, in order to realise the substantial changes necessary to reduce infant mortality. The Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit released a revealing report today, stating that initiatives in Wales are inadequate to instigate the vital transformation required to prevent baby deaths.
The report, titled “Saving Babies’ Lives 2024: Progress Report,” notes that strides toward diminishing stillbirths and neonatal deaths have halted in Wales, mirroring a stagnant situation across the UK. The findings suggest that with improved care, as many as 800 infant lives could have been saved throughout the UK last year. The document emphasises the urgent need for meaningful action to tackle the severe and enduring disparities in baby loss and pregnancy complications across different demographic groups.
Particularly alarming is the continuing disparity in outcomes for infants from varied ethnic backgrounds and socio-economic statuses. The report underscores that the stillbirth rate in Wales has exceeded that of any other UK nation since 2014, with minimal improvement in neonatal mortality rates over the past decade. Unlike England, which aims to halve the rates of stillbirth, neonatal death, preterm birth, maternal death, and brain injury by 2025 relative to 2010, Wales has set no similar goals.
Moreover, the report criticises the Welsh Government for the insufficient number of reviews conducted following infant deaths, which are crucial for understanding potential lessons and providing grieving parents with needed explanations.
Robert Wilson, head of the Sands and Tommy’s Joint Policy Unit, commented, “Our report unequivocally shows that the Welsh Government must establish clear targets for reducing pregnancy loss and baby deaths, and for eliminating inequalities. These targets should catalyse a thorough suite of policy measures, adequately supported by necessary funding and resources.”
The report provides specific recommendations to enhance maternity safety in Wales, including the consistent involvement of staff and patients, especially bereaved parents, in assessing the quality of maternity and neonatal services. It also calls for transparent and independently overseen reviews of individual services, and improvements in the completion rate of reviews following a baby’s death.
The Joint Policy Unit is advocating for a unified commitment across all four UK nations to eradicate inequalities in pregnancy and baby loss. Disturbingly, the 2021 data revealed that the rate of stillbirths and neonatal deaths among Black babies was almost double that of White babies, and significantly higher than the overall UK rate. This disparity was similarly stark between the most and least deprived areas in the UK.
The report also highlights that only about 2% of public and charity health research funding has been allocated to reproductive health and childbirth over the last two decades, signalling a need for increased investment in these crucial areas.
Charity
Charitable donations fund ambulatory heart monitors for Withybush Hospital
THANKS to generous donations, Hywel Dda Health Charities – the official charity of Hywel Dda Health Board – has funded 10 ambulatory heart monitors worth over £13,000 for Withybush Hospital’s Cardio-Respiratory Department.
The monitors are compact devices which are used to assess a patient’s heart rate and rhythm for a sustained amount of time.
The state-of-the-art monitors will help the Cardio-Respiratory Department provide the best possible service, with accurate, efficient and timely arrhythmia recognition provided on site or at home.
Rhys Bowen, Advanced Cardiac Physiologist, said: “We are so grateful that charitable donations from the local community have enabled us to buy the new monitors.
“The monitors are more adaptable to each patient’s presenting symptoms which will enhance the quality of the data gathered.
“They are more patient-friendly and easier to wear for the duration of the test, so there will be less need for repeat monitoring. They will also support quicker in-patient discharge due to an increase in the number of available monitors and the fact they can be worn by the patient at home and provide remote monitoring.”
Nicola Llewelyn, Head of Hywel Dda Health Charities, the official charity of Hywel Dda University Health Board, said: “The support of our local communities enables us to provide services over and above what the NHS can provide in the three counties of Hywel Dda and we are extremely grateful for every donation we receive.”
For more details about the charity and how you can help support local NHS patients and staff, visit here.
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