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Pembrokeshire Herald
4 days ago
- Health
- Pembrokeshire Herald
Nine services under review as Health Board seeks public views ahead of major shake-up
A MAJOR consultation on the future of NHS clinical services in Pembrokeshire has been launched by Hywel Dda University Health Board, with residents being urged to have their say before proposals are finalised later this year. The wide-reaching consultation, announced on Thursday (May 29), focuses on nine hospital-based services across west Wales: critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology. The board says the review is essential to tackle what it calls 'service fragilities,' reduce waiting times, and improve standards across the region's health services. But the consultation could lead to significant changes in how and where care is delivered—raising concerns among some patients and campaigners in Pembrokeshire about future access to treatment. No changes to emergency departments or minor injury units are being proposed as part of this review. A separate consultation is ongoing regarding minor injuries care at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli. Public drop-in events have been scheduled across the region, with two key sessions in Pembrokeshire: one at HaverHub, Haverfordwest on Thursday 27 June (2:00pm–7:00pm) and another at Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock on Wednesday 10 July (3:00pm–6:00pm). A further event will take place at Tenby Leisure Centre on 4 July. Medical Director Mr Mark Henwood said the consultation is an important opportunity for residents to help shape the future of healthcare delivery in the county and beyond. 'No decisions have been made on the options presented, and there are currently no preferred solutions,' Mr Henwood said. 'We want to hear from staff, patients and the wider public about what they believe is the best way to secure safe, high-quality and affordable care for the people of west Wales.' 'We are especially keen to hear about any concerns, potential impacts, or alternative ideas that people may have. Your insights will help us make informed decisions that put patients' needs first.' The consultation will run until Saturday 31 August 2025. Feedback can be submitted via an online questionnaire, or by attending in-person or virtual engagement events. Full details, including the consultation documents and summaries of each proposed option, are available on the health board's website at: The Health Board says it will review all responses, as well as supporting evidence and clinical data, before any decisions are taken at a board meeting expected to take place in November 2025. The services under consultation are all areas facing significant pressure, long waiting times, or staffing challenges. The board's aim is to ensure long-term sustainability and equitable access—but the public's role in shaping that vision is, it says, vital. Public consultation events in Pembrokeshire: 27 June 2025 – HaverHub, Haverfordwest, SA61 1BG, 2:00pm–7:00pm – HaverHub, Haverfordwest, SA61 1BG, 2:00pm–7:00pm 4 July 2025 – Tenby Leisure Centre, SA70 8DU, 2:00pm–7:00pm – Tenby Leisure Centre, SA70 8DU, 2:00pm–7:00pm 10 July 2025 – Pater Hall, Pembroke Dock, SA72 6DD, 3:00pm–6:00pm
South Wales Argus
28-05-2025
- Health
- South Wales Argus
Penallta parkrun set to host diabetes awareness event
Donna, a dietitian with type 1 diabetes, and Karen, a respiratory nurse, helped to organise an event at the Penallta parkrun on Saturday, June 21. The event is a partnership between Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, Diabetes UK, and parkrun. They want to raise awareness of the illness, especially among the 8 per cent of adults with the condition in Gwent. Diabetes can lead to serious complications, including disability and death. Donna, who manages Community Dietetics at the Health Board and lives with type 1 diabetes, said: "I cannot wait to do the full parkrun at Penallta on the 21st June in support of Diabetes." Karen balances her roles as a grandmother and respiratory nurse, with helping out at her local parkrun. (Image: Aneurin Bevan University Health Board) She said, "I'd encourage anyone to go to their local parkrun, meet new people, get a bit fitter and live a longer, healthier life." Professor Tracy Daszkiewicz, director of public health for Gwent, said: "We are delighted to collaborate with Diabetes UK and parkrun to raise awareness about diabetes across Gwent".
Scotsman
19-05-2025
- Health
- Scotsman
Don't wait when there's an action to be raised
Time-bars are vital even in heart-wrenching cases Sign up to our Scotsman Money newsletter, covering all you need to know to help manage your money. Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... Time limits within which actions must be raised in Scotland are imposed for sound public policy reasons. Courts are often tasked with the unenviable exercise of applying the relevant legal principles to claims involving distressing circumstances. Take heed of the legal tale Steven Smart has to tell In Marlene Simpson and Faye Campbell v Dumfries and Galloway Health Board, the pursuers were the mother and sister of Michael Crossan, who died by suicide on 20 August 2019. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad On 20 December 2022, the pursuers raised an action against the Health Board, arguing its failure to provide appropriate care was the cause. The Health Board argued the action was time-barred, as it was raised outwith the three-year period permitted in Scotland. Section 18 of the relevant legislation lays down the circumstances in which the three-year time limit will commence. Section 19A provides the court with the power to override the time limit 'if it seems equitable to do so'. Within two weeks of the death, the pursuers sought legal advice and made a complaint to the Health Board, which resulted in a Serious Adverse Event Review (SAER). Following the outcome of the SAER, the pursuer's solicitors advised that in line with their business practice, the prospects of success were insufficiently high for them to continue acting but advised personal injury claims were subject to a three-year time limit. The first pursuer appealed the SAER to the Scottish Public Services Ombudsman (SPSO) on 6 July 202. The complaint was upheld on 28 October 2022. The SPSO decision was passed to solicitors and an action was raised on 20 December 2022. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Applying the relevant test, the Sheriff found that by 21 September 2019, the pursuers were aware the death was due to the actions of the Health Board. They had repeatedly been advised of the limitation period but had 'closed their minds to raising any proceedings until after the SPSO issued their final decision.' Even after the final decision was available, proceedings were not raised promptly. The sheriff sought to balance the prejudice to each party. If the extension was not granted, the pursuers would lose their right to pursue their claim. If it was, the Health Board would be prejudiced by the deterioration of evidence due to the passage of time. He refused to grant the extension in the circumstances and the action was dismissed. On appeal, it was held that it does not matter if a pursuer knew whether or not the acts or omissions were legally actionable. What is required is awareness that the death was capable of being attributed to those acts and omissions. This had to be a real possibility and not a fanciful one, a possible rather than probable cause. The Sheriff had not erred in identifying the starting date above. Furthermore, a pursuer relying on section 19A must satisfy the court that it should grant the remedy and provide an explanation for the delay which is sufficiently cogent to justify depriving a defender of a complete defence. It was within the Sheriff's discretion to find that this test was not met. The pursuers were advised repeatedly that they had a three-year period within which to raise litigation. Awaiting the decision of the Ombudsman was not justification not to raise proceedings. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad This sad case serves as a stark reminder of the necessity to understand and comply with relevant time limits to preserve a right of claim and that public policy will be given effect where appropriate, even in harrowing claims.
Leader Live
22-04-2025
- Health
- Leader Live
Report issued by coroner after death of Flintshire pensioner
John Gittins, Senior Coroner for North Wales East and Central, expressed concern about the situation following the death of a Mold pensioner. Patricia Ann Catterall, 81, had been a patient at Mold Community Hospital for 207 days before being transferred to the Cae Bryn Nursing Home, part of the Pendine Park care organisation, in Wrexham on June 11, 2024. Her condition deteriorated and on June 19 she was admitted to the Maelor Hospital where she was diagnosed as suffering from Hyperosmolar Hyperglycaemic Syndrome (HHS) – very high blood sugar levels – and sepsis. Her condition and co-morbidities meant she was unfit for aggressive treatment and she died on June 23. An inquest heard that whilst in hospital Mrs Catterall's blood sugar levels were checked three times a day in hospital in Mold but only once a day at the nursing home. In a Prevention of Future Deaths sent to the Pendine Park organisation and the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, the Coroner said: 'The process of assessment by the Nursing Home prior to the transfer of care to them was not sufficiently robust so as to ensure that all relevant information required for the safe care of a patient had not been received and assessed prior to the patient being received into their care. 'Evidence was received that in the majority of cases (post Covid) there are no face-to-face assessments prior to patient transfer and that the assessment is therefore dependent on the documentation supplied to the Nursing Home by the Health Board, which in some cases may result in not all relevant information being provided. 'In this instance evidence was given that the Nursing Home did not know that the deceased's blood sugar levels were monitored three times per day whilst in the care of the Health Board.' MOST READ: A spokesperson for the Cae Bryn nursing home said: 'It is clearly vitally important that a nursing home is given full and detailed information about a patient's needs when they are discharged from hospital and we will convey to the Coroner that we would support a tightening up of the handover procedure to ensure that hospitals pass on all the relevant information to the home so that the appropriate level of care can be provided.' Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing & Midwifery at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: 'I would like to offer my heartfelt condolences to the family for their loss. 'We are continually working to improve our services, and we will be responding to the coroner directly outlining the actions that we are taking.' The home owners and Health Board have until June 6 to respond, either explaining what steps have been taken to address the Coroner's concerns or why it is felt that no action is necessary.
