Robert Lloyd - a Sir Gar Blog of random news . . . and some Clecs!

A community fundraiser who has rheumatoid arthritis has been actively supporting the Beat Flu campaign, encouraging those with long-term health conditions to get their free influenza (flu) vaccine. Tracy Beynon, from East Williamston near Tenby, has been having the flu vaccine since she was diagnosed with her condition nine years ago. Tracy, who works in the NHS said: “I run lots of charity events to raise money for Arthritis Research UK so I don’t want flu to stop me in my tracks this winter. “My symptoms are very similar to having flu and every day can be a struggle, so if I was to catch flu it could have a serious effect on my body. “The main treatment for my condition is immunosuppressant medication which lowers my immune system and makes me very susceptible to viruses. When people with my condition do catch bugs they don’t have the immunity to fight them, which can lead to illness spreading quickly, and in extreme cases have devastating consequences. “I understand that some peop...

The Triage and Treat service Tenby and Saundersfoot has now seen 26 patients. The Triage and Treat pilot service is being offered in specific community pharmacies to help you if you have had a low level injury. The service, believed to be the first in Wales, is being provided by a pharmacist or a member of the pharmacy team who has had special training. Dr. Phil Kloer Interim Executive Director of Primary Care, Community, Mental Health Services & Clinical Strategy visited the Triage and Treat service in Saundersfoot. He said “It was really impressive to see the enthusiasm of John and the team at The Pharmacy in Saundersfoot, where they are now able to provide care for people with low level injuries and minor illnesses in the locality. This is a really exciting development and shows the how important the expanded community pharmacy roles are for our local population.” The service is being piloted in two pharmacies: Glen Pharmacy, Gas Lane, Tenby SA70 4ES 8.30am–6.00pm Monday to ...

A pilot pharmacy service, believed to be the first of its kind in Wales, has helped ease pressure on the NHS. Severe sunburn, insect and jellyfish stings are just a few of the ailments already been treated by the new Triage and Treat service in Tenby and Saundersfoot. So far 21 people have been seen by this new service 15 of which were visitors and six were local residents. If this service had not been available 13 said they would have presented at a local medical practice, and five would have gone to A&E. The Triage and Treat service is being offered in specific community pharmacies to help you if you have had a low level injury. The service is being provided by a pharmacist or a member of the pharmacy team who has had special training. They will assess your injury or symptom and make a decision as to whether they can ‘treat’ you there or if you need to seek treatment from another healthcare professional. If the injury is too serious to be treated in the pharmacy you will be giv...

Tenby’s British Red Cross summer service is set to return. The service was successfully piloted over weekends and bank holidays last summer and will this year also operate during the week. It will be based at Tenby Hospital and be run by a group of skilled individuals who will use their experience of providing first aid at public events to give top quality care to people visiting the hospital. County director and commissioner for Pembrokeshire, Sue Lewis, said: “The pilot service last year proved very successful and we are delighted to commission this service again for this year but with increased hours.” Nigel Davies, senior services manager for the Red Cross, said: “Red Cross volunteers attend events ranging from sporting fixtures to stadium-sized rock concerts. When accidents happen or illnesses take hold, their knowledge can be vital in giving the appropriate treatment and preventing further injury.” The service will run from July 19 – September 7 and be open 10am-7pm on Saturdays,...

Selected pharmacists in Tenby and Saundersfoot are offering an enhanced service for tourists and residents this summer. The Triage + Treat service is a new service offered in specific community pharmacies to help you if you have had a low level injury. Some injuries can be treated successfully in the pharmacy rather than having to visit a doctor or an A&E Department. The service is being provided by a pharmacist or a member of the pharmacy team who has had special training. They will assess your injury or symptom and make a decision as to whether they can ‘treat’ you there or if you need to seek treatment from another healthcare professional. If the injury is too serious to be treated in the pharmacy you will be given advice about where to go. The types of injuries/symptoms that can be treated under this service are: Minor abrasions, superficial cuts and wounds  Sprains and strains  Eye complaints such as sand in the eye  Removal of items from the skin such as ...

Specialist nursing staff from Tenby MIU (minor injury unit) will be redeployed to support Withybush Hospital’s Emergency and Urgent Care Centre when the unit closes at 6pm on December 1, 2013. This is in line with the Hywel Dda Health Board’s decision made in January. GP Practices in Tenby and Saundersfoot will continue to provide a treatment room service for minor injuries for their registered patients. Patients will be treated in a timely and appropriate way but the service will not be “walk-in”; appointments will need to be made by contacting the surgeries. Glangwili and Withybush A&E Departments remain available for more serious injuries. A service was successfully trialled during the summer months of 2013 and it is our intention to work with local GPs and others to ensure a similar service is commissioned in future years. The impact of the closure will be closely monitored on a regular basis and reviewed with key stakeholders. Hywel Dda Health Board would like to rem...

A weekend summer service pilot run by the British Red Cross is continuing at Tenby Hospital. The pilot summer service provides people with treatment for injuries such as strains, sprains and insect bites, or illnesses such as minor allergic reactions. The Red Cross are also able to offer advice and triage services for other injuries and illnesses. For the first few weeks, the Red Cross service ran alongside the Minor Injury Unit with emergency nurse practitioners on site. This trial period has now ended and the Red Cross service has been evaluated as being safe and appropriate. During the evaluation period the Red Cross service only referred a small number of people to the MIU service. Hospital Director and Associate Medical Director for Quality and Safety at Hywel Dda Health Board, Dr Iain Robertson-Steel said: “We have looked carefully at the clinical need of the patients who have attended Tenby Hospital during the pilot period and it has been deemed that the Red Cross service is ...

Hywel Dda Health Board will provide care closer to home by providing minor injury services from community locations in future, and has listened to consultation feedback and will be providing an additional service for the peak tourist period for Tenby. During Your Health Your Future Consultation people were asked about transferring minor injury services currently provided at South Pembrokeshire and Tenby Hospitals to community based services. The extraordinary board meeting today (January 15) supported recommendations to commission enhanced access to primary care (community based) services, close the units and redeploy the specialist nursing staff to emergency services at Withybush Hospital. In recognition of concerns express regarding the increase in activity experienced at the Tenby Unit during the peak tourist season, a seasonal minor injuries service will initially be piloted for eight weeks from mid July to September (including weekends and Bank Holidays). The provider of the ...

There was plenty of individual success for Ashburnham Golf Club at the Trefloyne Junior Open near Tenby, with brother and sister Aled and Nia Greville winning their respective competitions. Ben Thomas was runner-up in the boys medal with a 75 net. Ellis Staines won the stabeleford competition by an impressive six-shot margin, with Tomos Davies the runner-up on 37 points.

Llanelli Rotarian Mark Evans completed the Carten 100 charity cycle ride from Cardiff to Tenby last weekend. He is pictured with fellow Rotarians and supporters just after completing the leg to Loughor Bridge. Since the inception of the Carten 100, a staggering £49,000 plus has been raised for charity.

A road closure is currently in place in the centre of Tenby. The closure affects Church Street and is part of the Tudor Square enhancement programme. The Pembrokeshire County Council scheme involves the construction - using high quality materials - of a new layout of the carriageway and footway within the Square. It has been necessary to close Church Street until next Friday (26th February) to carry out Welsh Water diversion works. It will also be closed from Tuesday, 2nd March to Tuesday, 16th March, to start on the enhancement works themselves. The road closures are necessary because the road in the region of the junction between Church Street and Tudor Square is too narrow to excavate half the carriageway and still maintain singleway traffic. Vehicles are being diverted clockwise via St. George's Street, Upper Frog Street, White Lion Street, High Street and Tudor Square. Vehicles are also being diverted anti-clockwise via Tudor Square, High Street, White Lion Street, South Parad...