CONTROVERSIAL plans to centralise specialist baby care in West Wales have come into effect.

The new midwife-led unit has officially opened its doors at Carmarthen's Glangwili Hospital.

The unit, which is said to offer mums a home-from-home birthing experience, has four cots used solely for the purpose of providing extra care to babies nursed alongside their mothers.

Hywel Dda University Health Board tweeted: "The new Midwife Led Unit, Glangwili Hospital is now open. A similar facility is available at Bronglais and works will begin ASAP at Withybush."

The units will be staffed and managed by midwives who are experts in normal births. The midwife will have all the equipment and pain relief to support the birth.

The change, which has sparked protests outside the Senedd, means care for complex births will be moved from Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest to Glangwili Hospital.

Hywel Dda University Health Board and the Welsh Government said the changes would provide a better level of care.

Head of child and adolescent health services Isobel Hall said: "Having a sick or premature baby can be a stressful and upsetting times for mums.

"As part of the new services we are ensuring wherever possible babies and mums stay together as close as possible. Our highly trained specialist nurses will provide the high level of care needed by these tiny members of our community."

A PENSIONER dad and his son have appeared in the dock after a neighbour dispute ended in violence.

But Judge Peter Heywood said it was a great shame 75-year-old Norman Burgess and his 49-year-old son Simon had received their first criminal convictions.

He said he had no doubt that provocation by the victims, Mandy Suggett and Steven Penhorwood, had led to the attack.

Prosecutor Huw Rees said Mr Penhorwood was driving to his then home in Brynhyfryd last September when Simon Burgess approached him and using a wooden plank, hit his car window, causing it to smash.

He then used that plank to hit Mr Penhorwood again on his arm.

Mr Penhorwood drove off, but Simon Burgess followed him to his home where he smashed glass in the door. They began arguing and Norman Burgess arrived and both defendants attacked Miss Suggett, punching, kicking and striking her with a piece of wood on her leg.

Mr Penhorwood was left with superficial wounds on his cheekbone and leg. Miss Suggett received an injury to her leg.

In her statement, she said she was left scared to leave the house and police had installed a panic alarm. Mr Penhorwood said he now has flashbacks and felt guilty for not being able to protect Miss Suggett. They have since moved from Lynsdale Road.

John Hipkin, for Simon Burgess, said his client had reacted after his elderly parents were abused by the pair, adding: "He became involved because of the extreme provocation over a long period of time. He has, in effect, over-reacted in a protective way for his elderly parents."

Steven Rees, for Norman Burgess, said his client had also been provoked both in person and via abusive messages left on social media.

During the sentencing, Mr Penhorwood was told to leave court by Judge Heywood after an outburst and warned if there had been a police officer nearby, he would have faced charges for contempt of court.

Another supporter of the pair was also ordered to leave court with Judge Heywood telling him: "Don't glower at me or I'll come and arrest you myself." Other neighbours were also warned about their behaviour after addressing — and criticising — the judge directly during court.

The court heard police had visited the Burgess family after they complained about their neighbours and told them to keep a log of incidents — which added up to several different incidents.

At a hearing in front of city magistrates, a restraining order was made preventing Mr Penhorwood and Miss Suggett from contacting the Burgesses. Norman Burgess admitted affray and received four months, Simon Burgess admitted affray and criminal damage, receiving six months. Both terms were suspended for 12 months.

"You are of impeccable character and held in high regard by all that know you. I hope you can now all draw a line under this incident," he said.

Speaking after the verdict, Miss Suggett said: "I'm absolutely disgusted with the outcome. From the outset it's like I've been treated as the criminal and not the victim."

NEW coach Wayne Pivac has already introduced a bit of Kiwi thinking to the Scarlets ahead of the new season.

The former Auckland coach, who is poised to replace departing head coach Simon Easterby, has only been in Llanelli a couple of weeks, but has been quick to make his mark on the squad in pre-season.

"Wayne has been with us for two weeks now and has brought a couple of fresh ideas," said prop Phil John.

"He is an experienced coach who has been coaching a good team in New Zealand. At the moment we are working on what we did last year with a few tweaks from Wayne, but as the season goes on I think you will see more changes."

Easterby is set to take up his position as Ireland forwards coach in October, handing over the reins to Pivac and backs coach Mark Jones.

In the meantime, he remains fully focused on ensuring the Scarlets hit the ground running in the 2014-15 season.

"It does help that Simon is still here and he is still a massive part of training, he has by no means switched off," added loose-head John, who is heading into his 15th season in a Scarlets jersey.

"He is helping Mark and Wayne along the way plus also taking a few sessions himself. Simon joined the Scarlets as a player the season before I joined, I have known him for 14 or 15 years, he is a great professional, was a great player and is a great coach as well.

"Every player has got international aspirations and the same goes for coaches. It would have been silly for him to turn down an offer like that."

John also revealed he has no plans to hang up his boots after enjoying one of his best ever campaigns last term.

"We have got a great group of youngsters that are keep pushing me on, I am not ready to hang the boots up yet. I think I have a couple of years left," added the 33-year-old.

Robert Lloyd

FORMER Wales and Newcastle striker Malcolm Allen reckons Swansea City could face a long battle against relegation this season.

Allen says the loss of key players such as Michu, Michel Vorm and Ben Davies this summer, will be detrimental to Swansea's hopes — and has also highlighted Garry Monk's lack of experience as a potential problem.

Allen, who will be at Swansea thos weekend as part of S4C's coverage of the friendly with Villarreal, said: "I know that many Swans fans will disagree with me, but I think that Swansea will find it tough this season. They must have a good start or they will face an uphill struggle to avoid relegation from the Premier League.

"The Swans have an inexperienced young manager and have lost several key players. It will be hard to find players to fill the boots of Davies, Michu and Vorm.

"But if they can get a good start — which includes an emphatic win in this friendly — it could give the players a great deal of confidence. It will be an entertaining battle against Villarreal, a side that been among the best in La Liga over the years but that are still re-establishing themselves in the Primera after one season in the lower division in 2012-13."

The Villarreal match will be available for viewing online on S4C's website from 3pm. And viewers can watch the game in full on Sunday at 4pm on S4C's football show Sgorio.

Thomas Hughes

SIX Swansea parents of children who continually skip school found themselves in front of city magistrates yesterday.

The parents, who can't be named for legal reasons, were being prosecuted for charges under the Education Act 1996 for failing to ensure their child's attendance at school.

The six pupils, ranging from primary school age to a year 10, were all girls and pupils at schools in Swansea.

They had attendance records of between 60.4 per cent and 64.3 per cent over five or six month periods during the last school year.

Five of the parents pleaded guilty to the offence, while another faces a trial next month after denying the charge.

Susan Griffiths, an education welfare officer for Swansea Council, helped bring the prosecutions against all six parents.

She told magistrates that child welfare officers had tried to work with each of the families and schools in order to improve the attendance of each child. Four of the five parents who pleaded guilty were given a 12 month conditional discharge and warned they would reappear in court if their child's attendance did not improve.

Chairman of the bench, Eddy Williams, told one parent: "You will be liable to be punished again if you are called back to this court."

Another, who did not attend court claiming by letter that she was not well enough to attend, was fined £73 and ordered to pay £80 costs and £20 surcharge.

A spokeswoman for Swansea Council said: "Parents have a clear, legal responsibility to ensure that their children attend school.

''Schools and local authority support services work closely together to support any parents who have genuine difficulty in getting their children to school.

"Prosecution is only used as a last resort. In these cases it's for the court to decide whether parents have failed in their responsibilities and what the appropriate penalty should be.

"The vast majority of parents work in partnership with their schools to make sure their children go to school regularly."

#sleepyselfie#thursday#dog#woofpic.twitter.com/eDZiI3PgBr

— Ruby (@ruby_staffie) July 10, 2014

CONCERNS have been raised about the increasing number of thefts and acts of vandalism in Skewen.

Residents say cars in the Skewen area have been targeted by young vandals, who have been attempting to steal from parked vehicles.

Skewen resident Aled Wilcox said his vehicle was targeted by vandals in the early hours of Friday, August 1.

He said: "A spate of damage and attempted thefts occurred in the early hours.

"My van was parked outside my house, when at 4.35am we heard voices that caused us to look out the window where four youths were inside the van.

"I gave chase on foot but then went back to the van and searched the streets for the youths."

Mr Wilcox said his partner called the police and she was told there were four police units on the way.

"I found a traffic car parked up on the road where I stopped to talk to him but at that point the four males walked around the corner.

"The officer said I needed to go home and talk to the other officers, which I did."

At this week's Coedffranc Central Pact meeting residents, including Mr Wilcox, raised concerns about the rise in thefts and vandalism to cars in the area.

Mr Wilcox said he asked why he had no contact with the police following the incident with his van.

"The PCSO then checked the incident and reported back saying the update was that the youths had made off and area search was negative."

Mr Wilcox said he was concerned that no further action had apparently been taken by the officers.

Coedffranc Central councillor Arthur Davies said there had been problems with cars being damaged in the upper Cardonnel Road area.

He said: "It has been on going for the last month or so.

"People are damaging cars and trying to steal things from cars in that area of Cardonnel Road."

Mr Davies, who was at the Pact meeting, said police officers in Skewen were going to make the issue a priority.

"The police are on to the matter and have got it in hand at present.

"They are aware of these issues and they are keeping an eye on it," Mr Davies added.

Police Sergeant Tim Barrell said: "We are aware that there has been an unusually high number of incidents in the Skewen area recently, and have been working tirelessly to track down those responsible.

"In the meantime, we remind residents in these areas to ensure their homes, garden sheds and garages are secure as locking windows and doors significantly reduces the opportunity for thieves.

"Anyone who may have been the victim of crime or have information that would assist our investigations are asked to contact us on 101."

Rebecca Jones / rebecca.jones@swwmedia.co.uk / @jonesrebeccaj

A woman from Bridgend accidentally set her house on fire when a spider entered the premises.

The Kenfig Hill resident had called a relative for help to get rid of the creepy crawly and, after trying to kill it with an aerosol, set it on fire.

No one was hurt, but the fire service was called to deal with the blaze which quickly spread from the spider to the building itself. 

South Wales Fire and Rescue Service has now advised locals that there are better methods of dealing with unwanted arachnids.

There is no information yet on whether the spider survived.

When attempting to remove spiders from properties, please dont use lit aerosols. #SWControl NR

— SW Fire & Rescue (@SWFireandRescue) August 6, 2014

A more open and honest culture is needed within NHS Wales if the handling of complaints is to improve, according to the National Assembly's Health and Social Care Committee.

The Committee heard that people admire and value the NHS, and that in the majority of cases, their experiences are positive. However it was concerned to hear that when things do go wrong, there appears to be a culture of "lockdown" within NHS Wales. The Committee recognises the steps that many local health boards and NHS trusts in Wales are taking to improve complaints handling, though witnesses described a complaints process still characterised by a sense of defensiveness from staff handling complaints, and fear from staff, patients and relatives wishing to raise them. The Committee has called on the Minister to require all local health boards and trusts to take immediate steps to ensure that all staff are encouraged and supported to raise concerns without fear of reprisal, and to ensure that concerns receive an adequate response.

The Committee believes that strengthened accountability and leadership are essential to ensure that all complaints are handled properly and that lessons are learnt so that services can be improved. It has called on the Minister to identify mechanisms to raise and maintain complaints' status within local health boards and trusts, and to ensure that complaints handling performance is effectively measured and monitored.

"The Committee recognises that the overwhelming majority of people's experiences of NHS Wales are positive," said David Rees AM, Chair of the Health and Social Care Committee.

"But we believe that, on the rare occasions when things go wrong, the way complaints are handled needs significant improvement.

"Complaints should be treated openly, transparently and in a timely manner. Those making complaints, whether staff or patients, should feel able to do so without fear that their careers or care could be adversely affected as a consequence.

"We welcome the evidence we heard that many health boards and trusts are already trying to bring about the culture change we believe is required, but there is more which should be done to make what is already a difficult time for all involved much less distressing."

The Committee has set out its main findings in a letter to the Minister for Health and Social Services and will revisit the issue before the end of this Assembly in 2016 to find out what progress has been made.

More information about the Health and Social Care Committee can be found here.

More information about the inquiry into NHS complaints processes can be found here.

Bath Rugby are trying a new tactic ahead of their upcoming match against the Scarlets: lock Dominic Day has been teaching some of his team mates a few Welsh words to get into the mindset of their Llanelli rivals.

Day - a former Scarlet and Pembrokeshire native - says that the key word master class will help the Bath players pick up on the Scarlets' manoeuvres on the pitch.

But educating Ross Batty, Carl Fearns and Juan Pablo Orlandi wasn't easy: "I was teaching a Geordie, a Scouser and an Argentinean how to speak Welsh," he said. 

"It was never going to be easy, but we got there. The boys are now ready for Scarlets." 

The Scarlets will be heading to the Rec on Saturday August 16.

Ruth Dawson / ruth.dawson@swwmedia.co.uk / @Ruth_Dawson

Planning a trip to the National Eisteddfod in Llanelli? Take a look at these full listings to find out what's on when you're there.

THE future of Swansea's landmark Palace Theatre is still in doubt — despite the council offering its owners a £75,000 grant for emergency repair work.

The cash was offered in April but the Kent-based owners have so far not confirmed whether they will accept it, or whether any repairs will be done.

The money was intended for essential work including making the theatre water-tight, repairing the roof and removing vegetation which is damaging the brickwork.

Meanwhile the local authority said it was still in contact with the owners of another crumbling landmark, Morriston's Danbert House.

A Swansea Council spokesman said: "We don't own the Palace Theatre or Danbert House. These buildings are privately-owned and their owners are responsible for their upkeep.

"We have offered the Palace Theatre's owners a grant to help fund emergency works at the building but they've yet to confirm their intentions.

"The area of pavement by the theatre that's currently closed will continue to be cordoned-off until these works have been carried out."

He added: "We'll be contacting the owners of Danbert House shortly once again to look at what more can be done to help prevent further decay and ensure its future preservation. Our officers also respond to dangerous structure reports there and ensure necessary work is undertaken."

Built in 1888, the grade two-listed Palace Theatre on High Street saw the likes of Charlie Chaplin, Laurel and Hardy, and Morecombe and Wise tread its boards — it later became a bingo hall and a night club, but has been left empty and decaying since 2006.

Danbert House on Morfydd Street, also a two-listed structure, was built in the 1880s for Daniel Edwards, who founded Morriston's famous Dyffryn Tinplate Works.

Jason Evans / jason.evans@swwmedia.co.uk / @EvansTheCrime

A SWANSEA hospital has transformed its aftercare for people who have had kidney transplants.

Previously, a hospital consultant would have asked the patient's GP to prescribe anti-rejection medicines for collection from a local pharmacy.

But because the patients come from a very large geographical area, there had been the potential for problems such as delays in changing their treatment.

So, now, the renal medicines service, based in the Morriston unit, is responsible for the prescription, supply and monitoring of anti- rejection medication for kidney transplant patients.

Renal pharmacist Owain Brooks said: "A patient can let us know maybe two weeks before their next appointment here that they are running low on certain medication.

"When they arrive we have the medication ready for them so there is no waiting at the pharmacy."

Janet Williams and Lisa Morgan both had kidney transplants eight years ago. They were part of a group consulted when a bilingual information booklet on the new medication service was drafted.

Retired teacher Ms Williams, from Abercrave, was first referred to Morriston in 1993. Her chronic kidney disease meant she was on dialysis from 2001 until 2006, when she had her transplant.

She said: "The standard of care has been absolutely excellent. It has been first class. Everyone in the unit has been supportive and informative. They have all been absolutely wonderful. I cannot praise them enough."

Ms Morgan, from Llanelli, also praised the care provided by the Morriston team, saying it meant she could continue with her job as head of the infants' unit at Swiss Valley County Primary School.

Lisa said she felt the new approach to prescribing, supplying and monitoring medication had its advantages, adding: "It is better this way. If you have any questions you can ask someone face to face."

Amy Downward / amy.downward@swwmedia.co.uk / @Amy_SWalesPost

A PENSIONER has said she has been left cut off after a bus service she used daily into Swansea was axed.

Rene Evans, of Rhyd-y-Felin, said she helped to introduce the 32 bus service 15 years ago after joining a campaign for transport in the area.

The 79-year-old said she was upset and angry to hear the service was being removed.

She added: "I get the bus into town most days and rely on it to get my groceries.

"A lot of elderly people who cannot drive use the service and found it very helpful.

"It used to come once an hour so was very convenient. I use a three wheeled trolley and cannot walk far so a bus stop opposite me was ideal.

"Now I have to walk further if I want to get it which is very hard for me."

A spokeswoman for First Cymru said the bus service 32 was being removed but services 31 and 33 — which provide services between Swansea, Trallwn, Birchgrove and Morriston Hospital — would remain.

She said: "Rhyd-y-Felin will lose direct access to buses, but alternatives will be available a short walk away from Heol Dalycopa.

"The change is necessary because buses are finding it difficult to turn in Rhyd-y-Felin."

Mrs Evans added: "I am now worried about the winter months to come when getting around is even more difficult.

"I will have to order taxis instead which can be very costly.

"I petitioned for this service to start 15 years ago as there was a need and many people were supportive of starting the service.

"We are all very disappointed with the decision to stop the service."

Owen Williams, business manager for First Cymru in West Wales, added: "We are making a series of changes to our services.

"In many areas the alterations are designed to improve the overall punctuality and reliability of the routes we operate.

" There are some more significant changes too though — for instance where the operation of a tendered service changes from one operator to another, and where new routes are being established.

"We would encourage all our customers to check carefully how they may personally be affected by the changes being made."

Amy Downward / amy.downward@swwmedia.co.uk / @Amy_SWalesPost

Two safes which were stolen from the National Eisteddfod's visitor centre have been found empty.

The safes were taken from the Llanelli site overnight between August 4 and 5; around £6,000 is said to have been stolen.

Dyfed-Powys Police has confirmed that the empty safes were found near the Eisteddfod grounds on Tuesday afternoon. 

The incident is still undergoing investigation.

A CARMARTHENSHIRE dad will be sleeping on the streets in New York later this year to raise money for people affected by autism.

Tom Nasmyth-Shaw, from Burry Port, was inspired to raise money for families affected by autism after his son, Jack, was diagnosed with the condition last year.

Following his son's diagnosis, Tom and his wife Kelly decided to help other families to gain access to early intervention therapies for autism, saying it was vital for a child's future development.

Tom said: "After that, we had a lot of things for Jack, like speech therapy and other early intervention therapies, which cost a lot of money.

"You can't get them on the NHS so we had to pay thousands. So, I came up with the idea to fundraise for families in the same situation."

Tom's campaign is known as Week on the Street and has seen him spend a week sleeping rough in both Swansea and London, in his bid to raise money and awareness for the importance of early intervention therapies in Autism.

"I wanted to do something different to get people talking about autism and it just took off," he said.

So far, his campaign has raised £25,000 for the cause in less a year.

He said: "£25,000 is a massive figure especially because it was just an idea a year ago."

Now, 29-year-old has quit his job and is now working full time to raise money for families whose children have or could be diagnosed with autism.

After spending a week sleeping rough in London last year, Tom described the challenge as "mentally draining and overwhelming", but now he will be taking on his biggest task yet by spend seven nights sleeping on New York's streets in October.

"It's a difficult ask, but hopefully it will goes as well as London," he added.

To support Tom in his fundraising bid you can visit weekonthestreet.co.uk, or Week on the Street on Facebook or you can tweet @weekonthestreet

Rebecca Jones / rebecca.jones@swwmedia.co.uk / @jonesrebeccaj

THE community of Glynneath is coming together to help people in need with the opening of a new foodbank next month.

Talks to open the crisis help facility for people struggling to feed themselves began in March. But now organisers say they are closer than ever to making it a reality.

Despite no official opening date yet, the new foodbank is expected to open at the end of the month or possibly early in September.

The foodbank, which will provide those in crisis with 3 day's worth of non-perishable foods, will be housed at Peniel Church in New Street.

Chairman of the foodbank's steering group Gerwyn Thomas said plans for the service were going well.

He said volunteers had already taken part in a food collection at Tesco in Ystradgynlais, where 1,500kg of food was donated.

Mr Thomas said: "We already have 33 supporters from the village, and we are very, very pleased with the support that we are getting."

He said the next stage was to get in touch with voucher holders including rehab organisations, who will be giving vouchers to those in need of support.

"We are going to be going to independent organisations, because they will be able to see the specific needs of people," he added.

"They will be able to issue vouchers on up to three occasions and each voucher would give enough food to cover three days."

Mr Thomas said the group were able to set up the foodbank with the help of funding from local churches, along with money from the Aberpergwm Trust and the Cellar Trust Fund.

Organisers have placed food collection boxes in all of the churches in Glynneath and they are also planning to place boxes in schools and shops.

Mr Thomas said it was sad that the area needed a foodbank. "It is tragic. Circumstances are such that we need things like this."

Rebecca Jones / rebecca.jones@swwmedia.co.uk / @jonesrebeccaj

MORE infant and junior schools across Neath Port Talbot are set to be merged under plans to bring education into the 21st Century.

At a cabinet and cabinet scrutiny committee meeting last week, members voted to begin consultations into plans to amalgamate schools in Neath and Port Talbot.

Central Infant and Junior and Neath Abbey Infants and Mynachlog Nedd Juniors are proposed to be turned into two primary schools.

Andrew Thomas, head of resources and commissioning, told councillors the governing bodies of all schools had been met with, and no issues had been raised about them joining together.

Talking about Central he said the local authority recommended that both schools could further improve outcomes for children in 2013, adding: "Amalgamation would enable infant and junior staff to work together to develop a consistent approach to curriculum planning and assessment.

"Both schools are currently working on raising attendance levels."

He said the two schools currently share a head teacher.

Current pupil numbers for both schools is 426.5, but the projected number for the primary school would be 418.

The proposal to establish a primary school to replace Neath Abbey Infants and Mynachlog Nedd Junior School will utilise the existing buildings, including the offsite early years unit in Longford.

The primary school will open on September 1, 2015.

Mr Thomas added: "Both are successful schools and have been judged by Estyn as having good outcomes for pupils during recent inspections.

"The headteacher and the temporary governing body will be responsible for determining the staffing structure for the new school.

"However, the council will be working to secure the employment of staff from the existing schools."

A six-week consultation into the two proposals will be held from next month.

The move is the latest in a number of other school mergers across the county as part of the authority's 21st Century schools plan.

FORMER managers of a Neath town centre pub have taken over the town's rugby clubhouse.

Keith and Tracy Hatherall took over the management of Neath RFC's clubhouse a month ago, and say they've already received positive feedback.

They previously ran the Bear Pub in the town. 

Mr Hatherall said: "Both Tracy and I regard it is an honour to be the new club stewards of Neath Rugby.

"As soon as we came on board it was pretty clear of the changes that needed to be made to return the establishment to its former glories.

"This is a totally new management and new dawn for the club house and we welcome every one to come in and experience for themselves the new changes."

Changes at the club include a new sports bar, refurbished the Brian Thomas suite and a pitch side beer garden.

One of the people to experience the new changes is director of rugby, Rowland Phillips.

"The whole feel of the club has certainly changed in the last month," he said.

"I've established my favourite place in the Brian Thomas Suite, sat just underneath a giant picture of me lifting the Premiership league cup.

"It's also important that the squad become integrated into the Club house and socialise with the loyal Neath supporters.

"Having consulted with Keith and Tracy I've re-established the tradition that the players will now re-hydrate and re-fuel in the club after training."