News

 

OFFICIAL LAUNCH OF THE PEMBROKESHIRE CANCER COPS - 24/11/11

PEMBROKESHIRE CANCER C.O.P.S. LAUNCH

A new Pembrokeshire Pressure Group, the Cancer C.O.P.S. (Care of Pembrokeshire Services), was launched on 24th November to raise awareness of the diminished status of Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest since the partnership of the three counties – Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Cardiganshire which is now called the Hywel Dda Health Trust.

The founders of this group are Ann Tadman and Mary Mantle who is a patient attending the Cancer Day Unit at Withybush Hospital.  Patients have been waiting for a new state of the art Cancer Day Unit that has been promised for many years, much of the funding for which has been raised by the Charity Adam’s Bucketful of Hope.  We now find that Carmarthen’s Glangwili Hospital, with much trumpeting in the Carmarthen Journal (Sept 14th edition) has announced a £300,000 extension to their already built Cancer Day Care Unit.

The group are concerned that Charity Funds which Pembrokeshire people have been generously donating over the years are not being used for Pembrokeshire facilities.  The group will make the Hywel Dda management accountable to the Pembrokeshire public by asking (under the Freedom of Information Act) for complete disclosure of Charitable Funds Accounts.  The information will then be made available to the Pembrokeshire Public through our facebook site at

www.facebook.com/pages/Pembrokeshirecancercops/258468680865276

The event was hosted by Mayor Cllr Ellen Repton at the Mayors Parlour in Haverfordwest.  Mrs Mantle stated that, “the Cancer Day Unit at Withybush takes on more patients than any other hospital in the area and it’s being left behind, if it isn’t done now it will be a disgrace”.  Mrs Tadman added that, “it has been eight years since they said there would be a new Cancer Day Unit.  The nursing staff are wonderful and must have the best facilities to work in”.

Full backing to the Pressure Group has come from Pembrokeshire Cancer Support, Adam’s Bucketful of Hope and The Marpet Fund; other groups have also expressed an interest to get involved.  Lyn Neville, who is the Coordinator of Pembrokeshire Cancer Support and a CDU patient, said that “patients, carers and concerned members of the Pembrokeshire public must fight to maintain and improve the Cancer Services on offer at Withybush Hospital”.

 

  

Blue Badge Scheme

Blue badge

The Blue Badge scheme provides a range of parking benefits for disabled people who travel either as drivers or as passengers.

You can apply for a badge if you:

  • are receiving the higher rate of the Mobility Component of the Disability Living Allowance
  • are receiving a War Pensioner’s Mobility Supplement
  • use a motor vehicle supplied by a government health department
  • are a registered blind person
  • you have a permanent disability, which means you are unable to walk or have considerable difficulty in walking. In this case you may be asked to answer a series of questions and a form will be sent out to your doctor to help the local authority determine whether you are eligible for a badge. People with a psychological disorder will not normally qualify unless their impairment causes very considerable and not intermittent difficulty in walking.

Please note: Children under two years of age do not qualify for a badge because they would not normally be expected to walk independently.

For more information about applying for a Blue Badge please contact Lyn at the Pembrokeshire Cancer Support Office on 01646 683078 (and he will print out and send the frequently asked questions section) or go to www.pembrokeshire.gov.uk

Details of your rights under the scheme, as well as some restrictions are contained in the DETR Blue Badge Scheme Advisory Leaflet

Where to Apply?

If you think you may be entitled to a badge you should apply to:

Customer Contact Centre
Pembrokeshire County Council at

:

Haverfordwest,
North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest, Pembrokeshire, SA61 1TP

Milford Haven,
Town Hall, Hamilton Terrace, Milford Haven, Pembrokeshire, SA73 3JW

Neyland,
Neyland Library, St Clements Road, Neyland, Pembrokeshire, SA73 1SH

Pembroke Dock,
Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock, Pembrokeshire, SA72 6HL

Fishguard,
Town Hall, The Square, Fishguard, Pembrokeshire, SA65 9HA

OR

Tel: 01437 764551

 

THE FOLLOWING INFORMATION WAS RECEIVED FROM PEMBROKESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL ON MONDAY 9th, JANUARY, 2012

 

Applying for a Disabled Person’s Blue Badge

 

We will need to complete an electronic application form with you and this can be done over the phone by calling our Contact Centre on 01437 764551.

 

You will need your National Insurance number in order to start the application.

 

You will then be asked a number of questions in order to establish your eligibility. You may automatically qualify for a blue badge if, for example, you are registered blind or are in receipt of mobility allowance or the higher rate of the mobility component of the Disability Living Allowance. You may also qualify if you receive War Pensioners' Mobility Supplement or you are regarded as severely injured armed forces personnel.

 

If none of the above apply, you will be asked some questions about how your disability affects your walking and a letter will be sent to you for you to pass on to your GP for his recommendation.

 

If the application is approved, you will receive a confirmation letter and you will then need to collect your badge in person at one of the following Customer Service Centres:-

 

  • North Wing, County Hall, Haverfordwest
  • Fishguard Town Hall
  • Milford Town Hall
  • Argyle Street, Pembroke Dock
  • Neyland Library

 

For those people who have difficulty walking from the car to the Customer Service Centre we will come out to you so you can sign for the badge.

 

In order for your Blue Badge to be issued you will need to bring with you the following:-

  • 1 up to date passport sized photograph (head and shoulders)
  • £2 fee
  • Customer reference number, which will be given to you when you apply.
  • Car registration number (if possible)
  • Proof of benefit if not issued on a doctors letter

 

The process will be explained when you complete the application over the telephone and any queries can be answered.

 

Contact Centre

County Hall

Haverfordwest