A £50,000 state-of-the-art prostate biopsy machine has been purchased for use at Glangwili and Prince Philip hospitals, thanks to charitable donations to local urology services, including a £30,000 donation from the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group.

The new diagnostic equipment will transform the way prostate cancer is diagnosed, according to Urology Consultant Mr Yeung Ng, and enable the Urology team to continue to develop the targeted biopsy service locally.

Consultant Mr Ng said: “The new equipment allows the capacity of prostate biopsies to be doubled, while also allowing the biopsies to be undertaken.

“The equipment will enable us to undertake transperineal biopsies which are safer procedures with a lower rate of infection as we do not have to undertake the biopsy rectally and diagnostic rates are also improved. 

“The Urology Department is extremely grateful for the charitable donations that we have received to make this purchase possible, as well as for the continued support that WWPCSG has provided us.

“The support of our local communities has helped us acquire new state-of-the-art prostate diagnostic equipment that equips us well for transitioning over to a transperineal prostate service while continuing to develop the targeted biopsy service.

“This support is helping to transform the way we diagnose prostate cancer, especially as patients have previously had to travel to a neighbouring health board to receive this advanced biopsy.”

Ken Jones, chairman of the West Wales Prostate Cancer Support Group, said: “Our group offers help to men and their partners living in west Wales.

“While we are not an organisation that sets out to raise funds, we are frequently given donations by people that we have helped. So, when we are able, we donate larger sums to areas where they are needed, such as health boards and cancer research charities that work within west Wales.

“We are delighted to be able to assist in the purchase of this equipment that will help in the work of Hywel Dda’s Urology Department.”

Lead Image: From left, at the cheque presentation are: Urology Service Manager Lianne Wood; Clinical Nurse Specialist Angharad Watkins; Chair of Hywel Dda University Health Board Maria Battle; Consultant Mr Yeung Ng; David Goddard, Ken Jones and Iori Rees of WWPCSG; and Claire Rumble, Hywel Dda Health Charities Fundraising Officer. (Image: Hywel Dda NHS)

ALDI have announced that their brand new Llanelli store will open on Thursday 2 December at 8am.

The new store at Trostre in Llanelli is the town’s second ALDI with the budget supermarket already having a presence in the town centre next to the historic Buckleys Brewery building.

The new store will be run by Store Manager James Kift, along with a team of 28 colleagues from the local community.

ALDI say that as part of their investment in local communities across the UK, the new store will offer more customers access to ALDI’s high quality, low-price products.

The new store will offer fresh, Welsh meat products with weekly offers, ALDI’s award-winning ‘Specially Selected’ range – which was recently voted ‘Favourite Premium Supermarket Range’ by readers of Good Housekeeping magazine for the second year running – exclusive Beers, Wines and Spirits, and a ‘Food to Go’ section at the front of the store. ALDI’s legendary Specialbuys will also be available in the middle aisle every Thursday and Sunday, offering extraordinary value on a wide range of products, from electrical items to garden tools.

As ALDI has been fuelling Team GB with fresh, healthy food since 2015, James Kift and his team will be joined by Team GB bronze medallist Sarah Jones to celebrate the store opening and cut the all-important ribbon on opening morning.

ALDI Store Manager James Kift said: “We can’t wait to open the doors to the new store in Llanelli. It’s set to be a special day and having Olympic hero Sarah Jones join us will make it a morning to remember.”

Hockey star Sarah Jones added: “I’m so excited to be opening ALDI’s new store, it will be great to chat to customers and a lovely way for me to thank ALDI for its support of Team GB.”

Additionally, the new ALDI store is calling on local charities and food banks in Llanelli to register with Neighbourly, a community engagement platform that links businesses to charitable organisations in the local community. 

Local charities that register will be able to collect surplus food and perishable products, such as fruit, vegetables and baked goods, up to seven days a week. Any charities in the area that would like to partner up with the new ALDI store should email aldi@neighbourly.com.

The new store will be located on Trostre Road, Llanelli, SA14 9UT, and will be open from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 10pm, and on Sunday’s between 10am and 4pm.

(Lead image: ALDI)

A drink-driver who caused the death of a six-month-old baby girl last month has been convicted and sentenced to four years in prison.

Lucy Dyer, aged 23, of Heulwen Terrace, Llanelli, admitted causing the death of Eva Maria Nichifor by dangerous driving during a hearing at Swansea Crown Court yesterday (15 November).

Dyer was arrested on Friday, 8^th October, following the collision on Heol Goffa, Llanelli, where she failed to stop at a give way junction and crashed into a vehicle being driven by Eva Maria’s father, Florin.

Passenger Eva Maria sustained un-survivable head injuries and tragically passed away at the University of Wales Hospital Cardiff the following day.

Dyer answered ‘no comment’ when interviewed by police and was subsequently charged with causing death by dangerous driving and driving whilst over the prescribed limit and was remanded in custody.

Dyer provided a specimen of 46 microgrammes of alcohol per 100 millilitres of breath. The legal limit is 35. 

In a victim impact statement read to the court, Eva Maria’s mum Carmen said: “I came to this country to assure a better life for my family and ended up tearing it apart.

“Since this tragedy has happened, I couldn’t sleep, I ate very rarely and when I close my eyes we only see her, my husband could no longer work, my mother too and we couldn’t make a living, we encountered difficulties in communicating with the police, the hospital, the insurance, things we probably shouldn’t have encountered.

“In the house where we live, we can’t see our place there without our little Eva because everywhere we look, we see only memories of her, how happy she was with us and how we learned with her what happiness means.

“The house is empty without her, we can no longer stay in the room where we used to live with her where we used to play all the time, now I can’t go into the room because I remember how happy she was when the 3 of us were together.

“We are low on morale and what we want is justice for our baby because she was taken from us too soon.”

Lead investigator PS Sara John, of Dyfed Powys Police’s Serious Collision Investigation Unit, said: “Lucy Dyer’s decision to drive in the manner she did and whilst over the prescribed limit has completely destroyed the lives of Eva Maria’s family.

“The devastation she has caused can never be undone and no sentence passed today could ever be enough. 

“Eva Maria’s parents have shown remarkable strength and dignity throughout this investigation.”

Dyer, who also admitted a charge of drink driving, was banned from driving for five years with an extended test pass requirement.

(Lead image: Dyfed Powys Police / Family photo)