Preseli Pembrokeshire's AM has sought reassurance from the Assembly Government that local Community Health Councils (CHCs) are here to stay.

Paul Davies fears that the CHCs could follow in the footsteps of the health trusts and be merged into super-councils.

"Community health councils play an important role by representing people who have health problems," he told the Senedd.

"They are also crucial in raising awareness of health issues. Given that some trusts have disappeared, the role of the community health councils has become even more important."

Mr Davies also raised concerns about the level of debt inherited by the new Hywel Dda Trust –formed by the merger of the Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion health trusts.

"Prior to the merger of the three trusts, it was made clear, certainly to the people of Pembrokeshire, that the combined debt of the new merged trust, which I believe to be in the region of £37 million, would be written off," Mr Davies told the Senedd.

He asked health minister Edwina Hart whether this debt had been written off yet but she said she was currently considering the financial position of all trusts and was unable to answer.