Pembrokeshire's Assembly Members are calling for urgent action to prevent a "perfect storm" of circumstances leading to a severe shortage of doctors at Withybush Hospital this autumn.
Hospital chiefs are warning that 16 doctors' posts are unfilled at the hospital with another 36 empty across the Health Trust area. They say that consultants are warning that, in certain areas, there will "not be enough doctors available to safely sustain services."
The shortage has been caused by a number of factors including stricter rules on overseas doctors working in the UK, the introduction of the EU working time directive and a reluctance to work in a rural location.
"This set of problems has created a type of "perfect storm" as far as doctor recruitment is concerned," said South of County AM Angela Burns.
"There are concerns that swine flu will place a greater strain on services this autumn and it will be imperative that Withybush s functioning at full capacity." Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies said:
"The same problems have already led to two children's wards closing in Swansea's Singleton Hospital.
"It's a bit like waiting on the track for an express train to hit you; we are being warned that this crisis is coming and the Welsh Assembly Government needs to take urgent action to halt it."