Pembrokeshire's Assembly Members have welcomed Assembly Government plans to cut the number of local health boards in the County – something that Conservatives have been wanting for years.

It is likely that the Pembrokeshire, Ceredigion and Carmarthenshire Local Health Boards (LHBs) will be merged into one following an announcement by Welsh Health Minister Edwina Hart.

The plans will see 22 LHBs cut to eight, in a move that echoes what has happened already to local health trusts.

"Labour created these boards in 2003 at a cost of £15 million which could have gone into patient care," said Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies. "Now they are scrapping it five years later. We were the only party that opposed the idea at the time and we have always maintained our position."

South Pembrokeshire and Carmarthen West AM Angela Burns agrees: "We used to have five LHBs in Wales and when that went up to 22 we saw an instant drain on resources. This is a step in the right direction but eight is still too many in a country the size of Wales.

"Welsh Conservatives would like to see one all-Wales commissioning body to replace local health boards. That would bring the biggest benefits to patients and medical staff."