Welsh Conservatives have branded plans for significant changes to the NHS in mid and west Wales 'unacceptable'.

Downgrading at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and the closure of community hospitals elsewhere are strongly opposed by Welsh Conservative Assembly Members.

Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar AM said:

"This is another clear response to Labour's record-breaking cuts to the health budget.

"It is completely unacceptable for local services to be wrenched away from patients, yet the writing is now on the wall for community hospitals across Wales.

"Despite regular promises that no hospital would be downgraded, the future of A and E at Prince Philip now also hangs in the balance.

"Massively reducing beds and closing community services cannot be the best answer to the problems faced by the NHS.

"Empty promises of investment will do little to calm the fears of patients burdened with the prospect of travelling further for treatment."

Angela Burns, Assembly Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, said:

"This is nothing more than a desperate trade-off, with some services facing the axe in order to preserve others.

"Hywel Dda has been forced to rob Peter to pay Paul – all because of Labour's slash and burn approach to the health budget.

"Huge concerns remain across the board – notably at Withybush, where an option remains to downgrade A and E.

"This cannot and must not happen. Our local and determined opposition to this will continue."

Paul Davies, Assembly Member for Preseli Pembrokeshire, said:

"This mixed bag of options for our NHS does nothing to stop an axe swinging dangerously over local services and local hospital beds.

"We are not yet convinced that Withybush remains totally safe from downgrading and we will continue to fight until that safety is achieved.

"No local service should be pulled away from patients. It is unfair and a direct result of Labour's budget cuts.

"The huge reduction in beds here, the importance of sufficient staff numbers, and the future of many other services must all now be looked at in great detail."