Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies has expressed his anger at Hywel Dda local health board's plans to press ahead with plans to downgrade facilities in Pembrokeshire, following a consultation whereby the people of Pembrokeshire resoundingly spoke out against their reconfiguration proposals.
Commenting on this, Mr Davies said, "I'm extremely angry that the local health board have not listened to the people of Pembrokeshire. Concerns have been voiced on a number of issues, most notably, the potential removal of the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush hospital, where clinicians have told us how closing this unit could have a harmful effect on the families of unborn babies across Pembrokeshire. The decision to press ahead and establish a level two neonatal unit in Carmarthen is unacceptable – put simply, this will put lives and risk. Also, closing minor injury units in the South of the county and transferring complex orthopaedic services to Llanelli are a sure indication of the downgrading of health facilities in Pembrokeshire."