Welsh Conservatives will tomorrow (Wednesday) lead an Assembly debate on Welsh government proposals to downgrade Withybush Hospital in Pembrokeshire.

The debate comes as protestors prepare to make their way to the Senedd to demonstrate against the plans.

They will be joined by Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies and AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Angela Burns.

During the debate, both AMs will highlight their concerns over government engagement with clinicians and the general public, along with worries for the future of NHS finances and practices used in the retention and training of junior doctors.

BMA Cymru has repeatedly warned over recent years that patient safety and the viability of services could be at risk unless the shortage of doctors in Welsh hospitals is addressed.

Mr Davies, also Deputy Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Assembly, will lead the debate.

He said:

"Local health services are for local people and patients should not have to travel further for life-saving care.

"Like so many other sites, an axe is currently hovering over Withybush.

"That's not fair – and patients are rightly fearful of losing local hospital services.

"Labour's plans to downgrade services are not wanted by clinicians, the public, or their own politicians. I am glad that Labour AMs and MPs feel this way and I invite them to join us again at Wednesday's protest.

"The Welsh NHS is currently in real danger of losing its founding principles. That's got to change."

Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns said:

"My message is simple – cutting back on local hospital services is not the way forward and it will not cure the problems that Labour has inflicted upon our NHS.

"Plans to downgrade should be stopped and Ministers should instead look very carefully at the challenges they have created and failed to deal with.

"Record-breaking cuts to the health budget must be overturned, engagement with clinicians and the public must be massively improved, and work with top doctors and nurses to retain, train, and review guidelines is essential.

"It's time the Minister increased transparency and listened to the people that really matter."

Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said:

"Plans to downgrade and remove services remain a reckless and irresponsible way forward.

"Rooting out waste and investing more in top-class patient care will help to solve the problems that successive Labour ministers have created.

"It's time for the government's fatalist attitude to end and a constructive approach adopted that puts patients first."