Local Senedd Members Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have underlined the vital importance of Withybush Hospital, as Hywel Dda University Health Board launches yet another consultation on the future of local healthcare services.
The Health Board today (Thursday 29 May) classified nine key services as ‘critical’, stating that urgent reorganisation is necessary. The services identified are: critical care, dermatology, emergency general surgery, endoscopy, ophthalmology, orthopaedics, radiology, stroke, and urology.
This announcement raises concerns that some services currently provided at Withybush Hospital could be relocated to other hospitals within the Health Board area.
Paul Davies MS, a longstanding campaigner against the downgrading of services at Withybush Hospital, said: “This consultation is the latest in a long line of consultations that have all resulted in vital services being cut at Withybush hospital – and enough is enough.
“It is not acceptable for the people of Pembrokeshire to have to travel further for vital health services and I will be fiercely campaigning against Hywel Dda University Health Board’s latest proposals.”
“Withybush hospital has been under attack for years because of the Health Board’s ideological pursuit of a shiny new hospital elsewhere in west Wales. Withybush hospital and the people it serves deserve support and investment, not more cuts. The Welsh Government should intervene and ensure that services stay put at Withybush hospital.”
Samuel Kurtz MS, who was born in Withybush Hospital, said:
“This consultation is a direct result of the Welsh Labour Government’s ongoing policy of centralising healthcare services, often at the expense of rural communities.
“The loss of vital services at Withybush, including SCBU, consultant-led maternity, and children’s A&E, remains deeply felt by local people. The removal of one service often renders others unviable.
“If any further service loss were to threaten the viability of the A&E department, that would be wholly unacceptable and would be a red line. It would be met with fierce opposition from the community, and I will be standing shoulder to shoulder with them in that fight.”
