Local campaigners and organisations have expressed anger and disappointment this week over the decision by the Hywel Dda Health Board to close the Minor Injury Units provided at Tenby Cottage Hospital and the South Pembrokeshire Hospital in Pembroke Dock.

In a statement released on Tuesday, following an extraordinary board meeting, the Health Board say that they intend to provide care closer to home by providing minor injury services from community locations in future, and that the board has listened to consultation feedback and will be providing an additional service for the peak tourist period for Tenby.

During the 'Your Health Your Future' consultation, people were asked about transferring minor injury services currently provided at South Pembrokeshire and Tenby Hospitals to community based services.

The extraordinary board meeting on Monday supported recommendations to commission enhanced access to primary care (community based) services, close the units and redeploy the specialist nursing staff to emergency services at Withybush Hospital.

In recognition of concerns expressed regarding the increase in activity experienced at the Tenby Unit during the peak tourist season, a seasonal minor injuries service will initially be piloted for eight weeks from mid July to September (including weekends and Bank Holidays), stated the Health Board, with the provider of the service to be determined, but could include a local GP practice, pharmacy or a voluntary sector provider.

Director of planning and operations Mark Brandraeth said: "On average only 11 people attend the Minor Injury Unit in South Pembrokeshire a day and 15 people a day at Tenby Hospital.

"During the temporary closure of the Minor Injury Units in January 2012 it became clear these people only attended the units for very minor injuries or illnesses which can be dealt with by self care or through primary healthcare such as their GP or local pharmacy.

"The health board listened to local people and aims to meet the challenges we heard in the consultation, by retaining the services locally which will minimise additional patient travel.

"We recognise the increase of population in Tenby during the summer months and the concerns raised by residents about this and our plans include extra provision to deal with this increased demand," he added.

Members of the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN) say, however, that they have been angered by the decision of the Health Board to close the Tenby MIU.

"Following the consultation process there was a strong feeling in the community that the unit needed to be retained, with 82 per cent of individual questionnaire returns and 83 per cent of local organisations against the closure plan," said SEPCHN chairman Mansel Thomas.

"This response to the Health Board's questionnaire has been ignored by them and the unit is to be closed, so what was the point of the consultation?

"It simply reinforces a general feeling that the decision was made long ago and that the board was simply going through the motions. The board evidently does not value an MIU service, but this community does," he continued.

Mr. Thomas claimed that there was a great deal of imprecision in the board's report, suggesting that many of their proposed discussions and actions had not yet taken place.

"There are many statements such as: 'Decisions are ongoing with local GP's'; 'the local health board is working with the GP's'; 'the health board will consider the best use of the facility'; 'the health board will prepare financial analysis on the adopted model' - surely that should have been done by now? Yet, worryingly, the decision to close the unit has already been made.

"What if these discussions are not successful, and the board discovers it is more expensive than the present system? What then happens to the minor injury service in this area?" remarked Mr. Thomas, adding that there were also many statements that required further investigation and explanation, such as the fact that additional emergency nurse practitioners would not be required.

"What does this say about the quality of the minor injury service planned by the board? It also states that services will be commissioned to minimise the need to travel to emergency departments - does this mean weekend and Bank Holiday service?

"There will be a pilot scheme for summer opening in 2013? Who will stage this and where will it be held and what are the criteria for success?" said Mr. Thomas, commenting that the only thing that had been made clear, was that there were many issues still unclear and uncertain.

"The picture presented by the board lacks coherence, which is very worrying for a community that values the injury service.

"These are early days since the report publication and the SEPCHN and local community will need time to research the findings.

"We will strive to investigate further what effects there will be on the local health service," stated Mr. Thomas, adding that members of SEPCHN were committed to continuing the fight, with many expressing views in support of the local Community Health Council if it decides to oppose the plans and refer the matter to the Welsh Government Health Minister.

The chairman of the Friends of South Pembrokeshire District Hospital, Sue Paterson-Jones, also gave her reaction to news of the health board's proposals.

"We are bitterly disappointed, but not surprised. It's as if the whole consultation dialogue never happened," she said.

"It's a big concern for the Pembroke Dock and Pembroke areas, and no one knows what is going to happen as we are given to believe that our own doctors are going to go along with what has been proposed, but we still don't know if they have agreed to it?

"Our own MIU girls are very, very qualified and we don't think that they can be messed around either.

"It's quite a poor area and getting to places such as Withybush is not that easy for some.

"If you're an older person or even a very young person, you want instant treatment, you don't want to be trudging around the county to be seen to," she added.

SEPCHN secretary Mrs. Caroline Thomas said that Tenby Town Council was going to hold an emergency meeting in the Mayor's Parlour at the De Valence Pavilion in Tenby, on Monday, where representatives from SEPCHN would meet to try to find a way forward, and invite local groups, campaigners and residents to attend discussions.

"The recommendations of the health board are distressing for all living in South East Pembrokeshire. We have not finished fighting for our community hospital," said Mrs. Thomas

The health board's full recommendation report, and other resources, can be found at http://www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/Consultation">www.hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/Consultation