Nick Bourne AM for Mid and West Wales and Welsh Conservative leader in the National Assembly for Wales has called on Assembly Health Minister, Brian Gibbons, to intervene to prevent swinging cuts in health services provided by Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust.

The cuts include losing 12 theatre sessions a week at Withybush Hospital, ending all-night cover at minor injuries units at Tenby Cottage Hospital, the closure of beds at Withybush and South Pembrokeshire Hospital and the closure of Cleddau Day Hospital.

Nick Bourne said: "Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust has already achieved significant efficiencies and savings but has been ordered to pay back £2.4 million a year to the Labour Assembly Government until 2009.

"The only way to achieve further savings is to cut services and these proposals will have serious repercussions for health services in the area.

"I am calling on the Minister to recognise that significant savings have already been achieved and to intervene to safeguard the provision of health care in Pembrokeshire."