The Hywel Dda Community Health Council (CHC) has confirmed that it has again referred its outstanding concerns upon the Hywel Dda Local Health Board's (LHBs) proposals for health service changes in West Wales to the new Health Minister, Mark Drakeford AM, this following its further recent discussions with the LHB.

The CHC had previously referred a number of concerns to the former Health Minister Lesley Griffiths, but she had sent these back and had requested that further discussions take place between the CHC and the Health Board in an effort to achieve some compromise or resolution on the various issues of concern.

Mr. Tony Wales, chairman of the Hywel Dda CHC, said that the additional meetings with the LHB had been welcome and had proved quite productive. He and his colleagues had received additional information on which to evaluate the proposals and base their decisions.

Speaking particularly in respect of the proposals for the Tenby Minor Injuries Unit, Mr. Wales said: "The CHC is now prepared to accept the transfer of the current MIU facilities to the local GP practices in Tenby and Saundersfoot, but only on the proviso that a full range of minor injuries services are made available and on a walk-in, see and treat basis, for all registered patients of the practices and also for all visitors."

The CHC are asking for this service to be available for the entire core GP opening hours (8 am until 6.30 pm Monday through Friday each week) and for a further four hours each Saturday and each Sunday, and also on Bank Holidays apart from Christmas Day, although it was recognised that this weekend service may not necessarily be delivered by a GP.

"The CHC have also requested a similar MIU service to be delivered in Tenby from 8.30 am until 6.30 pm across each Saturday and Sunday and Bank Holiday across the core eight-week summer holiday period, and to the same standards as that provided by the GPs," continued Mr. Wales.

Additionally, the CHC have asked the LHB to explore alternative healthcare uses for its MIU premises within the Tenby Hospital, rather than these remain dormant.

Mr. Ashley Warlow, chief officer of the CHC, said: "Members have sought these modifications to the current LHB proposals in recognition that Tenby has a large elderly population, is seen as a retirement destination, and that approximately 50 per cent of persons using the MIU facility in the town are tourists and holidaymakers."

He said that it should also be noted that Tenby was increasingly becoming a year round travel destination for coach parties.

"If the LHB accept these alternative solutions, and the local GPs are fully involved, then the CHC would not require any further ministerial intervention on this particular Tenby issue," added Mr. Warlow.

Mr. Wales concluded by saying that in entering into this further phase, he and his CHC colleagues had been assured that they still had the full trust and support of patients and the public, and of the many other organisations and individuals who had contacted them through recent weeks.

He fully accepted that the CHC was proposing a compromise solution, but believed it was in the best interests of everyone.

Importantly he had been assured that no changes would be implemented until these safe alternative services were in place, and the CHC had also looked to safeguard the future of Tenby Cottage Hospital.