Sir, As a newcomer to the area who had the misfortune or probably good fortune to be admitted to Withybush Hospital with a serious respiratory condition, I view with concern the proposal to close Withybush and other local hospitals to create a new super hospital. I spent a total of five-and-a-half weeks at Withybush in the HDU Department and Ward Seven. The level of care, dedication and unfailing good humour of all the medical and cleaning staff was unbelievable. I would like to name them all individually, but there are too many of them, but Jenny and Wolfgang were representative of them all. Also, the standard of cleaning was fantastic. As to why I pass comment on the possible closure; three years ago, I spent a few weeks in what was then the new Hereford hospital, the amalgamation of two city hospitals. They actually ended up with fewer beds that the previous combined total, with only three HDU beds, only two of those were in use of the time, lack of money not allowing them to staff the third. The standard of cleaning was also abysmal leading one to the conclusion that modern and big is not always a benefit to the patients and staff.
Ray Griffiths, Saundersfoot.