Following a major setback this week, dedicated hospital campaigners in Tenby have vowed to fight to ensure that the present Cottage Hospital will not close until the town's new healthcare facility is open.
During a recent visit by members of Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust to the Cottage Hospital, staff were informed of a possible short-term closure, until the opening of the new hospital at Gas Lane.
This was one of a number of options being considered by the Trust in its efforts to secure savings on an anticipated overspend of £2.4 million in this financial year.
"The Tenby Cottage Hospital Local Implementation Group (LIG) was astonished by this news," chairman, Mr. Mansel Thomas, told the Observer. "We demanded a rethink and a local meeting with Trust managers to discuss the issue," he stated. At this heated meeting with the managers on Wednesday, the LIG unanimously expressed its total opposition to such plans.
Group members expressed a lack of confidence in the management of healthcare in Pembrokeshire that had allowed such an overspend situation. Members also felt that the cuts being proposed were reactive, rather than strategic, and were failing to establish a long-term plan in the provision of care.
The loss of beds through the closure of the hospital would, it was felt, mean more money being spent to find temporary beds, and as there was already a severe bed-blocking problem in the county, members questioned what was being achieved.
Assurances had been given that the present hospital would not close before the opening of the new one. The group felt that this had obviously been forgotten and seriously damaged trust between the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust and the community it is intended to service.
Continued Mr. Thomas: "Much valuable work has been undertaken by the project director, Mrs. Jenny Bowen, and strong links forged with the community during the planning of the new hospital. It would be regrettable if this, too, were to be jeopardised.
"The LIG assures everyone of our continued effort to protect local health facilities and is urgently seeking a meeting with the Minister of Health, Dr. Brian Gibbon, through our AM Christine Gwyther, who provides continued support.
"Tenby, and the whole of south east Pembrokeshire is a community proud of its hospital and its involvement in it. The hospital was built by the community to serve its most vulnerable members. It is vital it continues to operate in its present capacity. The proposed disruption to services will cause serious damage to the provision of care. "The fight to protect our hospital will go on," stressed Mr. Thomas.