Tuesday's plenary session at the National Assembly saw the issue of Tenby Cottage Hospital come up when Christine Gwyther, AM for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire, raised a question to the First Minister.

Christine Gwyther AM said: "For too long the health service in Pembrokeshire has wrestled with the problem of acute and elderly services in the south-east of the county. Tenby Cottage Hospital is becoming less and less fit for purpose, and we have lived through consultation after consultation of varying degrees of effectiveness.

"Would you agree with me that it is time we sorted the problem out once and for all, and will you ensure, with the help of Jane Hutt, that the business case for a purpose-built community hospital in south-east Pembrokeshire is given the most urgent consideration?"

The First Minister said that the Health Minister and her officials would be listening to the question which was very forcibly put and that he was aware of the good work carried out by staff at the current Tenby Cottage Hospital.

Christine Gwyther AM, speaking from the Assembly, told us: "The fight goes on for Tenby. The NHS Trust is preparing its financial statement for reprovisioning of services in south-east Pembrokeshire, and I await their final figures with interest.

"We must ensure the best possible outcome for residents and continue to support staff who are carrying on their sterling work in the most difficult of circumstances."