It is sad to report that the Tenby Cottage Hospital Minor Injury's Unit was closed by the Hywel Dda Health Board on January 2.

The nurses at the unit were thanked by the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network for their valued efforts on behalf of the community over the years and assured that every effort will be made to get it reopened as soon as possible.

At the time of writing, there has been no communication from the HDHB as to what alternative arrangements have been put in place.

Following the public meeting before Christmas, key questions were raised by members of the SEPCHN.

These questions include: What attempts have been made to recruit and/or retrain Emergency Nurse Practitioners (ENP's) at Withybush, so allowing the Cottage Hospital nurses to return? What discussions have taken place with local doctors to help replace MIU services and if so, what are the results of these discussions? When will the HDHB explain the new local arrangements to the community? If, as stated in recent publicity, the Withybush A&E Department is the best performing department in Wales, why is there need for such a drastic cull of services in the south of the county to support it? A comprehensive list of questions has been sent to officers of the HDHB and to our local political representatives to try and get answers and information for the community.

The support in the community for the retention of the MIU has been incredible.

Already around 1,500 people have signed the petition and it is still open at the De Valence Tenby Town Council offices if you have missed out.

Hopefully, this will be presented to the Health Board by the Mayor, Clr. Trevor Hallett, and chairs of the community councils soon, to illustrate how strongly people feel about an important element of its community and the injustice they feel.

Pembroke Town Council is now arranging a public meeting on Thursday, January 19, at Pembroke Town Hall at 7 pm.

The HDHB five-year plan is now available on line. Its main aim is to have 'The Right Care in the Right Place at the Right Time'. It describes how it plans to localise services, with the community hospitals at the forefront. How ironic, that at the beginning of its listening period, the HDHB is now closing local services.

The Board is requesting comments on its plans and so if you have the opportunity, why not write to the Board supporting the immediate reinstatement of the Tenby Cottage Hospital and South Pembs. MIUs and so begin implementing its own plans.

M.T.

AM continues campaign over closure of Tenby health unit

Assembly Member Simon Thomas has met with health campaigners who are campaigning against the closure of the Minor Injuries Unit in Tenby.

Hywel Dda Health Board announced the closure of the Minor Injuries Units at Tenby and Pembroke Dock before Christmas.

Mr. Thomas, Mid and West AM and Plaid Leadership contender, said: "The centralisation of our hospital services, which is fiercely opposed by local people and medical staff alike, continues to take place.

"As soon as I was alerted to the closure by Clr. Michael Williams I wrote to the Health Minister, Lesley Griffiths, asking her to review the decision

"The shutting of services at Tenby and Pembroke Dock raises questions about the ability of the current management of Hywel Dda to prioritise and allocate resources effectively. We have seen similar stories across Wales in other hospitals like Llanelli and Pwllheli. I am confident I will be able to raise this issue during First Minister Questions in the Senedd at the earliest opportunity."

Clr. Michael Williams, leader of Plaid Cymru on Pembrokeshire County Council, added: "There must be serious concerns about the management and structure of Hywel Dda following these decisions. It is interesting that following the news of the closure they have announced a consultation, which seems to be the wrong way round. Why is it necessary to draft expensive consultants from Rochdale to oversee the reduction of services? Is the management of Hywel Dda bereft of talent that is has to rely on outside assistance?"

FOOTNOTE: AM Simon Thomas questioned what plans the First Minister has for the health service in Mid and West Wales at the National Assembly on Tuesday.

Mr. Thomas told Carwyn Jones: "A great deal of disappointment and concern was expressed in the region over Christmas as people saw services being moved from local hospitals, such as those at Tenby, Pwllheli, Pembroke Dock and Llanelli, and centralised in large hospitals that, in many cases, were an hour's journey by public transport."

And the First Minister replied: "The changes made before Christmas are temporary - they are not permanent changes. Ministers, the national clinical forum and local communities should scrutinise any changes. It is exceptionally important that that is done in order to ensure that the public feel that they are able to express an opinion on the future of the health service in their area."

Health board clarifies local

x-ray service

Following concerns over its continuation, health chiefs have confirmed this week the position regarding Tenby's x-ray service.

A Hywel Dda Health Board spokesperson said: "An x-ray service is provided at Tenby by a radiographer contracted for three days a week, Monday through Wednesday. Staff from Withybush attended on Thursdays to support the Minor Injuries Unit (MIU).

"During the temporary suspension of the MIU, these Withybush staff, which included a radiographer, will not be based at Tenby on Thursdays, but the x-ray service will continue to operate Monday to Wednesday.

"The Health Board will be communicating with local GPs this week as to how their patients may still attend Tenby, Monday to Wednesday, or Withybush if urgent."