The New Hedges Village Hall was packed with members of the community of South East Pembrokeshire on Tuesday, who were there to express their anger at the decision to close the MIU at the Tenby Cottage Hospital

An emergency meeting had been called by the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN) and also present were Assembly Members Angela Burns and Joyce Watson and representatives of the Hywel Dda Health Board.

SEPCHN chairman, Mansel Thomas, began by describing events of the last two weeks, the response of the SEPCHN and some of the comments and letters received outlining the concerns being expressed by members of the community. Correspondence had been received from Friends of South Pembs Hospital who fully supported efforts being made as the unit there was also due to close in the New Year.

Angela Burns's main concerns centred on the lack of communication and consultation by the Health Board management. She strongly objected to the closure and the way in which they had chosen a 'good' time to try and bury bad news.

Joyce Watson had a concern that this might be the start of a chipping away of local services.

She was also worried about the suitability of placing MIU nurses in a A and E situation and wondered how A and E would cope with the extra influx of MIU patients.

Dr. Griffiths, a consultant at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest, told those present that the decision was an operational one and not strategic.

It was to preserve the services at the General Hospital for the whole of Pembrokeshire.

As it was a health and safety measure, legally it did not require public consultation.

He explained in detail the staffing problems in appointing consultants for A and E at the hospital. He also said that the situation would be reviewed in three months.

John Skone, the social services director of Pembrokeshire County Council and now also an executive member of the Hywel Dda Health Board, stated that the closure of the MIU was not a 'Trojan Horse' to close the Tenby Cottage Hospital, but he refused to guarantee that the MIU closure was a temporary one.

If staffing problems persist, the closure will not be a temporary one.

"From the ensuing discussions, there was a general feeling amongst those present that the closure was a panic decision, made without proper consideration of other options, that reflected poor planning and a lack of forward thinking on the part of the Local Health Board who had been aware of the staffing problems for a long time," commented SEPCHN chairman Mr. Thomas following the meeting.

"Mr. Skone in particular was not prepared to listen to the public, nor to discuss possible alternative solutions to the problem and appeared unwilling to consider the implications for this area.

"Although there is a shortage of doctors in the Hywel Dda Health Board, there are many nurses who would surely relish the opportunity to be trained to work in MIU and A and E, so making the closure unnecessary," he continued.

Further actions as follows, were discussed and agreed:

As many people as possible were encouraged to write to the chairman or chief executive of the Hywel Dda Health Board expressing concern at the MIU closure; copies of the petition are widely available in the area for signature, to be returned to the Tenby Town Council offices or SEPCHN secretary, Mrs. Caroline Thomas, at Clarices Toy Shop in Upper Frog Street, Tenby, by Monday, January 2; questions arising from the meeting will be compiled and presented to the Health Board early in the New Year; there was a call for legal investigations, including a possible judicial review (this would be investigated, but would have to be carefully thought through as the SEPCHN does not have a budget).

"The fight to retain the Minor Injuries Unit continues. There was clear agreement at the meeting that the Tenby Cottage Hospital MIU should be reinstated as soon as possible and efforts will continue into 2012," explained Mr. Thomas.

"Reference was made by the Health Board representatives to discussions taking place with the local doctors; it could be that they will become involved in running the MIU and help sustain the service," added Mr. Thomas.