Hywel Dda Health Board has voted to make only short-term changes to the opening hours of the Paediatric Ambulatory Care Unit at Withybush Hospital following lobbying by Eluned Morgan AM and others.

The Board rejected recommendations for longer term plans that could secure the return of a 12-hour daily service at Withybush Hospital, including the use of telemedicine, undertaking to consult further with staff, the public and clinical teams first.

Eluned Morgan, Labour Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, had put forward eight key questions to the Board and these were read and discussed at the meeting last week.

“I am disappointed at the lack of transparency by management at the Health Board and I have written to the Health Board to share this concern and others,” she said. “ I accept that this temporary adjustment has to be made for safety reasons. A lack of early action has meant that Board members have had no option but to cut PACU by four hours each day.

“I am encouraged that the Board has listened to my concerns over taking a more serious and focussed approach to managing this service long-term. They have provided their assurance that they will work hard to return a 12-hour service for families in Pembrokeshire.

“We acknowledge that there is a recruitment crisis right across the UK in a whole range of specialities. That means the Health Board must redouble their efforts to develop a service that attracts staff to sustain the services that are so important to our local communities.”

Earlier in the week, Eluned Morgan raised with Welsh Government her concerns over transport arrangements for those who may face longer journeys as a result of these temporary changes. Those concerns were echoed again at the meeting with an assurance from chair of the Health Board, Bernardine Rees, that patients, especially those on low incomes would be supported under the policies already in place.

Eluned Morgan continued: “No one should have to worry how they get home after a visit especially as a result of these changes. I received a cast iron assurance that the Health Board would work to address these issues during the temporary arrangements. I have already raised this point with Cabinet Secretary Vaughan Gething in an urgent question in the Assembly.”