Local Assembly Member Paul Davies has handed over a petition to see full-time paediatrics re-established at Withybush Hospital, to the Welsh Government’s cabinet secretary, Peter Greening.

Mr. Davies, along with Regional Assembly Member Simon Thomas, handed in the petition last week which had been co-ordinated across Pembrokeshire and gathered over 20,000 signatures.

“It was a privilege to hand over this important petition to the Welsh Government and stress that the people of Pembrokeshire will continue to fight to restore local services. The message is overwhelmingly clear - full-time paediatrics must be re-established at Withybush Hospital,” said Mr. Davies.

He added: “I’d like to pay tribute to Myles Bamford Lewis for organising the petition and to the thousands of people who signed it.

“I believe that by working together, we send a stronger message to the Welsh Government and I sincerely hope that the Welsh Government fully recognises not only the strength of feeling on this issue, but that we will simply not give up until our services are returned.”

Party of Wales Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire candidate, Mid and West AM Simon Thomas said: “I’d like to congratulate the organiser Myles Bamford-Lewis, a father from Dinas, and all the health campaigners for collecting the 20,557 signatures.

“I told the petitioners outside the Senedd last week that there will be a commitment from Plaid Cymru in May’s election to return services to Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

“Without recruiting more doctors we can’t reverse the removal of services from Withybush Hospital by the Labour Welsh Government. As more and more doctors are recruited, the services could be restored with priority given to deprived and rural areas.

“Unlike other parties, only Plaid Cymru has a long-term health plan to improve services across Wales by recruiting and training 1000 doctors,” added Mr. Thomas.