A call for the local health board to be put in ‘special measures’ will be debated by a Pembrokeshire committee later this week.

Cllr Paul Dowson had submitted a Notice of Motion to December’s full council which states: “That Pembrokeshire County Council formally recommends to the Health Minister of the Welsh Government that he puts Hywel Dda University Health Board into special measures.”

In support of his notice Cllr Dowson cites missing performance targets, including patient waiting times, “financial incompetence and the need for the health board to regain public trust.

He adds that Hywel Dda had ignored public opposition to its plans for health care service changes which will see Haverfordwest’s Withybush Hospital downgraded.

“Hywel Dda are unable to recruit staff and blame the staffing issue on most of its failures, but they have done nothing to address or plan ahead for a worsening lack of staff numbers.

“They haemorrhage money from every seam and in doing so put the lives of the public at risk,” states Cllr Dowson.

The partnerships overview and scrutiny committee will discuss the notice on Thursday, January 10. The meeting starts at 10am and can be watched via the council’s website.