Opposition has been gathering pace since the announcement last week of a consultation on health plans the will result in a major shake-up of services across three counties in West Wales.

A petition launched by Pembrokeshire campaigner Myles Bamford Lewis has reached nearly 5,000 signatures since he put it on Change.org on Sunday.

Mr. Bamford Lewis, a vocal Plaid Cymru supporter, last launched a petition two years ago calling for the reinstating of 24-hour paediatric services at Withybush Hospital.

More than 20,000 people had signed when he delivered it to the Senedd.

“To Labour, the world ends at the Carmarthenshire border and I am sick of their rhetoric that they stand up for the working man. Well, I am a working man and if my son did not have Withybush on our doorstep fours years ago he would have died.

“The removal of our general hospital will be indefensible. They can blame recruitment all they like but if you fail to prepare for the future then you have not only failed yourself, but your children too,” said Mr. Bamford Lewis.

As campaigners attempt to pull together to form a group in opposition to the proposals - with all three options featuring the downgrading of Withybush Hospital to a community hospital and removing A&E - there has been talk of a judicial review and questions asked about a lack of comment from county councillors.

Similar changes could also be seen at Glangwili in Carmarthen which may also become a community hospital or planned care facility.

In Monmouthshire, councillors have been told there is a possibility of launching a judicial review against Aneurin Bevan University Health Board’s decision to close a dementia unit at Chepstow Community Hospital.

Hywel Dda University Health Board has published a large number of background and research documents outlining the process carried out before the consultation launch, how options were decided and how the information gathered was collated.

An ‘Integrated Impact Assessment’ examines the financial, risk and legal impacts of the proposals, including the potential for judicial review.

It states: “A judicial review could prevent progress however; we have made every effort to reduce this possibility and to reduce any likelihood of challenges via: Extensive engagement and co-production of our proposals with our public, staff and stakeholders; The quality assurance function of the Consultation Institute throughout our options development process; Working closely with the Community Health Council which has been fully engaged and involved in the TCS (Transforming Clinical Services) programme since its inception and alignment of the TCS programme with the Transforming Mental Health and Transforming Women and Children’s programmes.”

A ‘Full Equality Impact Assessment’ lists a number of positives identified by the health board including Minor Injury Units (MIUs) across the region, ‘which can stabilise patients before transfer to the urgent care hospital.’

It adds: “Separate planned care and urgent care hospitals will protect planned care beds and mean fewer cancellations of planned operations. Acute beds will be available for those who are in need of acute care only (e.g. stroke, fractured neck or femur). This will have a positive impact for all including disabled.”

When looking at the impact on older people the report adds: “There might be a perception of ‘losing’ an urgent care service in Carmarthen, as Glangwili is a planned care hospital in this option.

“In particular, older people living in Carmarthen and east of Carmarthen (e.g. in Llanelli) - which are densely populated areas - might be disadvantaged in terms of having to travel further for urgent care (or who might access urgent care at Morriston Hospital in ABM UHB).

“However, the equidistant location of the new build hospital could mean less of a requirement to travel for urgent care for a large proportion of our older population, including those living in more remote/rural areas.”

An initial ‘high level costing analysis’ has tested the viability of the options proposed but a more detail costing will have to carried out.

Following the consultation, applications to the Welsh Government will be made for capital funding the document states.

It reiterates: “The current model of services is not sustainable and does not cater for rising demand and changing population needs.”

All residents are urged to take part in the consultation online or at any of the drop-in events arranged around the three counties of Ceredigion, Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire.

For more information, visit https://tinyurl.com/yaxfybvv