Plaid Cymru candidates in Ceredigion Penfro are inviting residents to a public meeting discuss the withdrawal of emergency surgery at Withybush Hospital, urging government intervention.

Hywel Dda University Health Board recently voted to downgrade the current full emergency general surgery service at Withybush Hospital in Haverfordwest - including surgical operations, to not providing any emergency general surgery at the hospital, and to instead strengthen the Same Day Emergency Care.

Ceredigion Penfro Plaid Cymru candidates will be hosting the public event to be held at 6.30pm on Tuesday, March 31 in Letterston village hall.

The meeting will give residents of Pembrokeshire a chance to share their experiences and concerns about the recent announcement by the Health Board.

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro said: “Withybush is such an important hospital for the community and residents of Pembrokeshire. The decision to remove its emergency general surgery will severely weaken the life-saving chances of this hospital. Plaid Cymru has been a long-term champion for small rural hospitals, in Bronglais and Withybush.

“We need to make sure that we’re keeping these hospitals as strong local services in our communities. Withybush should have the basic life-saving and everyday treatment services it needs to be a full general hospital.”

Kerry Ferguson, Ceredigion Penfro Plaid Cymru candidate for Pembrokeshire commented: “It’s great to see that the online petition calling for Welsh Government intervention in restoring emergency surgery and essential services to Withybush has reached its target, which means it will now be debated at the Senedd.

“We are so disappointed by the Health Board’s decision to get rid of emergency general surgery at Withybush. The increased journey times for anyone in need of urgent medical treatment, will put lives at risk. We need government intervention now to overturn this decision,” she added.