The current position relating to the proposed reprovision of services provided at Tenby Cottage Hospital was called into question at the Welsh Assembly this week by local AM, Christine Gwyther.

At Wednesday's session, Ms Gwyther asked Jane Hutt, minister for health and social services, to give an update on the future of health care services in the area.

In her reply, the minister explained that the next step for the project was the development and submission of the full business case.

"The options agreed will be revisited and additional options will be considered," pointed out the minister, who went on to allay fears from Ms Gwyther and constituents about the future of the scheme.

"The residents of Tenby and south-east Pembrokeshire have waited many long years for their dilapidated cottage hospital to be replaced," said Ms Gwyther.

"It now looks as though a conclusion is drawing near. This last part of the process should have been seen as positive, but locally it has been viewed with fear and mistrust.

"My constituents have been told by senior representatives of the Trust and of the new Health Board that if Tenby does not agree with the preferred proposal, and quickly, they could end up getting nothing."

She went on to appeal to the minister to 'set the record straight' and asked her to state categorically that the funding already made available by the Welsh Assembly Government for the reprovisioning of services in south-east Pembrokeshire was safe; also that the funding would not be taken away if her constituents continued to exercise their democratic right to argue their case for beds on-site.

Furthermore, she felt that in the interests of openness and fair play, public consultation on proper, costed options must take place.

In her response, the minister explained that the 'great news' in the last budget to the residents of Tenby was her announcement in the planning round in the autumn of £4 million funding for reprovisioning of services at the Cottage Hospital.

"That money is secure and will be released when the full business case is approved," she said.

"I was glad to visit the site at Gas Lane, where planning permission for this project has been approved, and I assure you, as stated in my letter to you of April 2003, that as part of the process of producing the full business case, all options will be considered as part of that approval."