Fears were raised by Tenby town councillors on Tuesday night over possible funding problems for the proposed building of a community hospital at the town's Butts Field site.
Members were concerned that the funding left over for the NHS Trust in the area wasn't enough to commit to the building of a new purpose-built hospital with beds.
That left £3 million for development, but with the NHS Trust being almost £2.5 million in debt, the concern was that the money earmarked for Tenby would be withdrawn to compensate for the losses.
Agreeing that beds were a priority, Clr. Folland suggested that to avoid further delay they should at first push for the land to be purchased and the foundations laid before continuing to campaign for what facilities are included in the building.
The suggestion was opposed by other members, however.
Deputy Mayor, Clr. Andrew Rees, claimed that if the beds were not there when the hospital was opened, then they would never be there.
"Beds are needed from word go; if they aren't there, then the new premises would be nothing more than a clinic," he said.
Some 97-98 per cent of all letters and support slips received as part of the ongoing campaign stated that beds in the community hospital were of prime importance.
The beds would be used by patients who were not well enough to go home, but not in need of specialist treatment in Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest, therefore freeing up beds for those people who do need the attention.
Clr. Thomas raised another concern that could jeopardise the development, with not one representative of the current LHB (Local Health Board) being from the south-east Pembrokeshire area.
The board of 20 recommend funding for the whole of Pembrokeshire and without representation, Tenby could lose out.
The members of the LHB were appointed by the Welsh Assembly and queries have arisen over the selection process, with CATCH (CAmpaign for Action on Tenby Cottage Hospital) calling for a judicial review to determine why Tenby had been left out.
Nick Bourne, Leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the National Assembly and Assembly Member for Mid and West Wales, has also expressed concern at the lack of representation.
"I am concerned that no-one living in Tenby or the South Pembrokeshire area is represented on the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board," he said in a statement yesterday.
"This is particularly regrettable when you consider that Tenby Hospital is such a vital issue at present.
"It would have been far better if someone from South Pembrokeshire was appointed to the board to ensure the views of the people of the area were heard."
'KEEP THE
PRESSURE UP'
Meanwhile, as the hospital campaign continues, Assembly Member Christine Gwyther is urging people to 'keep the pressure up'.
"I would like to say a big thank you to the Tenby Observer and to everyone who has written back to me using the tear-off slips from my letter and the cut-out slips in the Observer," she said this week. "The tally so far is 1,809, and rising! Now is the time to keep the pressure up."
Christine added: "Apart from two people, who did not see the need for beds on-site, the response has been consistent and it has been powerful. The people of south-east Pembrokeshire - patients, relatives and health professionals think that the best service for the region will be provided by a hospital with beds on-site.
"Many people were annoyed that I was asking them such an obvious question, and I can see their point! However, I think the case for a facility with beds on-site has been proved overwhelmingly.
"I have written to every member of the Pembrokeshire NHS Trust Board and the new Pembrokeshire Local Health Board (taking over on April 1) to tell them so, and I urge people to do the same, and to make their feelings known at the forthcoming coffee evening at the De Valence on Monday next, where these two organisations will be represented."