The Chief Executive of Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust has announced the closure of Tenby Cottage Hospital later this month in order to ensure patient safety over Christmas and into next year. Mr Keith Thomson said yesterday (Thursday) that staffing shortfalls caused by running both the old and new Tenby hospitals, compounded by ongoing vacancies and impending Christmas holiday leave, meant that urgent action had to be taken to ensure patients could be safely cared for over the festive period and into next year. Some of the nursing home beds at Park House will be commissioned in advance until the new facilities come on stream in July next year. However, Mr. Thomson has reassured South Pembrokeshire people that bed provision in the area will not be compromised during the transition period and that, once operational, the new Park House facilities, complemented by the new Tenby Cottage Hospital, will deliver better services for the changing needs of patients. He told the Observer: "It is important for people to understand that for Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, patient safety must come first. The situation we are dealing with now is very different to when work began and we have to find a safe solution for patients. To keep the old Tenby Cottage Hospital open would mean putting patients at risk, as well as placing intolerable pressure on staff, and that is simply unacceptable." It is anticipated that the hospital will close by December 20. Mr. Thomson stated that the Trust was determined to deliver its promise to provide better services to patients across Pembrokeshire. He said: "In 2006, Pembrokeshire people will see the re-opening of new facilities at South Pembrokeshire Hospital, as well as a new £8.75million A&E facility and £1.3million MRI scanner at Withybush Hospital. These high levels of investment will put Pembrokeshire at the forefront of health services in Wales and hopefully will reassure people about our commitment to provide modern, fit-for purpose health services across the county, both now and in the future."