Sir,

There is growing concern amongst SEPCHN members and within the community at recent Health Board press statements regarding closure of the Tenby Cottage Hospital MIU.

It seems as if the Hywel Dda Health Board is hellbent on closing a wonderfully effective minor injury unit, without investigating its consequences or having alternative arrangements in place. It reinforces the impression that the decision to close was made long ago.

Who is to run the new service? Where is it to be based? What will be the opening hours? None of this has been decided, only that the unit is to close.

What will be the effect on the people living in the area? The high percentage without their own transport, the high percentage of retired people and care homes in the area, one of the longest distances to have to travel for minor injuries service at key times of the year. How much research has been undertaken by the Board into the effect of these issues?

Recent statements by the board announce that they have listened to the public consultation exercise. Really, when the biggest proportionate response of any part of the Health Board district comes from Tenby and surrounding area, with 82 per cent of response disagreeing with the closure decision. Is this listening?

The Board states that it is going to provide care closer to home. Where is the evidence for this, when it seems likely that for periods of the week there will probably be a 23-mile journey to Withybush?

What is clear is that the Board has no idea of the importance of the TCH MIU to the people of this area and no empathy with it. Of course it is aimed at the treatment of minor injuries, but in this rural area it is often much more than this. It is often the first port of call for people looking for medical help that sometimes is much more urgent, as people have recently mentioned to us. This is a practical on-the-spot service, not one that is miles away at the end of a phone.

There is no logic in the Board decision. They state that it is not a financial matter. If not, they are scrapping and wasting a wonderful system. If you agree, then please come along together with the Mayor of Tenby to Tenby Cottage Hospital, at 12 midday on Saturday, January 26, and join people from across the south-east Pembrokeshire area, county councillors, members of all the local community councils, members of the SEPCHN and demonstrate against such a nonsensical decision.

Mansel Thomas,

Chairman,

SEPCHN.