A new mental health unit enabling patients to be treated closer to home can't fill its beds because of bureaucracy, says local AM Angela Burns.

The £5 million low-secure hospital in Pembroke Dock was built by Surehaven and opened in March.

But despite Surehaven being a subsidiary of Shaw Healthcare - one of the largest health care providers in Wales - the local health board is refusing to place patients there because Surehaven doesn't have a track record.

"We are in a ridiculous situation where Surehaven has built this fabulous new unit because so many people travelling to other parts of Wales or even England for treatment, all paid for by the local Hywel Dda health board, and yet now we have a unit on our doorstep the health board won't use it," said Mrs. Burns.

The South Pembrokeshire AM has now written to the local health board expressing her concerns and inviting the chairman to visit the unit.

"Obviously it is much better for people to be treated closer to their friends and family and in an area that they are familiar with," added Mrs. Burns.

"We have been lucky enough to have this unit built on our doorstep so now we must ensure that local people get to benefit from it."