A couple from Sageston have urged the Hywel Dda Health Board who have proposed to close the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital to rethink their plans.

The future of the SCBU at the Haverfordwest facility has been put in doubt in light of consultations currently being held by the Health Board, which has indicated that it favours a new level two neo-natal unit at Carmarthen's Glangwili Hospital, stating that the unit would be better than the existing facility.

Jimi and Arabella Thomas, from Sageston, whose baby Santiago was born on September 12, 10 weeks premature, say that it would be difficult to cope with an exhausting trip back and forth to Carmarthen or even Swansea should the SCBU at Haverfordwest be lost.

"Things could have turned out a lot different if they had said you have to go off to Carmarthen or Swansea, and there's no way we can thank the staff at Haverfordwest's SCBU enough," said Arabella, who had to have an emergency Caesarean, with Santiago spending three weeks in an incubator.

The unit also supported the couple following the birth of their first child Alba, who was two weeks late and suffered head trauma during a difficult birth, but has now made a full recovery.

"We are not the only people with a premature baby with other children and it is difficult," said Jimi, who is hoping to have the latest addition to their family home within the next few weeks.

"If the unit was further away, we wouldn't be able to see him every day, but the fact it's here has made things a lot more bearable," he continued, adding that the family planned to fundraise for the unit next year.