Sir,
Your report last Friday of the Finance Minister's statement on Tuesday, October 5, most certainly was excellent news which gave cause for understandable celebrations. Unfortunately, by Wednesday when the Health Minister Jane Hutt issued her more detailed statement, serious doubts arose.
On Tuesday, Mrs. Hart announced new community hospitals for Ebbw Vale, Merthyr Tydfil and Tenby. By the following day Mrs. Hutt's press release omitted any reference to a new community hospital for Tenby. Her statement said: "An £8m. scheme, including land acquisition for new services in Tenby and South Pembrokeshire." It also went on to say "and public funding for new hospitals at Ebbw Vale and Merthyr."
Having suffered over six years of half-truths and evasions, we are understandably a little sceptical. Various options have been put forward to Mrs. Hutt by Pembrokeshire Health Trust, many of which offer a fragmented health service, with NHS beds scattered around a number of care establishments.
We reiterate our view that the only option acceptable is the provision of all services under one roof. A piecemeal proposal would not satisfy the needs of the area. Every independent study over many years has reached the same conclusion.
I have been assured by Dr. Dai Lloyd, the Shadow Health spokesman, that he will seek urgent clarification of the issue and that a question will be put down at Health Questions during this week.
We are now closer to achieving a community hospital for South East Pembrokeshire, but given the history of broken promises over many years, we will not rest until the new facility has the ribbon cut on the day of opening.
Clr. Michael Williams,
4 Harding Street,
Tenby.