Residents within Tenby town walls gave their unanimous backing to the campaign for beds to be included as part of the new Cottage Hospital for Tenby and South Pembrokeshire.

Llyr Griffiths, from Plaid Cymru and CATCH, during his talk this week to the association reminded members of events over the last seven years since the threat of closure had been placed on the present Cottage Hospital.

He warned that any new building without beds would be seen as a health facility and not a hospital. Private beds might then be considered at local residential homes, but he called for a hospital with beds, as well as the planned outpatient clinic, social services base, minor injury unit, x-ray facilities and tele-medicine. It should all be in one building run by NHS staff.

He also informed the residents that the present Cottage Hospital was now closed for two nights a week for minor injuries due to staff shortages. With job security uncertain it was an obvious consequence.

The vote to support Tenby council, Christine Gwyther and Nick Ainger brings the local community firmly behind their lead:

They are asking for a new-build with all the services presently provided by the existing hospital, which includes permanent beds as promised in the NHS sector and not temporary private care.

"The Residents Association urges everyone to lobby both the Health Minister, Jane Hutt, and the NHS Trust at Withybush. Write to them now before the full business plan is complete," said chairman Richard Walker. "The solid support from local people is there and has to be listened to.

"Let's hope it doesn't take another seven years to bring the urgently needed new hospital to this area."

Forms are available at the De Valence Pavilion.