Sir,

To highlight the importance of keeping the Tenby Cottage Hospital Minor Injury Unit open may I show one of the reasons for doing so.

As a fisherman, fish hooks in fingers are not uncommon, with some cases necessitating a trip to the outpatients department. One such incident resulted in a trip to Withybush at 8 pm one evening and, having not received treatment by 11 pm, the angler went home, strapped the small hook to his finger and after a night's sleep went back out fishing the next day, launching from Saundersfoot. On return to Saundersfoot at 8.30 pm, he called in to Tenby Cottage Hospital MIU and by 915 pm he was on his way home, fish hook removed and finger treated by two lovely nurses who showed both tenderness and humour.

I'm not saying you wouldn't get the tenderness at Withybush, but for both locals and holidaymakers, the speed of the excellent service, time saved and money in the cost of fuel (and less greenhouse gas impact), it is imperative that every measure possible is taken to save both Tenby and Pembroke Dock MIUs.

Dave Gledhill,

Pembroke Dock.