Local health campaigners met with the Deputy Chief Executive of the Hywel Dda University Health Board this week, to raise concerns about a lack of movement on a promised walk-in health service for residents and tourists at Tenby Cottage Hospital, amongst other topics.

The meeting organised by the South East Pembrokeshire Community Health Network (SEPCHN) at New Hedges Village Hall on Tuesday, saw the Hywel Dda’s Deputy Chief Executive, Mr. Joe Teape, in attendance.

Speaking at Tuesday night’s meeting of Tenby Town Council, Clr. Mrs. Caroline Thomas, who is also secretary of SEPCHN, told councillors that Mr. Teape had indicated that ‘financing issues’ might delay the project, but that the matter would be taken to a health board meeting on January 26.

She also said that she had enquired about rumours over a new dentist coming to Tenby’s Gas Lane site, as locals wanted to know whether it would be an NHS or private practice.

Clr. Mrs. Tish Rossiter told her colleagues that she, too, had attended the meeting and had told Mr. Teape that she was hugely concerned about the lack of A and E services in this ‘part of the world’.

“Back in August, one of my sons was in an accident where the top of his finger came off and the bone was showing,” she explained.

“He was looked at at Glangwili in Carmarthen on the Friday when it happened, had it dressed as it could not be reattached, and then went to Morriston Hospital. He was told to come back on Sunday morning, as effectively he was ‘bed blocking’. He was given a bed at 1.30 pm and two nurses said he would be seen that day, but it wasn’t until after 5 pm on Monday evening that he was operated on.

“I’ve had an apology from the Bro Morgannwg health authority over the matter since, but I put my concerns to Mr. Teape at the SEPCHN meeting about the lack of health services in this area, and I’ve never seen a man move so quickly out of that room at the end of the meeting to get away from everybody’s questions!” added Clr. Mrs. Rossiter.

Clr. Mrs. Christine Brown, who was also present at the health meeting, commented that Clr. Mrs. Thomas and SEPCHN chairman Mansell Thomas were ‘very brave’ to tackle everything head on.

“What I wasn’t aware of was that Tenby’s GP Surgery only had one full-time doctor and one part-time.

“With all the concerns at Goodwick surgery with GPs resigning, what would happen if our surgery was to close with staffing issues, where would Tenby stand then?

“It won’t be an attractive practice for doctors to apply to if it only has one-and-a-half GPs and a load of locums!

“The point needs to be made to those running Tenby’s surgery not to mess us about. To still hear of stories such as an elderly lady in her 70s made to queue outside in the cold and rain in November is disgusting, and someone needs to pull their finger out and sort things out,” added Clr. Mrs. Brown.