A Hywel Dda University Health Board board meeting in Milford Haven last Thursday discussed the future of paediatric services at Withybush Hospital, Haverfordwest.

It was confirmed the reduction of hours at the paediatric unit will continue.

Last year the public were told the plans to reduce the opening hours of the children’s care unit were temporary

Board members were told the re-establishment of longer hours for the paediatric ambulatory care unit at Withybush Hospital is currently not safe or sustainable because of medical recruitment and retention challenges.

Following the meeting Plaid Cymru tabled a question for answer by Cabinet Secretary for Health, Well-being and Sport.

Plaid Cymru’s Mid and West Assembly Member Simon Thomas said:

“This is a complete betrayal of the people of Pembrokeshire.

“Time and time again I have asked both the Labour First Minister and the Health Cabinet Secretary about paediatric care at Withybush, time and time again I have been told that the withdrawal of 24 hours services is only ‘temporary’. Now it seems Hywel Dda Health Board is moving to make the current situation permanent. It’s a complete and utter betrayal of the promises made by the Labour party to the people of Pembrokeshire and the west over the last year in both the UK and Welsh General Elections and in the National Assembly.

“The Cardiff-based Health Cabinet Secretary refused to confirm to me that he would be happy to live in an area with no overnight paediatric care but he has the luxury of never having to face such difficult circumstances. This would never happen in Cardiff. We have had glib assurance after glib assurance that the Welsh Government is recruiting more staff but the reality for us here in the west is unsafe services and managers who promise the earth but deliver nothing.

“The Labour Government in Wales has just spent months bragging about how workers in the NHS in England are disillusioned and hate the Westminster government. How come we can’t get people who want to work in the west? 18 years of Labour rule over the NHS here in Wales has left it with a poor reputation and clearly recruitment campaigns are not working.

“Those of us who fight for local services are always told that Royal Colleges care standards and rules must apply. So what about the rule that says you must have 24 hour paediatrics to support a full A&E service? This decision must mean that A&E at Withybush is also under threat.”