THE official papers calling for a judicial review into health care changes in Pembrokeshire have been submitted campaigners have said.

The Save Withybush Action Team (SWAT) has launched a legal challenge against Health Minister Mark Drakeford in relation to his decision to allow the closure of the Special Care Baby Unit at Withybush Hospital.

SWAT found a ‘woman of straw’ - Kayleigh Donohoe from Monkton - to launch the judicial review bid and she was recently approved legal aid.

Cardiff solicitor Michael Imperato is has been preparing the documents and a decision is now awaited on whether the judicial review can go ahead.

He told Walesonline: “Transferring difficult cases from Haverfordwest to Carmarthen because there’s no-one at Withybush to deal with them could be potentially life threatening.”

SWAT chairman Chris Overton said: “We are delighted and hoping they will come back and say we can have a proper judicial review in the middle of next year and all changes should stop once permission is granted.”

The Health Board plans to locate a neo-natel level two unit at Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen and closing the current SCBU in Haverfordwest.

The plan has faced much opposition from residents and others in the health care industry with concerns also raised by the local Community Health Council.

A spokesman for Hywel Dda Health Board said it ‘remains of the view that it has fully complied with its legal obligations and will respond through the appropriate channels’.