FOR over six years we were told by various groups what was going to happen at Withybush Hospital. Most did not believe them and thought they were “scaremongering”, and could not be bothered to write/email/telephone their AMs or did not want to put ourselves out to attend meetings or demos.

Now, with recent news, sadly it appears they were right all along and we have been hoodwinked.

Hospital births will be at Carmarthen, meaning women in labour will have to travel an extra 45 minutes to an hour at least on top of current time to travel to Haverfordwest. What if there is an unexpected complication?

What if a partner has to drive to Carmarthen (if they have a car and an ambulance is taking too long to collect) and driving faster than they should creating hazard and extra traffic?

If they already have young children with no–one to immediately look after them they will have to be collected from Carmarthen later. How can partner/family visit if they have no transport?

This is on top of wanting to close Special Care Baby Unit creating even more risk for last minute complications.

It seems to me it is more logical to centralise maternity and paediatrics at Withybush and beef up Swansea as Carmarthen has dual carriageway/ motorway all the way so could be there in 20 minutes or less.

I was told recently that the top floor of hospital could be used for private patients only.

While sceptical at first thinking it defied logic, it now appears this has started to happen. It is creating a two-class health system with increased risk for all who cannot afford to go private.

What else will be moved from Withybush until it becomes nothing more than an urgent care centre and recuperation unit if it survives at all?

When Pembrokeshire heath care was separate, Withybush was in the green but when combined with Carmarthenshire it took on their debt. I would like to see where Hywel Dda budget deficit is incurred.

We all need to get off our backsides and lobby the Welsh Assembly, who are ultimately responsible as they cut health budgets and have to okay the final decision, by writing/emailing the Health Minister, attending public meetings and Welsh Assembly demos etc even if it means putting ourselves out.

Otherwise when a tragedy occurs, and who knows it may be one of our families, we all bear responsibility for not even trying.

Thank you to all those campaign groups who unselfishly spent countless time and expense trying to make us aware of what was happening and continued even though low turnout on occasions must have been discouraging (also the people who have continually attended demos etc). I hope you continue even if some of us have not listened or have not made an effort in the past as it was ‘inconvenient’.

ELAINE WILLIAMS

Milford Haven