THE reduction of inpatient hospital care for children in Pembrokeshire will be delayed until October, the health board has confirmed.

The stalling of plans to move full, overnight paediatric services from Withybush Hospital comes following requests from senior children’s doctors who had objected to the proposals.

Questions had also been raised about the safety of A&E overnight without access to paediatric doctors.

The service had due to be moved to Glangwili hospital in Carmarthen in August when changes to neonatal, maternity and gynaecological services will also be made.

A Hywel Dda University Health Board spokesman said: “Changes to neonatal, maternity and gynaecology services in Pembrokeshire and Carmarthenshire are still on course to take place on 4 August 2014.

“Following requests from our senior children’s doctors and nurses we have agreed to postpone the changes to hospital based children’s services (paediatrics) until October 2014.

“This will provide us with additional time to recruit the new doctors and nurses needed to deliver the new services and to put the required policies and protocols in place.

“Paediatric services will be provided on a 24/7 basis at both Withybush and Glangwili Hospitals for this short time. Further information about the changes to paediatrics services now planned for October will be widely shared as soon as it is available.”