HYWEL Dda Health Board has pinned its colours to the mast with a public declaration of a commitment to provide a new Chemotherapy Day Unit at Withybush Hospital.

Campaigners – who have fundraised and fought for the unit for years – had begun to doubt the project would ever go ahead despite repeated promises from the health board.

Last week, the University Health Board, erected a large board outside the Haverfordwest hospital to declare that it is working with charities Adam’s Bucketful of Hope and Pembrokeshire Cancer Services Fund, along with other fundraisers and the Withybush Hospital Cancer Day Unit Appeal, to invest in oncology services in the county.

This will involve provision of a new Chemotherapy Day Unit and a complete upgrade and refurbishment of Ward 10, which continues to provide care for patients who need palliative haematology and oncology support said the health board.

A spokesman said: “At a recent Project Board meeting planning the future development of a new Chemotherapy Day Unit, the UHB put forward amended plans to improve access to the new unit by placing it adjacent to the existing ward 10. The plan was received very positively by members of the Project Board including the Community Health Council, stakeholders and local organisations who have tirelessly and generously fund-raised to support cancer services in Pembrokeshire for many years.”

County director and commissioner, Sue Lewis, said: "This was a really positive meeting. The new development is supported by the ongoing efforts of our local charities and the generous donations of the people of Pembrokeshire and we will be working in partnership to deliver the new service. Work on the project will commence in 2015."

The health board and fundraising groups are meeting on a regular basis to progress these developments in areas including recruitment and retention of specialist staff; and reviewing other modern healthcare facilities developed with community and patient representatives, such as the Renal Unit at the hospital.

Money raised for cancer services in Pembrokeshire, either donated to Hywel Dda Health Charities or these local groups, and other voluntary sector organisations, is being brought together to achieve this project and continues to be categorised under the heading of “restricted” funds which means that all donations will be used specifically for this project and nothing else added a health board spokesman.