HYWEL Dda Health Board is continuing to overcome ‘significant workforce challenges’ with new doctors recruited to maintain services at Withybush Hospital.

The health board said that two new staff members are due to start in August and others are awaiting Visa approval.

It had been attempting to cover a lack of junior doctors following a Deanery decision not to send trainees to the Pembrokeshire hospital.

Early last month the health board announced that four appointments had been made but some had now withdrawn.

Further interviews are taking place on a weekly basis, as the UHB also looks to recruit internationally as well a spokesman said.

Medical director Dr Philip Kloer said: “Whilst it is good news that we have seen some success in our recruitment drive, there remains a temporary gap as international doctors await visas.

“It has been necessary for us to take this action after the Wales Deanery was unable to provide junior doctors for Withybush Hospital for August start. We’ve put all our energies into recruiting into these posts ourselves as we are fully committed to maintaining medical services and a 24-hour Emergency Department at the hospital. We continue to look at all options to fill the posts as quickly as possible to try and avoid impact on service provision at Withybush Hospital.

“As acknowledged previously, this is a significant challenge as there are difficulties in medical recruitment throughout the UK and we are working in an extremely competitive environment.

“We are also working with our clinicians on the short term impact to service provision should these posts not be filled and what contingency measurers could be put in place. We are actively working on these and will share these as soon as possible.”

All options for filling the temporary vacancies are being explored, including using locums, higher grade doctors, or fostering temporary support from medical staff at other hospitals.

A spokesman added: "Innovative recruitment campaigns have had some success and only last week Hywel Dda UHB announced the appointment of two substantive consultants for Withybush Hospital, whilst it actively recruits for more. The organisation has also been promoting itself as an employer of choice at career fairs, advertising in specialist publications and using social media to reach potential candidates."

Chief executive Steve Moore said: “I would like to thank our clinicians, HR staff and others who have been involved in working so hard to fill our vacancies at Withybush Hospital. There is a gap between some of our service doctor posts being accepted