A CASH injection from Welsh Government could see improvements to maternity and neonatal services at Glangwili hospital move a step closer.

The Carmarthen hospital is now used by many Pembrokeshire residents forced to travel to give birth following the removal of neonatal and consultant obstetric services from Withybush Hospital.

Improvements at the hospital had been promised by Hywel Dda Health Board as part of the service restructure.

Health Secretary, Vaughan Gething, has today approved £1.209million for the health board to “develop a full business case” for the second phase of improvements to maternity and neonatal services at the Carmarthen hospital.

The Welsh Government says the funding allows the health board to bring forward plans to make Glangwili hospital more accessible to patients while improving the neonatal unit and labour ward at the site.

Mr Gething said: “I am pleased to announce this funding today, which will allow Hywel Dda to develop plans to improve facilities at Glangwili.

“An important part of this process is engagement with the public and I hope people will take the opportunity to have their say on any proposals.

“We want people in west Wales to have access to the best quality neonatal and maternity services, this funding will go a long way to help deliver that ambition.”

The Welsh Government expects to receive the business case by the summer.

Hywel Dda Health Board Chief Executive Steve Moore said: “We are delighted the Welsh Government has given us support to move to the next stage in this capital development project. For us this is an important further step in providing improved facilities for our families and staff using Glangwili Hospital’s maternity and special care baby services.

“We will continue to work closely with patients, staff, stakeholders and the public to build and test the final business case to ensure we have the strongest case for improving the hospital environment so we can be as proud of our space and facilities as we are of our hard working staff. At the same time, we are working on early planning for the third stage of this project to also upgrade our facilities for children’s services at the hospital and we have not lost sight of that commitment either.”