FEARS that a cost-cutting exercise might lead to the closure of the minor incident units at both South Pembrokeshire and Tenby Cottage hospitals have been causing concern.

The unions are watching the situation carefully as Tenby Cottage Hospital faces decommissioning and new build, with an inpatient facility to be hived off to the private sector and run by NHS staff.

"We initially had some concern that there was just going to be closure, but we have been reassured by the project group that it is back on track," said a Unison spokesman.

"If the minor incident unit was closed, it would be a considerable handicap. We have not heard officially from the NHS Trust and consultation has been very patchy, but if it is true I shall go on record as saying Unison opposes it.

"It takes no account of the local needs of the population and Tenby's inflated summer population with the tourists. It would put an unacceptable strain on the A&E unit at Withybush, which benefits from the filtering effect of the minor incident units in both South Pembrokeshire and Tenby."

The spokesman said he was not aware of any threat to the Pembroke Dock unit. Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust said in a statement that the reduction of the 24 hour minor incident unit at South Pembrokeshire to 16 hours was on a list of 15 options, while it is anticipated that a similar reduction would take place at Tenby when relocation takes place early next year.

But no firm decisions had been made at the recent service and financial futures group meeting, which discussed a number of options to save £2.4 million, which is the current shortfall figure.