'HOOT for your hospital' signs drew a noisy response from motorists supporting protesters at Withybush Hospital over Easter.

Demonstrators turned out on Monday to express their concerns over proposed changes to the county's health services.

And campaigners have also pledged to lobby the Welsh Health Minister and Assembly members next month.

The controversial Designed to Deliver document has proposed two options - replacing Withybush and Glangwili hospitals with a single super hospital or keeping limited services at Haverfordwest while transferring others to Carmarthen.

Local Health Board chairman Chris Martin said, at a recent public meeting, that viable alternatives would be considered.

So placards at the Easter protest urged people to take part in the upcoming public consultation and push for maintaining or upgrading facilities at Withybush.

Those supporting the Swat - Save Withybush Action Team - demonstration included politicians, town and county councillors, hospital staff, patients and the public.

Wolfscastle's Mike Field does not believe the needs of local people have been taken into account. He said: "The people who produce these proposals assume everyone has access to the internet, mobile phones, reasonable public transport and cars, but many of us don't. It is the most vulnerable in society who will suffer the most."

Christopher Hughes, of Haverfordwest, said: "I don't see why Withybush should be downgraded or closed with the number of people in the county and the number coming in through developments and during the summer tourist season.

"Travelling the extra distance to Glangwili, or a central super hospital, would be an added aggravation for patients and families at a time when they already have enough to worry about."

A continued erosion of local services concerned Narberth student Anita Vasfalcao.

She said: "Once you get rid of one thing, everything starts to move further away."

Karen Hawkins, of Haverfordwest, was concerned that the proposed options seem to contradict previous assurances that Withybush would not close or be downgraded.