Politicians join SCBU campaign (From Western Telegraph)

Politicians join SCBU campaign

11:50am Saturday 25th August 2012 in News

PEMBROKESHIRE’S politicians have joined forces in the campaign to save Withybush SCBU along with the thousands of members of the Save Withybush S.C.B.U Facebook group.

MPs Stephen Crabb and Simon Hart, along with Assembly Member Paul Davies, launched a petition at the Pembrokeshire County Show with more than 500 signatures, along with the thousands collected by the Save Withybush Action Team, fighting to retain all services.

Hywel Dda Health Board’s plans for changes to health service in the area include the development of a level two neonatal unit in Carmarthen, replacing the SCBU unit at Withybush which it states is not up to national standards.

Mr Crabb asked why the health board did not have a presence at the County Show during its consultation.

“The reaction to the plans for removing the baby care unit from Withybush has been phenomenal. People are feeling very angry indeed,”

added Mr Crabb.

“Last week hundreds came to our stand to sign the petition.

We also heard a great number of personal testimonies from local parents about the excellent care their own children needed as a result of premature or complicated births.

“People at the show were also rightly asking where on earth was the health board?

Virtually every other major west Wales organisation was at the show using it as an opportunity to engage with local people.”

Mr Davies added: “This campaign underlines the importance of the SCBU in our local area. These are lifesaving services and any closure of the current unit at Withybush Hospital is unacceptable.

“Closing this unit will be hugely detrimental to the local community and to all families of unborn babies across Pembrokeshire.”

Mr Hart is also concerned about the planned closures of the county’s two minor injury units in Pembroke Dock and Tenby.

“Both units have been busy over the summer, especially Tenby, and they are a lifeline to the communities they serve.”

● Continuing its campaign the Save Withybush Action Team was out in force at the County Show.

Volunteers were collecting signatures on its petition to retain services at the Haverfordwest hospital collecting more than 1,000 on their first day.