HEALTH chiefs reassured county councillors there was no intention to close Withybush Hospital telling them it was the media that created the ‘doom and gloom’ despite the removal of a number of vital services.

Hywel Dda University Health Board chairman Bernadine Rees and director of finance Karen Miles came to County Hall on Thursday (October 16) but avoided answering direct questions on whether the Haverfordwest hospital’s A&E would remain 24 hours and denied the reduction of services did not amount to a ‘downgrade’.

“Services will change, services have to change and our responsibility is to provide safe and sustainable services right across the Hywel Dda Health Board.

“I know we could have got a lot of things better, communication was patchy.

“Withybush is not closing, it will not close, it will never close, it’s vital for the people of Pembrokeshire,” said Mrs Rees.

She highlighted that recruitment issues were a problem for Pembrokeshire, putting the blame on the media for the situation.

Cllr Peter Stock said: “Do you not agree that more and more services are being removed from Pembrokeshire and a reduction of some services? I believe services are downgraded and Carmarthen is not ready for it.”

In response, Mrs Rees said: “I don’t see that we are downgrading. I think the modern health service is very different to health services when Withybush Hospital opened. There’s an issue with Carmarthen, you’re right, but we are not moving all our services to Carmarthen, we’re moving to where young doctors want to work.

“We are not downgrading we are providing safe and sustainable services, to do that, the only way is to attract young, modern doctors to the west. It won’t be the health board or the people of Pembrokeshire that will close Withybush it will be the fact that we cannot recruit to Withybush.”

She added that there was an intention to look at all sites within Hywel Dda, including hospitals, to ‘determine what’s being provided’ to develop a ‘robust plan’ for the future, adding that issues in Tenby were being worked through and oncology and palliative care is set to be the ‘best in the west’.

A new three year plan is being developed for services focusing on aspects including care closer to home for elderly people, quality and safety, improving recruitment issues and reducing waste.

Cllr David Howlett asked for reassurance that Withybush A&E would remain 24 hours, seven days a week.

“I have said Withybush won’t close, we will come out with a plan with what services will be at Withybush, the front door is essential – there are no plans to close A&E,” said Mrs Rees.

The question of 24 hour access was also asked by Cllr Miller but no further answers were given due to time constraints.

Council leader Cllr Jamie Adams said afterwards he appreciated her honesty and clarity.

“It was important for our members to hear from the Health Board itself their plans for the future of health services in Pembrokeshire” he added. “It was a worthwhile discussion.

“Our Members were anxious to stress that in the long term it is services not buildings which matter.”