Family members with loved ones in Glangwili hospital have told of long, cold, miserable nights camping in the hospital's car park, due to the cost of travelling back and forward from Pembrokeshire.

Carl Jenkins, from Haverfordwest, spent two nights sleeping in his car last week after his pregnant girlfriend was admitted to the maternity unit.

"Travelling back and forward was a problem," he said. "Money for petrol was a bit of an issue so I slept in the car. It was quite cold. I had a coat I used as a blanket. It wasn't the best night's sleep."

A friend has now lent 22-year-old tyre fitter Carl money so that he could travel back and forward to Carmarthen every day. He has so far spent around £170 on travel.

However he has still had to take unpaid leave from work and a week of his paternity leave before his baby is born in order to be at his partner's bedside.

"If the services were still in Withybush there would be more people able to go and visit her. I would have been able to still go to work and go up to see her at night," he said.

"Unfortunately I think it's going to take a death of a mother or baby travelling to Carmarthen for Hywel Dda to realise they have made a mistake here. I don't wish that on anybody."

Paul Hodson from Goodwick spent most of November sleeping in his van in the hospital car park while his wife, who has MS, was treated in Glangwili.

The 44-year-old slept in his clothes, wrapped up in blankets and duvets and cooked on a small camping stove. He says that other hospitals that his wife has been treated at have accommodated him on a cot in a side ward.

"I'm telling everybody who might be using the hospital for long term care; get a van you are going to need it, for transport and for sleeping in. I can't see it improving at all in the near future," he said.

"Parking is one of the worst things there. It soon mounts up at £2 for 12 hours. A couple of times I failed to put money in as the nurses called me to the ward. I got back to have an £80 parking ticket. I now have five of these.

"There a lot of hidden costs in going to Glangwilli that the average person won't be aware of. If your partner has got to stay there make sure you have £50 in your pocket and prepare for it like you are going to be stuck in snow. Make sure you have your blankets."

Since the Western Telegraph published the story in today's paper, dozens of people have commented on the Western Telegraph Facebook page recounting similar tales.

  • Have you experienced something similar? Email wtnews@westerntelegraph.co.uk with your story.