SAVE Withybush Hospital organisers say it’s “now or never” to save our Hospital and are calling for Pembrokeshire’s biggest ever march to show Hywel Dda Health Board that Pembrokeshire means business.

The people of Pembrokeshire are standing side by side supporting their hospital which has injected a new wave of energy into the Withybush campaign with campaigners from across all walks of life joining forces to unite once and for all against the proposed closures at Withybush.

Organisers are calling for a ‘Summer of action’ against Hywel Dda’s plans and are kicking off at Haverfordwest Football ground this Saturday (11am).

Campaigners will assemble for a huge protest march through Haverfordwest Town Centre. The route is flat so safe and suitable for all.

A spokesman said; “Over 22,000 have joined the Save Withybush Facebook group and almost 23,000 have signed the petition so we know there is massive support among the people of Pembrokeshire to save our hospital. Now we just need everyone to turn out this Saturday and show Hywel Dda Health Board that we mean business and that they will not get away with closing our A&E or any of the vital services at Withybush.”

In a bid to ensure that as many people can join the family friendly march they have been working day and night behind the scenes to organise a family fun day which will follow the demonstration at Haverfordwest Football Ground.

There will be live music, mini food fest, a crafts tent for children and countless other attractions on offer, including: Kids Fun Marquee with free activities, rides & attractions; face painting; hair-braider; jugglers and circus skills; kids Arts and crafts activities; save Withybush poster painting competition with fantastic prizes, including: Oakwood tickets, Manor House Wildlife Park, Heatherton etc; rock painting; wooden heart decorating; slime making; card making for Father’s Day; fancy dress competition; bouncy castle and inflatables; fairground style attractions and games; bungee trampolines; Dave Hitchcott Magician; Little Monsters Children’s Show. and much more.

There will be a Mini Food Fest, Pure West Radio’s Toby Ellis running the stage and broadcasting live throughout the day along with some of the best bands and singers Pembrokeshire has to offer, stalls selling crafts and hand made products.

The day will go on until 5pm Pure West Radio who will be running the music stage and who will also be covering the day’s events.

A spokesman added “The support from local businesses and people all round the county has been incredible, we have put ‘shout outs’ on social media for things like musicians and children’s entertainments for the fun day and the offers have just come flooding in. With support like this we really can save our hospital.

“These proposals are not and will not ever be safe for the people of Pembrokeshire. We must fight these proposals with everything we’ve got if that means taking the fight to Hywel Dda then that’s what we’ll do. Saturday’s Rally will be the first of many actions this summer, so watch this space for what’s to come!”

“Work is also going on to join forces with campaigns across the entire Hywel Dda region so that the Health Board’s ‘divide and rule’ tactics of pitting one hospital against another can be stopped in their tracks.”

Organisers urge everyone to turn out on Saturday and to march side by side, hand in hand with family and friends in making history and saving our vital hospital services.”

The Western Telegraph has published a full page advert for the fun day on page 6 of this week's paper, free of charge.

Western Telegraph:

Editor Steve Adams, said: "We hope as many people support the protest and fun day as possible and send a very clear message that Pembrokeshire cannot accept these proposals in their current form."

 Under all three Hywel Dda proposals, Withybush Hospital will be downgraded to a community hospital and lose services such as its accident and emergency department.

The Health Board says it plans to build a new hospital 'between Narberth and St Clears' although there is no estimate of how much this might cost.

A consultation runs until Thursday July 12.

See www.wales.nhs.uk/sitesplus/862/page/95249