CONCERNS had been aired over staffing levels in the paediatric department at Withybush Hospital even before the loss of junior doctors in April.

It’s said there have been issues over the recruitment of middle level doctors to support the department’s consultants, who are over stretched.

At a meeting with the Community Health Council in Narberth last week Dr Sian Lewis, associate director of clinical services for Hywel Dda, said staffing was a concern.

"There have been recruitment issues with paediatric consultants and it is not unfair to say that they are quite exhausted," she said.

The loss of paediatric juniors in April will also have a knock on effect in A&E and obstetrics, areas that work closely together, with concerns about how this change can be managed.

Obstetric juniors are also due to transfer to Glangwili, in August. One suggestion has been to defer the paediatric transfer until then too, to allow for more time to reorganise the services.