IN JUST 24 hours, almost 10,000 people have signed a petition opposing 'drastic changes' to Withybush Hospital.

Last week, Hywel Dda health board announced its three options for the future of health care across the region, which are now open to public consultation.

But local people are angry that all three proposals would mean the downgrading of Withybush from a general hospital, and see the loss of A&E in Pembrokeshire.

A petition has been started by Fishguard man Myles Bamford-Lewis, who has been vocal in his support of Withybush since the health board announced plans to move special care baby (SCBU) services out of county four years ago.

Addressing the health board and health secretary Vaughan Gething, the petition reads: "Hywel Dda health board has proposed drastic changes to how hospital services are provided in west Wales.

"They propose a downgrading of our county's Withybush general hospital and Carmarthenshire's Glangwili general hospital, both to community hospital standard and a new general hospital to be built around the Whitland area.

"But this also means that we will no longer have a fully functioning A&E department within our county as it will be replaced by a minor injury unit at the Withybush site.

"In doing so patients who require emergency care in our county will be faced with traveling for up to an hour, possibly even more if you live in our county's more rural areas just to have that life saving emergency care in a hospital that will be outside the county.

"Having no A&E department within our county is completely unacceptable and is all in the name of cutting costs but more importantly cutting corners.

"Well Pembrokeshire is one corner of Wales that we will not let them cut us off the map!"

To add your signature, click here.

Hywel Dda has stressed no decisions have been made yet.

The consultation is open until July 12. To add your views, and read more, click here.

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