Campaign to save Withybush Hospital wards gains momentum

Campaign group Save Withybush have posted a petition on the Welsh Government website asking it to permanently retain a 24-hour consultant-led accident and emergency service at Withybush Hospital.

It has now reached 10,000 signatures meaning the Senedd Petitions Committee will consider it for debate.

Hayley Wood, from campaign group Save Withybush, said the petition raised serious questions about the plans.

Hayley said: “We believe this will send a clear message to the Hywel Dda Health Board that they cannot trample the people of Pembrokeshire and that they need to rethink their plans.”

In February people protested Hywel Dda’s plans for Withybush

The petition was posted online on February 16, 2022 and, according to the campaign group, more than 65% of the people who signed it are from the area served by Withybush Hospital.

A spokesperson for the Save Withybush campaign questioned the health board’s plans saying the potential NW Wales hospital site does not take into account the frail and elderly.

“The fight to stop the health board from downgrading Withybush has been going on for too many years and downgrades are happening because of the health board’s inability to recruit medical staff, but that shouldn’t be a reason for them to downgrade essential medical services.”

There are plans to build a new hospital somewhere between Narberth and St Clears.

“In the plans for the potential location of the new hospital, the Board of Health failed to take into account the frail, the elderly, those with chronic conditions, those without means of transport and, just as importantly , low-income people.”

The Save Withybush campaign has planned a rally on Saturday April 23 from 12 p.m. to 1:30 p.m. outside Withybush Hospital.

To view the petition, go to https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/245093?