Welsh Conservative Senedd Members have reacted angrily to the decision by Hywel Dda University Health Board to downgrade stroke services at Bronglais Hospital and remove emergency general surgery services from Withybush hospital.
The changes would force patients in West Wales to travel to Carmarthen for emergency treatment in a range of specialisms.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Peter Fox MS, said:
“This will be concerning news for patients and families in Ceredigion and across mid and West Wales.
“Downgrading emergency general surgery services in the area will mean longer journeys for urgent care, increasing pressure on patients, families and ambulance services.
“The Health Board must focus on investing in local infrastructure and ensuring safe, timely access to care, rather than centralising services and leaving communities facing longer travel times in critical situations.”
Also Commenting, Local Welsh Conservative Senedd Member, Paul Davies MS said:
“I’m appalled that Hywel Dda University Health Board has voted to remove general emergency surgery services from Withybush hospital – but I’m not surprised.
“The Health Board is obsessed with removing services from Pembrokeshire and has spent years downgrading and removing services from Withybush hospital. As one constituent has rightly said, the Board should be rebranded the Carmarthenshire Health Board, as it continues to strip assets from other hospitals in west Wales.
“Removing general emergency surgery services critically undermines the sustainability of Withybush hospital’s A and E department and will result in patients having to be transported for urgent treatment. This is not acceptable – I will be taking this to the Welsh Government and urging Ministers to intervene and stop the Health Board from making this catastrophic decision.”
Also Commenting, Local Welsh Conservative Senedd Member Samuel Kurtz MS said:
“Residents in Pembrokeshire and Ceredigion are being treated like second class citizens, as it is always us in the West that has to see our services cut.
“The salami slicing of services is exactly what the Labour government have wanted, and the health board are delivering. This is a sad day, and residents will rightly be angry and concerned.”