ASKING people to choose one hospital over another is morally wrong, Milford Haven town councillors said on Tuesday.

Councillors said they were “falling into a trap”

by answering the Hywel Dda Health Board questionnaire, at a special meeting held ahead of the consultation deadline on Monday.

Cllr Alun Byrne said: “These people have given us questions that we shouldn’t really answer, because no county should have to lose out. We should send this document back and say: you are going down the wrong road.

“This is not just wrong, but it is going against our human rights.

“Do we favour Withybush to Glangwili? Of course we’re going to say we favour Withybush, but I do not want to favour one over the other.

“We should turn this around and say none of these options are to our satisfaction.”

Councillors agreed that transferring services from minor injury units at Tenby and South Pembrokeshire to GP surgeries would be detrimental to local services.

Cllr John Cole said: “The proposed changes are not acceptable and we have no confidence that alternative arrangements will be in place. Agreement between Hywel Dda Health Board and local GP’s have yet to be endorsed and there is little confidence a conclusion will be reached which will benefit local patients.”

In their response, the chamber agreed that travelling times for Pembrokeshire patients would be “prohibitive” if a paediatric high dependency unit and complex obstetric unit were based at Glangwili Hospital.

The proposal would also lead to a reduction of services at Withybush, and may result in the hospital being deemed unviable in the future, councillors added.

Investments in accident and emergency services at Withybush Hospital would be welcomed to meet the county’s increasing population during the summer, and the high, increasing level of industrialisation in Pembrokeshire, said Cllr Cole.

And this stability of services in Pembrokeshire would have the potential to attract more and better consultants and support health workers.

Cllr Cole said: “By answering this questionnaire, we are falling into a trap, so that the board can say: people chose one hospital over another.”

He added: “If Hywel Dda was genuine in its search for public opinion it should have produced an open-ended questionnaire and thereby won the trust of the public.”

Milford Haven Mayor Cllr Guy Woodham said it was nevertheless imperative for the public to return their responses.

He said: “As we draw closer to the closing date on October 29, I feel that it’s imperative that as many people as possible take time to comment on the questionnaire, either by completing the hard copy or online, to ensure that the voices of the people of Pembrokeshire are heard by Hywel Dda.”

AFTER consulting Pembrokeshire County Council’s response, Milford Haven town councillors agreed that its final comment left “much to be desired”.

The comment states: “If services are moved, whether hospital or community services, assurances are needed to ensure appropriate transport infrastructures are in place.”

Cllr Cole said that the comment was a concession.

He said: “I am most anxious that we do not give the impression that, at the end of the day, we are going to accept the decision which is contrary to what we want.

“The phrase ‘if hospitals are moved’ is saying that after all our arguments, we accept the implications and implementations of this.”

Final opportunity to have your say: THERE are only a few days left to fill in health board questionnaires and, with relatively low numbers received so far, residents are urged to get theirs in .

County councillors were told at full council last week that only 3,000 health consultation questionnaires had been sent back to Hywel Dda as the deadline looms.

Responses must be received by October 29 and can be done online, by post or over the phone.

Pembrokeshire politicians Stephen Crabb MP, SImon Hart MP and Paul Davies AM,as well as the Health Board itself, are reminding people to respond before the deadline.

Both Mr Crabb and Mr Davies have been actively involved with the campaign to retain key services at Withybush Hospital and launched their own petition following an overwhelming response from the community about the proposed changes to the Special Care Baby Unit.

“I urge everyone to take part in the consultation before the chance is lost.

We need to join together to make a strong case for Pembrokeshire. I want our community’s needs and interests to be considered first and foremost as health services are carved up across the region,” said Mr Crabb.

This is the last chance for residents to express objections to or approval of plans which could see health care in Pembrokeshire changed significantly.

Mr Davies added: “This is a final opportunity for the people of Pembrokeshire to feed into the consultation before it closes.

“It is vital that residents do not miss this opportunity.”

The health board wants the Minor Injury Service to be provided by local GPs instead but Mr Hart has pointed out that the doctor’s practices have concerns about lack of space, facilities and money to take on this role.

He has also highlighted how busy the area gets in the summer – especially Tenby – and that it is more than 20 miles each way to Withybush or Glangwili for treatment.

The questionnaire is available at www.hywel ddahb.wales.nhs.uk/ consultation and paper copies are available from healthcare and community locations (such as main hospitals and GPs), you can also leave a request on the answerphone 01437 771232, write to HYWEL DDA HEALTH BOARD or email hyweldda.

engagement@wales.nhs.

uk.

All responses must be received by Monday, October 29.