SWAT takes protest to National Assembly (From Milford Mercury)

SWAT takes protest to National Assembly

10:30am Thursday 8th March 2007

• Print
• Email
• Share

Questions still hang over the future of the Withybush Hospital as campaigners brought their fight to the National Assembly on Tuesday.

More than 60 campaigners arrived at Cardiff Bay to demonstrate against the closure or downgrading of the local hospital.

SWAT campaigners met with health minister Brian Gibbon and spent more than two hours discussing their concerns over the future of Withybush.

Talking after the meeting SWAT secretary, Cherie Harvey expressed concerns over the future of some of the services.

Cherie said: "He did tell us that option one and two have been thrown out of the window. However when he was asked about the future of out paediatric and maternity unit he would not give us an answer, and we were left feeling there is a big question mark hanging over these services."

She explained that we cannot afford to be laidback about the threat to Withybush hospital and urged more people to be counted in the fight Among those at the rally was Conservative National Assembly candidate for Preseli Pembrokeshire, Paul Davies.

He said: "I'm here today to support the hospital and the local health service, I think it's a disgrace that it nofaces downgrading."

At Tuesday night's Haverfordwest Town Council meeting Haverfordwest Mayor Chris Gillham apologised for not attending the NHS strikes on Saturday and reaffirmed his full support to the hospital campaign.

The SWAT campaign continues and plans are now being made for rallies to be held in Castle Square, Haverfordwest to talk to the public and for a hustings event for AMs and prospective AMs to be broadcast live.

Cherie added: "We cannot afford to lose our hospital services, this is the future of our children."

o Log on to www.milfordmercury.co.uk to view footage of the demonstration on Tuesday.

• Print
• Email
• Share