Hywel Dda University Health Board (HDUHB) has confirmed that a consultant community paediatrician will remain in Pembrokeshire, following reports last year that he was due to leave his post.

Dr Martin Simmonds, is known as an autism specialist, and last November parents expressed concern that his departure would mean waning support for children with the condition, as well as fears that autism diagnosis in the county would be delayed.

Dr Simmonds’ potential departure also created fear over the whole paediatric service in Withybush, as it came close in time to the retirement of one consultant and another member of staff going on maternity leave.

However HDUHB confirmed on Wednesday that the doctor, who won the People’s Autism Hero award in 2015 will remain in post.

“We are delighted to report that Dr Martin Simmonds will be continuing in his post of consultant community paediatrician, working with children in the community who require specialist paediatric care,” said a spokesman for the health board.

However the news will have no effect on the reduced paediatric opening hours at Withybush, which came into effect last November.

The hours, which HDUHB says are temporary, mean that the daytime paediatric service at the hospital has been cut from 12 hours to eight hours a day. The service currently runs between 10am and 6pm, rather than the original 10am to 10pm service introduced in August 2014.

“Community posts such as this do not work in the acute paediatric services and therefore will not impact on the current working arrangements for Withybush PACU, which continues on temporary reduced working hours of 10.00 to 6pm, due to acute paediatric recruitment difficulties,” said the spokesman.

“The acute consultant paediatrician vacancies continue to be advertised and we are actively seeking to recruit into them.”