3. Urgent Question: Paediatric Services at Withybush Hospital

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 2:35 pm on 22 November 2016.

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Photo of Mr Neil Hamilton Mr Neil Hamilton UKIP 2:35, 22 November 2016

The Cabinet Secretary will recognise that there is universal concern across the party divide in this Assembly over this regrettable situation. And this arises because it coincides with the retirement of a Pembrokeshire paediatric consultant and the maternity leave of another. The retirement of one paediatric consultant surely is reasonably foreseeable, and there should have been some provision for this situation arising. There are many people in Pembrokeshire who think this is part of a long-term plan to close these services, because, three years ago, the service was downgraded from 24 hours to 12—now it’s been downgraded to eight. This is, apparently, a temporary change, but who knows. The Cabinet Secretary has given us tentative assurances, but on the other hand has said it’s not actually his decision or responsibility—it’s that of the local health board. This is a board that is in targeted intervention. Why doesn’t the health Secretary target his intervention on this very pressing need, which is going to affect, particularly people in north Pembrokeshire and west Pembrokeshire, because Glangwili is a very long way to go, especially late at night?