Hospital fight not over yet, campaigners vow

CAMPAIGNERS have sounded a battle cry that the fight to save Mynydd Mawr Hospital from the axe is far from over.

The fierce pledge has come after Hywel Dda Health Board's public consultation over the future provision of healthcare services came to a close on Monday.

Chairman of the Mynydd Mawr Hospital League of Friends, Clive Scourfield, said: "We will be fighting these plans long after the consultation deadline.

"We have collected well over 100 questionnaires from the community and more or less 100 per cent are completely against the closure, and it could have been even more if we were given the documents.

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"We will be keeping an eagle eye on the results of the consultation — it will be very interesting to see what the figures are.

"The health board must take notice of the strong opposition they have come up against, otherwise what has been the point of all of this?"

The hospital, in Upper Tumble, recently shut one of its two wards due to staff shortages, leaving men and women having to share the same ward.

It is earmarked for closure under the health board's proposals.

Since the plans were revealed in August, supporters of the hospital have been vocal in their opposition. Campaigners claimed that they were left out of the consultation process after a public meeting was not held in their area, even going on to organise their own in Tumble Hall, and requesting 8,000 questionnaires for residents in the area.

Hywel Dda has said that the Your Health Your Future — Consulting Our Communities questionnaires will now be collected and independently analysed before being presented to and discussed by the health board.

Chief executive Trevor Purt said: "This is the largest ever healthcare consultation to take place in this area and we've been encouraged by the passion for the NHS shown by both staff and the general public.

"We are pleased and grateful that people have taken up the opportunity to get involved in shaping healthcare services through the various feedback events and mechanisms we put in place. We will use these submissions and clinical evidence to shape our services so they are safe and of the highest quality."

A Hywel Dda spokeswoman added: "Mynydd Mawr Hospital is currently experiencing staff shortages due to ongoing recruitment difficulties, so to ensure patient care and safety is not compromised all patients are being treated within one of the two wards. We would like to reassure members of the public that the situation is being continuously reviewed."

Pensioner told to take taxi to A&E — page 5

MP tells health chiefs to go back to drawing board — page 8