PLANS to axe Llanelli's A&E department could prove disastrous for sports teams in the area, it is feared.

Clubs across the region are uniting to fight proposals to replace Prince Philip Hospital's A&E department with an urgent care centre amid fears injured players may not receive the necessary medical attention fast enough if the service is removed.

A Hywel Dda health board spokeswoman said 80 per cent of cases currently treated at Prince Philip's A&E were minor in nature and would continue to be dealt with there under its proposals.

She added: "The health board can offer the reassurance that the appropriate care will be available for all patients in the future."

But a petition is circulating Carmarthenshire League football teams, and Llanelli Football Club's general manager Nigel Richards has branded the proposal "scandalous".

He said it could have a major impact on sports teams across the region.

"If you get a nasty injury at Stebonheath park, Prince Philip is less than half a mile away," he said.

"If the A&E shuts you'll have to go to Morriston, or Carmarthen which takes 40 minutes.

"I think it's scandalous.

"Visiting teams could have to go to other places which is not convenient.

"It's ridiculous — this is the biggest town in Carmarthenshire, one of the biggest in Wales."

And Mr Richards added that the move could be detrimental to the image of Llanelli on the international stage.

"We've got the UEFA women's tournament here in June 2013," he continued. "Imagine if there was a major injury and no local hospital to cater for their needs?"

Mr Richards said he supported Carmarthenshire league secretary Colin Jenkins, who has called on clubs to sign a petition against the closure.

Mr Jenkins said: "The league are very, very concerned about this, not just for players but spectators and other teams outside the area.

"Players could lose a limb or something.

"Somebody could suffer a heart attack or a spectator, a child, could get hit by a ball.

"And it's not only football but rugby, basketball, swimming — all sports can have accidents and the facilities might not be in the town to deal with it.

"It's a worrying time."

Mr Jenkins said he had written to 25 clubs in the area so far asking them to support the petition.

"We've had a few breaks this season. A junior player broke his ankle and the players were sick at what they saw. The ambulance turned up and within 15 minutes he had been taken to Prince Philip."

And Seaside AFC chairman Huw Stone said: "With our senior and youth teams we have over 200 personnel and that's just for one club.

"Obviously you don't want to look at injuries but the more and more teams you get, the more the odds of something happening."