At an urgent meeting yesterday with Trevor Purt, the new Chief Executive of Hywel Dda NHS Trust, Preseli Pembrokeshire MP Stephen Crabb said that rumours in the community about imminent changes to A&E provision at Withybush are deeply troubling and require a clear response from the Trust about future intentions for the hospital.

He requested the meeting following a number of emails and letters sent to his office which claimed that night-time closure or a downgrading of A&E at Withybush, in Haverfordwest, could happen very soon. During their discussion, he questioned Mr Purt on the staffing difficulties which are said to be at the root of current difficulties in the Accident & Emergency department and the prospect of some serious trauma patients being diverted to Carmarthen instead of Withybush. Mr Purt stated that only in very exceptional circumstances would any trauma patients be sent to Carmarthen.

Stephen asked for evidence of a serious commitment on the part of the Trust to filling the Withybush vacancies and maintaining service levels within A&E. Mr Purt responded by showing how the number of vacancies had been halved in the last month since he took over the Chief Executive role and stating that adverts would soon be appearing for the local remaining vacancies.

Stephen claimed at the meeting that the recruitment system under the Wales Deanery system had failed Pembrokeshire and that the Hywel Dda Trust should have been able to anticipate the recruitment crisis and take contingency action.

Following the meeting Stephen said, "I have never made any secret of the fact that I believe the abolition of the Pembrokeshire Trust and merger with Carmarthen and Ceredigion to be a step backwards as far as local NHS provision is concerned"

"But I have to say that I found Mr Purt to be upbeat about the future of Withybush as far as A&E provision is concerned. He gave me some very clear and very specific assurances about the future of A&E at Withybush. I was given a firm promise that there is no hidden agenda or backdoor downgrading plan, and that there is an ongoing commitment to Withybush."

"Clearly we are in the midst of a changing situation as far as hospital provision in West Wales is concerned and this is a process which has been happening right across the UK. But a comprehensive Accident & Emergency department must remain a cornerstone of the services provided at Withybush. Our County simply cannot be left without 24 hour A&E cover. Our rural location and the nature of our local economy, heavily dependent as it is on oil, gas, ports and tourism, mean that relying on an A&E department 45 minutes away is not an option."

"I was encouraged by my first meeting with the new Chief Executive, but the Trust faces an uphill task in convincing local people that Pembrokeshire's interests are at the top of its agenda. After the consultation on downgrading Withybush back in 2006 which created enormous anxiety across Pembrokeshire, local people are very sensitive to any move that could lead to a whittling away of services at Withybush."

Stephen Crabb MP
House of Commons
London
SW1A 0AA

www.stephencrabb.com

Tel. +44 (0)20 7219 6518
+44 (0)1646 693888

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