Hywel Dda University Health Board is inviting staff, volunteers, members of the public, and partner organisations, to share their views about urgent and emergency children and young people’s (paediatric) services at Withybush and Glangwili Hospitals.

The health board is looking for your views on how best to provide these services following a series of temporary changes made since 2016. This is part of Hywel Dda’s wider strategy to improve health and care in the region.

Following the temporary changes to paediatric services made since 2016, a longer-term solution will need to be implemented that will be in place until the proposed new urgent and planned care hospital is developed.

The health board has worked with its clinical and paediatric teams to identify the options for the services in the future. There are three options about which your views are sought. At this stage, the board does not have a preferred option for how urgent and emergency paediatric services at Withybush Hospital and Glangwili Hospital will be delivered.

For all three options, it is important to note that access to children’s emergency care will be retained at Glangwili Hospital’s emergency department, and minor injuries for children will continue to be treated at both Withybush and Glangwili hospitals. Also, systems are already in place to ensure that any child or young person with critical conditions arriving at Withybush Hospital has the best care available and in the most appropriate place. This will continue as part of the new service. Before making any final decisions, the board will consider all your feedback at a meeting towards the end of 2023 alongside all other evidence and relevant information collated during the process so far.

To ensure feedback is captured from as many people as possible, additional in-person events will be taking place soon at Haverfordwest and Pembroke Dock:

Details of the consultation, including information on how to register for the online sessions, copies of the consultation documents in a range of formats, and details of how to share your views, are available on the health board’s website: hduhb.nhs.wales/future-children-services .