Hospital downgrades could wreck trade

ONE major aspect of the proposed downgrading of Glangwili and Withybush hospitals is not mentioned.

Glangwili Hospital is undoubtedly the biggest employer in Carmarthen, the county town of Carmarthenshire. The spin-off that the town gets from visitors to the hospital must be phenomenal. Shops, cafes, pubs, hotels, etc all benefit greatly. Plus staff galore must live in the town or close by.

Similarly, Haverfordwest is the county town of Pembrokeshire and Withybush must be its biggest employer. The town gets a similar huge financial spin-off.

If these two hospitals are downgraded and a super-hospital built at Whitland or near Penblewin roundabout, near Narberth, the businesses of the two county towns will be huge losers. There will be very few cafes and shops close to any new rural location.

Plus, hundreds of staff will have to drive from their homes in those two county towns. Do all the hospital cleaners even own cars? Whitland has a small population and few houses for the staff of a massive hospital.

Pembrokeshire will be the main loser. The largest population west of Llanelli resides in Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock, either side of the haven. It will be a much longer trip to hospital for them, as it will for the people of the St Davids to Fishguard coastal area. Not an easy trip to Whitland when the roads are chocka-block with holiday traffic during the summer.

Then, what about South Ceredigion areas like Llandysul, Aberporth, etc?

The roads are busy in summer and often treacherous with snow and ice in winter. It can be bad enough now.