Judicial review of Withybush Hospital neonatal unit closure

Withybush will no longer handle any complex births under the plan

Campaigners fighting the closure of a neonatal unit in Pembrokeshire have been granted legal aid to pursue a judicial review of the decision.

Services would be moved from Withybush hospital in Haverfordwest to Glangwili in Carmarthen under plans by Hywel Dda Health Board.

Senior managers referred the final decision to relocate acute services to Health Minister Mark Drakeford.

Save Withybush Action Team (Swat) is challenging the referral process.

Staff have been told that consultant and doctor-led care at the maternity unit in Withybush will end next March.

It is believed that a midwifery-led service will remain at the hospital, but all complex births and any involving complications will have to be transferred to Carmarthen or further afield.