Withybush hospital A&E set to be staffed by GPs

GPs will have a greater role in ensuring a Pembrokeshire hospital can maintain its 24-hour A&E cover.

Hywel Dda health board said it is keeping the full service at Withybush hospital after a document leaked online suggested it would be cut.

The current model, under which the service is covered by A&E specialists, will continue until May.

The health board said there will then be a "new way of working", although negotiations with GPs are continuing.

Under the new system, there will still be an A&E consultant in the department and the short-term solution will see more GPs working in this area.

The health board is still trying to find a long-term solution to staffing issues.

Medical director Sue Fish said: "Senior clinicians continue to meet, and indeed clinicians and managers from across Hywel Dda are meeting today, to discuss how we continue to maintain safe, high quality services with ongoing and significant recruitment challenges."

Meanwhile, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales published a report on Tuesday following its surprise inspection of the hospital's coronary care/stepdown unit.

It said inspectors were met by "a friendly, professional and well organised staff team, working within a very busy and specialised ward environment" and noted several areas of noteworthy practice.

The trust said the leaked document was only one of several contributions being discussed