The Save Withybush Campaign team have announced that they will close their petition to save the A&E department at Withybush Hospital early because of a high number of initial signatories.

The petition, which has topped the 10,000 signatures needed for it to be considered by the Senedd petitions committee for debate, was set up by the Save Withybush Campaign with the specific aim of saving and retaining the A&E at the Haverfordwest hospital, demanding that ‘Withybush General Hospital must retain 24 hour, seven days a week, consultant-led urgent care.’

Campaigners told The Observer that the Senedd Petitions committee have suggested a closing date of May 18, as they believe it is likely that the committee will refer the petition straight for a debate, and they want to consider it at the next petition committee meeting on May 23. If approved it can then go to a debate in the Senedd, during their Summer term. They request that all paper petitions be delivered to ‘Save Withybush”, Pure West Radio, 1 St Mary’s Street, Haverfordwest, SA61 2DR before May 16, or email a scan or photo of your paper petition to: [email protected] .