Plaid Cymru has announced it will be publishing an alternative option for the transformation of services across the Hywel Dda region, stating that it doesn't believe the health board's consultation addresses how community services will be improved in the short term and that a new super hospital located between Carmarthenshire and Pembrokeshire is unlikely to be the silver bullet the health board believes it will be.

While not discounting the option of a new hospital at this stage, Plaid Cymru points out that it would take at least seven years to build and would cost hundreds of millions of pounds, with no assurance that the funding will be provided by the Welsh Government.

The announcement from Plaid Cymru comes after party Councillors, Assembly Members and Members of Parliament across the Hywel Dda region held their second 'Health Summit' in Carmarthen on Friday.

Plaid Cymru said the summits it has held have brought together "experience, advice and suggestions" from a "number of clinicians across a range of disciplines", leading representatives to conclude that a fourth option was needed.

In a statement following the summit, Plaid representatives said they recognised the efforts the health board has put into the consultation, but its response will be to "strengthen health and care services" and not "pit communities against each other" in fighting to keep their local services.

In a joint statement between County Councillors, AMs and MPs, the Plaid Cymru representatives said:

"Since Hywel Dda Health Board announced it was to publish a series of options to transform clinical services Plaid Cymru has tried to engage positively with the process, with an open mind, to consider how our health and care systems can be improved.

"We've now held two health summits, bringing together elected members from across the region, and have taken on board the experience, advice and suggestions from a number of clinicians across a range of disciplines, including general practitioners.

This is a mature way to engage in the discussion of health care transformation, rather than simply trying to keep the status quo which everyone agrees is not sustainable.

"It's become clear to us that the health board's consultation doesn't address how services will be improved in the short to medium term; doesn't fully consider the immense work needed to transform social services for any of the health board's options to be realised; and we do not believe a new super hospital will be the silver bullet the health board believes it will be.

"We recognise the effort the health board has put into the consultation and we do recognise the need for substantial investment in our hospital and community services. Our response will be to strengthen those services, without pitting communities against each other which the options currently on the table are doing.

"We believe the health board is presenting the wrong answers to the wrong questions.

"When we complete our policy position in the coming weeks, it will be one that we believe will empower those who use the service, not those who commission the service."