Hywel Dda University Health Board published the responses to their 12-week consultation last week.

The report will be formally received at an extraordinary meeting due to be held at Carmarthenshire County Council Chambers on Wednesday, September 26, where the Amman Valley Hospital Action Committee are planning a demonstration.

Hywel Dda chief executive, Steve Moore said: “We have committed throughout this process to be as open and inclusive as possible and we’ve strived to go above and beyond expectations for continuous engagement because it is the right thing to do and because we have learnt so much from discussion, new ideas and challenges.”

The consultation received responses from 5,395 people, with most showing support for change, strenghtening community models and providing a new hospital in the south of the Hywel Dda area.

However, there was considerable disagreement around locations of proposed community hubs and hospitals, with recurring suggestions for hubs to be considered in Milford Haven and Neyland, Fishgaurd and Goodwick, Crmych, Lampeter and Llandysul.

There was a lot of concern expressed over the loss of community beds, particularly from Amman Valley Hospital.

The removal of beds from Amman Valley Hospital was included in two of the three proposals, A and B.

The report revealed that the majority of residents within the Amman and Gwendraeth Valleys would be supportive of option C out of proposals, the suggestion that saw Amman Valley Hospital retain its hospital beds.

It read: “Proposal C has the greatest support in southeast Carmarthenshire, particularly Cross Hands and the Amman Valley, though there is again majority support for this proposal in some southern parts of Ceredigion.

“Under Proposal B there were specific concerns raised about the uncertainty about community beds being provided in Llanelli; and whilst it was recognised that community beds would be provided in Carmarthen, there was also concern about there being no beds retained at Amman Valley Hospital.

“In terms of hub locations, Eluned Morgan AM, the Carmarthen East and Dinefwr Labour Party and Plaid Cymru were all worried about the loss of beds at Amman Valley Hospital.”

The full published report can be viewed at hywelddahb.wales.nhs.uk/hddchange.