A PUBLIC meeting will be held in Garnant to discuss plans that could see hospital beds removed from Amman Valley Hospital.

The meeting, which will be chaired by county councillors Kevin Madge and Dai Jenkins, along with Carmarthenshire East and Dinefwr MP Jonathan Thomas, will take place on June 29 at Ysgol Y Bedol.

It will give residents the chance to have their say on the controversial proposals put forward by Hywel Dda University Health Board.

Two of the three proposals put out by the health board would see beds removed from Amman Valley Hospital.

Llandovery Hospital will remain as a community hub with beds in all three plans, while Glangwili could become a planned care unit.

Councillor Kevin Madge said: “This meeting is really important for the community.

“Amman Valley Hospital has never faced a threat like this. This is a chance for people to have their say, and show that the hospital is vital to our area.”

Mr Edwards added: “By and large we have engaged positively with the health board’s consultation and have given them the space to explore and consider all of the options necessary to create a long term and sustainable vision for health services across the county.

“In doing that, however, we have set out a clear set of principles we expect the health board to address – the key ones being the proper integration of health and social care and enhancing the services available in the community.

“As far as I’m concerned Amman Valley Hospital, just like Llandovery, is vitally important for the future delivery of health services.

“At a minimum they should remain in their current format, but if the health board is serious about keeping people out of general hospitals then our local hospitals should have more services available.

“The public meeting will be an opportunity for the entire community to stand united and send a message to the health board that the removal of local services and beds is not up for negotiation.”

The meeting will begin at 7pm next Friday.