WITHYBUSH Hospital's proposed new £6.7 million accident and emergency department moved a step closer on Thursday, when members of the Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust approved an outline business case to be put before the National Assembly.

Land adjacent to the present A&E unit has already been bought to facilitate future development on the hospital site.

"The next stage," says chief executive Frank O'Sullivan, "is to secure capital and revenue funding from the National Assembly.

The minister recently announced that money will be available in the coming year for developments which modernise hospital services. We are hopeful that Pembrokeshire's need for a modern facility will be recognised and that we can start building in the near future."

It is hoped that the new A&E unit will be the beginning of a ten-year development plan for Withybush Hospital, including better outpatient facilities.

The trust has worked in partnership with other agencies, including Pembrokeshire Local Health Board, GP out-of-hours service, Welsh Ambulance Trust and Pembrokeshire County Council's social services department.

The A&E plan aims not only to improve the physical environment for treating patients, but to create a ten-bed observation ward to obviate the problem of patients having to wait in ambulances or corridors.

The development will be considered by the Pembrokeshire Local Health Board next month, before going on for Assembly approval.

"This represents a major opportunity to improve services for Pembrokeshire patients who require accident and emergency treatment," said Mr O'Sullivan.