Pembrokeshire's dialysis patients are livid at being ‘kept in the dark’ about the future of a proposed renal unit at Withybush Hospital.

As the Western Telegraph exclusively revealed, the Welsh Renal Network pulled a state-of-the-art, 21 station, renal unit from the Withybush Hospital campus, citing the cost of altering the road infrastructure and car park as the reason.

It is now looking to house a facility within a three mile radius of the hospital.

At present, 24 of Pembrokeshire’s dialysis patients are treated in a temporary unit at Withybush, with a further 20 having to travel to either Carmarthen or Morriston for treatment several times a week.

Patient representative Alex Cottrell, who was on the project board for the new unit, said that patients did not know of the change of plan until they read about it in the Western Telegraph.

“All patients were involved in planning the new unit from day one,” she said.

“We have been involved in shape, design, colours, business plan; it’s all there all ready to go up, everything, the exterior build, the interior build.

“It’s all been patient led, that’s why patients are livid.”

Mrs Cottrell said that at had insisted that the unit was built at Withybush for patient safety and medical care. Hospital based sites have access to a nephrology doctor which is not always the case on satellite sites.

She said no nephrology doctor will mean that patients who have complications will still have to go to Carmarthen or Morriston for dialysis.

“Why have their standards dropped? It’s all about funding,”

she said, adding that former Health Minister, Edwina Hart, had assured patients that there was £6million ring fenced for the unit and that her successor Lesley Griffiths had assured them it was going ahead at Withybush.

“We would like her to come to the unit and explain exactly what is going on,” she said. “This could have been a flagship dialysis unit.

“We want them to do a uturn.

Pembrokeshire people feel they should have the same standard of care as they have in Carmarthen and Morriston. We are worth it.”

The Western Telegraph contacted the Welsh Government to ask if the new unit would have a nephrology doctor, if it would incorporate any of the design features intended for the original unit and what the timescale was for the opening of the renal unit.

They replied: “We are working with the Health Board and the Renal Network to find a cost effective solution for the provision a permanent and larger Renal Unit for the residents of Pembrokeshire that can be operational as soon as possible. A number of different site options are being explored. The specification and size of the new unit will not change.”