Prince Philip Hospital has failed to find suitable staff

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust says its reviewing the service at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.

But some senior staff claim lives could be in danger if it closed.

Politicians say there have been problems at the hospital for a long time, but staff shortages are common at hospitals across the UK.

Prince Philip has already lost maternity, eye surgery and paediatric services.

Instead of protecting lives by transferring patients lives could be put directly at risk Surgeon Huw Evans

Huw Evans, a senior consultant surgeon and director of surgery said he believed trauma services would be next.

Mr Evans feared the long-term aim would be to downgrade it to a cottage hospital.

"The problem here is that there's been no investment in the services over the past 10 years," said Mr Evans.

"And we've stood still and in fact gone backwards in many services.

There are warnings by staff that lives could be at risk

"Very often in this part of Wales all the hospitals are full to acute admissions and there's no one unit that can cope with all the acute emergencies.

"Instead of protecting lives by transferring patients lives could be put directly at risk as a result of the closure."

The trust said it would work towards "safe and acceptable solutions" which it could have to introduce in the autumn.

The trust said it was acting out of fears for the safety of patients and staff, but Mr Evans said cuts would jeopardise lives.

Llanelli Labour MP Denzil Davies said problems had built up over the years which had to be addressed.

He said a substantial amount of money was going into Prince Philip and other hospitals.

"The problem we have now is... if you haven't got the doctors that are prepared to come forward and apply for these jobs, however much money you put in you can't actually spend it," said Mr Davies.

"So we are trying to put right a backlog which has gone on for a number of years."

Plaid Cymru Mid and West Wales AM Helen Mary Jones said: "It's absolutely imperative that it's kept fully staffed.

If you haven't got the doctors... to come forward and apply for these jobs, however much money you put in you can't actually spend it Llanelli MP Denzil Davies

"The Labour Party fought the National Assembly election very much on a promise to deliver on health care.

"And here we are a matter of a couple of months later in a situation where an essential service might be going to be closed because either the trust or the government or whoever it is hasn't got their act together," she said.

The Commission for Health Improvement said last month that accident and emergency services were being "compromised" by a lack of staff.

Worldwide search

The trust said that difficulties at Prince Philip had reached a head despite a continuing worldwide search for doctors.

It recently advertised in the medical press throughout the UK, but failed to receive one suitable application.

A trust spokesperson said: "The safe provision of accident and emergency services remains our paramount consideration and the continuing difficulties in the recruitment and retention of adequate numbers of medical staff has raised concerns regarding safety.

"Acute shortages of experienced doctors are impacting on the smooth running of accident and emergency departments across the country and the situation is being further exacerbated by the introduction of the new EU working time directives.

"There is therefore a supply shortage which despite our continuing best efforts we have not been able to overcome.

"We want to reassure members of the public who use our services that patient safety is our paramount concern."

The trust said seriously ill patients would continue to have access to emergency services.

Arrangements have been in place for some time for some badly injured patients to receive treatment at Morriston Hospital in Swansea or West Wales General Hospital in Carmarthen.

The trust said patients with any concerns should call NHS Direct on 0845 4647, who would advise whether they should attend an accident and emergency department.