Protests have been held against service changes at Withybush

NHS managers have launched a document to persuade staff and the public of the need for radical changes in the delivery of hospital services.

But the consultants said they fear it will only lead to the downgrading of Withybush Hospital, in Haverfordwest.

Both Pembrokeshire Local Health Board and the assembly government said there are no plans to downgrade Withybush.

Proposed changes

There has been a campaign by some members of medical staff and the public in Pembrokeshire against service cuts imposed this year by the NHS trust to met a financial shortfall.

Pembrokeshire and Derwen NHS Trust, which is around �11m in the red, has to pay back the Welsh Assembly Government �2.4m a year until 2009.

Four more Withybush consultants have opposed the changes

On Thursday, NHS trusts and local health boards in mid and west Wales launched The Case for Change - a document setting out the argument for making changes in the provision of local healthcare.

It says the changes involve greater networking and cooperation between hospitals, centralising some specialist services and greater use of telemedicine and technology.

Previously, Withybush consultant Chris Overton was suspended and later reinstated by the Pembrokeshire and Derwen Trust after protesting over bed cuts.

Four more consultants - general surgeons Ken Harries and Peter Milewski and paediatricians Gustavo Falcao and Velpillai Vipulendran - have all spoken to BBC Wales' Dragon's Eye programme, opposing the changes.

We feel it will cause a lot of deaths and difficulties for families Paediatrician Velpillai Vipulendran

The consultants claim that any downgrading of Withybush could result in deaths of patients because of the extra travelling needed to reach other hospitals.

Mr Harries said: "It'll cost lives - not many, but we've got to the stage we're accepting the odd life just to save some money.

"I can't accept that, unfortunately."

Paediatrician Mr Vipulendran added: "The possible diminution of services in general and specifically inpatient services going elsewhere will greatly jeopardise the service provision for the children of Pembrokeshire.

"We feel it will cause a lot of deaths and difficulties for families."

Chris Martin, chair of Pembrokeshire LHB, said in response to the consultants' criticisms, that the medics could be involved in shaping the future of local services.

'Engaged in process'

He added: "There's no hidden agenda here. There's a real opportunity for the public in Pembrokeshire and most importantly those clinicians to engage in the process to shape the future of their services in our locality.

"That's very important. We want people engaged in the process so we can shape future services."