Emergency surgery will switch to West Wales General next month

Health chiefs said moving the work to West Wales General in Carmarthen would help it centralise services.

Campaigners claim the decision amounted to a downgrading of Prince Philip and Liberal Democrats called the inquiry "blatant electioneering" by Labour.

Carmarthenshire NHS Trust said it would give the minister the information.

Dr Gibbons agreed to hold an inquiry after he and First Minister Rhodri Morgan received a delegation led by Llanelli Labour AM Catherine Thomas.

It's nothing to do with the [assembly] elections. I made it very clear... whether this was happening prior to the elections or post-elections, this would be my view Catherine Thomas, Llanelli AM

The delegation which went to see Dr Gibbons and Mr Morgan included Ms Thomas, MP Nia Griffiths and Llanelli's town council leader.

Ms Thomas said she had been seeking a "full investigation" into the hospital trust's decision to move emergency surgery and has accused the trust of "engineering" the move by not replacing a surgeon at Llanelli who had recently retired.

She said: It's nothing to do with the [assembly] elections. I made it very clear in the assembly, in the chamber, whether this was happening prior to the elections or post-elections, this would be my view.

"This is to do with putting the needs of the community first, and they need emergency surgery."

'Uneconomical and unsustainable'

Two years ago the Royal College of Surgeons recommended centralising services at either Prince Phillip Hospital or West Wales General in order to increase the number of operations at both sites.

It said the current arrangement was "uneconomical and unsustainable," but its findings were rejected by the trust at the time.

However the trust board was informed of the changes last Thursday following a further review.

It argues Prince Philip would become a centre of excellence for planned surgery, reducing waiting times and the risk of hospital-acquired infections such as MRSA.

In a statement on Monday, the trust confirmed it is was working to introduce the new arrangement in February.

Lib Dem health spokesperson Jenny Randerson said: "I think it's a totally outrageous decision by the first minister and the health minister - a desperate attempt to save the Llanelli constituency which they know is under threat.

"We accept that the local member will fight for local facilities but it seems now that if you are Labour assembly member you can turn back the tide, as least temporarily, until after the election.

"How can we run our health service in Wales when we have blatant electioneering like this?"

Plaid AM Helen Mary Jones said: "If there is a last minute reprieve for emergency surgery at Prince Phillip at this time which of course I would very much welcome - people should be under no illusion that this proposal along with others to downgrade our hospital will be back on the agenda if Labour win May's election.

"It is time for a change for the better and this election is about saving the NHS in Llanelli and throughout communities across Wales."