A GRANDFATHER has told how he was spurred into setting up an online petition calling for the return of 24-hour paediatrics to Bronglais Hospital after the difficult birth of his first grandchild.

Simon Childs set up the petition on change.org 48 hours after granddaughter Evie was born at Haverfordwest’s Withybush Hospital – and as of Monday night it had attracted 1,333 signatures.

Little Evie, whose parents Ellie and Nathan live in Haverfordwest, experienced complications and had to be taken from Withybush to Newport’s Royal Gwent Hospital.

Mr Childs, a retired taxi driver and hypnotherapist from New Quay, said he was taken aback by the response to his petition.

He said: “Down in Pembrokeshire people clearly feel very strongly about the loss of Withybush’s Special Baby Care Unit, but here in Ceredigion I felt it was almost as if people had gone to sleep in regards to the situation at Bronglais.

“The situation regarding ambulance cover here is just ridiculous. A neighbour’s father collapsed at a wedding in New Quay the other week and an ambulance from Machynlleth had to take him to Bronglais.”

Mr Childs said Evie’s birth had been “stressful and traumatic” for the family. “When she was born my daughter was five minutes away from being put in an ambulance and taken to Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen,” he said.

“As it was, Evie was born purple and lifeless and had to be taken by a specialist ambulance all the way to Newport. The ambulance travelled from Newport to collect Evie, with a paediatric team plus paramedics before starting the long journey back.

“Her mother was transported in a separate ambulance.

“Evie is lucky to be alive.”

Mr Childs said the episode had sparked his online petition.

“I set it up because nothing seems to be happening as far as Bronglais is concerned,” he added. “We hope and pray there will be no long-term ill effects to Evie’s health from being starved of oxygen at birth.”

The petition states that the loss of the Bronglais SCBU “has had a completely negative and adverse impact on health care in Ceredigion and other areas covered by Bronglais, with many families being forced to travel for an hour or more to reach the health care they desperately need at Glangwili."

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