CAMPAIGNERS are making 11th hour pleas for their hospitals to be saved.
Announcements are expected to be made this month on the future of the community hospitals in Flint and Mold.
Under proposals which are under consultation, Flint Community Hospital could close and the minor injuries and X-ray units at Mold Community Hospital could be axed in a controversial shake-up of North Wales’ health services.
Hundreds of residents in both towns have protested against the closures and formed action groups to convey a ‘hands off’ message to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Cllr Geoff Collett, Mayor of Mold, is chairman of the Save our Hospital Action Group and has praised campaigners who have demonstrated their support for Mold Hospital to be unaffected.
Petitions have been signed and a well-attended march held through the town was held to convey the strength of feeling.
He said: “We have tried as much as possible; we have managed to get hundreds of people to write letters saying how the closure would affect them.
“All we want is for them not to touch the hospital. We believe rather than cutting down Mold Hospital there should be more money invested there.”
Cllr Collett said he was hopeful he would be able to attend the health board meeting when the announcement was due to be made, with campaigners vowing to step up their fight if the health board’s decision is not to their liking.
Similar demonstrations have been staged in Flint in recent months, with hundreds showing their support for the hospital.
Flint Coleshill councillor Alex Aldridge believes the hospital should remain open.
He said: “It is a period of uncertainty until the announcement is made.
“I believe we have put a strong enough case forward with convincing grounds as to why we should retain the facility.
“We hope they will make the correct decision to retain it.
“I believe closing the hospital would be disastrous. It is a much-needed facility.”
The health board’s consultation on proposals for changes to healthcare services in North Wales ended in early November.
A board meeting to consider the outcome of the consultation is expected to be held this month.
If the health board decides to proceed with proposals, changes will start early this year with the aim of finishing the changes by 2015.
They would be subject to approval of the necessary business cases by Welsh Government.
There was nobody available at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for comment.