Swansea Bay University Health Board is consulting on making permanent the temporary transfer of 30 in-patient beds from Gorseinon Hospital to Singleton Hospital, a move that has sparked a petition warning of 'creeping centralisation'.
The beds at West Ward in Gorseinon Hospital were moved to Ward 3 at Singleton Hospital, about seven miles away, in September 2025. Health bosses said the decision was 'based on concerns raised by patients and families and in the interest of patient and staff safety'.
A year on, the health board says the change has 'provided a safer clinical environment, with improved access to senior nursing support and 24/7 medical cover'.
Petition launched to 'Save our Hospital'
Residents in and around Gorseinon have launched a petition entitled 'Save our Hospital'. It argues that a permanent change would 'establish a precedent for permanent service reduction' and lead to a 'loss of accessible, local care'.
The petition says Gorseinon Hospital 'has stood at the heart of the community since 1936, providing vital local care, rehabilitation, and step-down services to generations of residents'. It warns that transferring beds away creates 'immediate and long-term disruptions for local residents'.
It also raises concerns about extra travel to Singleton Hospital and argues that 'disconnecting beds from the immediate area fractures community-level integration'. Signatories say the move would be an example of 'eroding the functional scope of local facilities bit by bit'.
Health board insists future is 'positive'
The petition demands 'a firm, binding commitment that inpatient beds will remain anchored in Gorseinon' and asks people to 'help preserve 90 years of healthcare'. It calls on decision-makers to 'listen to patient experiences, local representatives, and staff before stripping key assets from community facilities'.
Swansea Bay University Health Board says it is 'unequivocal about the positive future of Gorseinon Hospital' and that the change does not mean fewer beds regionally. A spokesman said: 'While we are proposing to permanently transfer 30 inpatient beds from Gorseinon to Singleton, there will be no overall loss of beds.'
The spokesman added that the beds are used by patients from across the Swansea Council area and occasionally Neath Port Talbot residents, and that the temporary transfer was prompted by concerns raised by staff, patients, and families. He said the health board intends to expand specialist, community, nursing, and therapy services at Gorseinon, in line with the Welsh Government's Community by Design strategy.
Two drop-in events have been held, one in Gorseinon and one in Swansea city centre, with a second Gorseinon event being finalised. More than 200 people have been heard from so far. Two online Q&A sessions are scheduled for Thursday, October 2, and Monday, October 12.
