OFFICIAL support for Princess of Wales Hospital has been confirmed by Bridgend Council.
Members at a full council voted to back option three of the South Wales Programme for health changes.
Option three would see PoW join a select number of hospitals, including Morriston, to have regional status meaning it would offer a full service range of services.
Council leader Mel Nott said: "The consultation document background reports show that without regional service provision in the Princess of Wales Hospital, communities in the Llynfi Valley and coastal areas of Bridgend county would be significantly disadvantaged in terms of access to services.
"This would be especially difficult for some of the most vulnerable people in South Wales as these are communities with many older people and people living on low incomes.
"They and their families will often be reliant on public transport to reach a regional centre."
Residents from across South Wales are still being urged to take part in the consultation process, which ends on July 19.