Two Powys Medical centres have said new plans could be “downgrading our community hospital wards by stealth”.

Dyfi Valley Health, near Machynlleth and Arwystli Medical Practice near Llanidloes have both publicly opposed proposals by Powys Teaching Health Board to shake up hospitals by asking them to take on more specialised roles.

The plans which would begin in September would see Bronllys and Llanidloes designated as “Ready To Go Home” units while Brecon and Newtown will support patients “who need more specialised inpatient rehabilitation”.

The health board says they are necessary to help speed up discharge times and to "reduce unnecessary stays in hospital".

But in a statement published online, Dyfi Valley Health warned the changes would be “downgrading our community hospital wards by stealth” and raised concerns over issues for Welsh speaking patients.

“These changes are a cash saving exercise and will mean ‘less not more’ care and treatment.”

They also said they would no longer have control over who goes on the Machynlleth ward which would “end our ability to admit our patients and keep under our care”.

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They added: “Patients who are Welsh first language, or need family around them to be able to understand detailed English would suffer.

"Other areas of Powys aren’t as Welsh speaking as our area, plus with the added commuting times to other Powys hospital wards, families may not be able to be present when their loved one needs them.”

Arwystli Medical Practice added: “‘Ready to go home’ wards allow the health board to sidestep minimum nursing staffing levels.

“This means fewer nurses looking after our community hospital patients so when patients develop extra care needs or become unwell, there won’t be the resources to provide the needed care or treatment.

“Therefore patients will be returned to distant district general hospitals causing unnecessary distress to patients and family alike. This will also be at greater cost to the health board.”

Powys Teaching Health Board has said the proposals “reduce unnecessary extended stays in hospital, so that patients are able to return to their home including a care home”.

A spokesperson for Powys Teaching Health Board said: “Too many patients are spending too long in hospital. This increases the likelihood of 'deconditioning' where patients lose muscle strength, lose the ability to take care of themselves, and become disoriented.

“This can make it more difficult to return to their previous levels of activity and functioning when they return home, and can increase the chances of readmission to hospital.

“Also, it is difficult to reach out to all parts of a large rural county with the specialist skills needed for the best multi-disciplinary care, and there is too much reliance on very expensive agency staffing.”

You can have your say on the changes here.