Two Senedd Members from Mid Wales have called on Powys Teaching Health Board to pause their proposed changes to hospitals in the county.

Montgomeryshire MS Russell George and Brecon and Radnorshire's James Evans have both raised concerns about the changes in their constituencies.

Earlier in August, the health board shared plans to help people get home from hospital quicker, with Bronllys and Llanidloes hospitals designated as 'Ready To Go Home' units, while Brecon and Newtown would be for patients who need more specialised inpatient rehabilitation.

The health board has also proposed cutting opening times at Minor Injury Units in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon.

Russell George MS attended a public meeting in Llanidloes on August 16. He said: ‘‘Not only did hundreds of members of the public outline their concerns about the health boards plans to make changes to the provision of services at Llanidloes Hospital, but it was also clear from the meeting that current and former GPs, and other local health professionals oppose the Health Boards plans.

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“I don’t believe the health board have set out their current proposals in a meaningful way.

“The current engagement and timeframe that the health board has set out, would see changes take place from this Autumn.

“Given the significant concern and public interest, I have called for the health board to pause their current plans, so a formal and meaningful consultation can take place; the health board can set out their wider plans, and what it means for Llanidloes, and address the concerns raised at the meeting from the public and health professionals .

“I have taken up my concern with the Health Minister, Mark Drakeford MS, as I am concerned that the Health Board have not liaised with the Welsh Government on their plans.’’

The plans have also been met with criticism from several medical practises, such as Dyfi Valley Health, near Machynlleth, Arwystli Medical Practices in Llanidloes and Caersws and Llanfair Caereinion Medical Practice.

 

 

Mr Evans shared his views on proposals to reduce opening hours at the units in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon from September.

He said: “I, like a lot of residents in the Brecon area, have been very concerned about the potential closure of the minor injury unit here at Breconshire War Memorial Hospital.

"We’ve only seen recently over the weekend just how important this facility is for saving people’s lives locally.

“So I’m calling on the health board to close this closure, to actually look again, to do a full impact assessment of what this closure could mean and then go back to the drawing board and listen to the local people of Brecon and the surrounding area about what they need for local healthcare.”