Powys Teaching Health Board has defended its controversial proposals for the county’s community hospitals, saying its aim is to “stabilise services” and “plan for the future”.
The plans for community hospitals in the area have been met with criticism from politicians, the public and practises.
Announced earlier in August, the plans are part of an effort the board hopes will get people home from hospital quicker reducing the opening times at Minor Injury Units (MIU) in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon, with Bronllys and Llanidloes hospitals designated as 'Ready to Go Home' units.
The health board has defended the proposals on the basis of them being “temporary” changes being taken to “stabilise services now” in the wake of issues they identified such as staff shortages and “dangerous delays”.
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A spokesperson for Powys Teaching Health Board said: “It is really important to stress that community hospitals in Powys do not provide acute care.
“Instead, they provide those services that it is safe and appropriate to offer in a rural community setting including treatment for minor injuries. They do not have the staffing and equipment to treat medical emergencies.
“Whilst MIU nurses will try to provide first aid help if a patient presents with a problem that is not a minor injury, attending a MIU can cause a dangerous delay to receiving essential time critical care that cannot be provided in this setting.
“These risks are increasing because we frequently need to close MIUs in the evening and overnight at short notice because trained staffing is not available.
"For medical emergencies and life and limb-threatening injuries the health board’s clinical advice remains to call 999 or go to A&E.
“Our proposals for temporary changes aim to stabilise services now, whilst we work with communities to plan for the future.”
The plans were met with criticism from Montgomeryshire MP Steve Witherden and Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick, as well as Montgomeryshire MS Russell George and Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans.
Mr Witherden, who attended a public meeting in Llanidloes over the issue, said he was “firmly opposed to any downgrading of Llanidloes Hospital” and “extremely disappointed by the consultation process so far”.
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