Montgomeryshire’s MP has written to Powys Health Board to ask them to withdraw the proposal to temporarily change the use of Llanidloes hospital.

As part of a response to plans by Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) regarding the future of hospitals and medical services within the county, MP Steve Witherden has asked for the proposal over Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital to be withdrawn.

Mr Witherden says the response has been informed by his meetings with constituents, having spoken at a public meeting in Llanidloes in August opposing the plans to temporarily downgrade the town’s hospital.

The Labour MP for Montgomeryshire said: “I cannot support the proposal and on behalf of my constituents, have respectfully requested that it is withdrawn.

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“I believe the changes are significant and should be classified as such. I would like to see the consultation process aborted and re-run, at the very least.

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“At the meeting, I quoted the proverb – ‘there is nothing so permanent as a temporary solution’. This sums up the fear my constituents feel that any change proposed on a temporary basis would only consolidate and legitimise a permanent change.”

The proposal by PTHB, made earlier in 2024, would see the opening times at Minor Injury Units in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon cut, alongside a downgrade of services available in Bronllys and Llanidloes hospitals, which would be designated as 'Ready to Go Home' units. The health board added that these changes would be temporary.

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Mr Witherden added: “A temporary six-month trial would fail to paint an accurate picture of what the proposed changes would mean for the hospital year-round, with healthcare provision starkly different in the winter compared with the summer.

“PTHB are arguing that the current model for delivering community hospital in-patient services across Powys is inefficient. This may be true, but we cannot change our geography. I will make no apology for robustly fighting for my constituents to access healthcare near to where they reside.

“The elephant in the room here is the reliance on private sector agency staff. In the education sector, the privatisation of supply teaching in Wales reduced pay and lessened pension contributions with no saving to the public purse, making the job less desirable and creating large shortages.

“The Welsh Government took significant strides to address this last autumn by creating the National Supply Pool for Wales. I am hugely supportive of creating a health sector equivalent for bank staff, which would go a long way in tackling shortages.”