Downgrading services at Llanidloes Hospital despite a "mountain of protest" have been described as a "failure of local democracy".

Powys Teaching Health Board (PTPH) members unanimously voted to cut the opening hours of minor injury units and centralise some inpatient hospital care.

It was agreed, following a six-week consultation which received more than 700 responses,  that patients should be grouped together in hospitals according to specific need. This would see two hospital wards at Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital and Bronllys specialise in getting patients fit and ready to go home.

A meeting to discuss the proposed downgrade of hospital services at St Idloes Church.A meeting to discuss the proposed downgrade of hospital services at St Idloes Church. (Image: Public.)

The health board is now predicting a deficit budget of £23 million this financial year which could balloon to £35 million.

Llanidloes Mayor Cllr Jamie Jones told councillors at Monday's full council meeting that PTPH's proposals for the hospital was a "failure of democracy".

He said: "Sadly on October 10, the health board decided to ignore a mountain of protest, discontent, petitions, letters and meetings to temporarily downgrade our hospital."

A ‘Llanidloes Hospital action committee’ meeting, which is open to the public, has been organised to take place at Llanidloes Town Hall at 6.30pm on Monday, November 4.

READ NEWS | Powys Teaching Health Board approves hospitals changes

The mayor has invited organisations, councillors and Montgomeryshire Senedd member Russell George to attend the meeting which he says is to “find any way to move forward”.

Glyn Preston, county councillor for Llanidloes, travelled to PTHB's headquarters in Bronllys with a busload of residents to hand over a petition signed by more than 2,400 people to the health board's chief executive Hayley Thomas.

"At a meeting in Glantwymyn [PTHB] said the changes was only to save £500,000. With a budget deficit of £22.9 million, it's not going to touch the sides,” he said.

READ MORE | Llanidloes hospital petition handed to Powys health board

"This is only the beginning unfortunately. Hayley couldn't give assurances about the future of the hospital."

The mayor added that it was a "sad day for democracy" for the town and its residents.

"It seems there is an intention to close the facility full stop. There is no guarantee that we'll have it in five years," Cllr Jones said.

"This is us planning and plotting to find a way for them to change it."