Lib Dems Call for Stop to Health Board’s Hospital Plans

Powys Liberal Democrats have called for a halt to plans by Powys Teaching Health Board to significantly alter the levels of services offered across the County.

Local MP David Chadwick and Senedd Member Jane Dodds have criticized communications by the Health Board and the lack of proper consultation process with residents, GPs, the ambulance service and the wider healthcare network.

Proposals by the Health Board would see the opening times at Minor Injury Units in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon cut and the downgrading of services available in Bronllys and Llanidloes hospitals which are to be designated as 'Ready to Go Home' units.

The Party have launched a petition against the proposed plan.

David Chadwick and Jane Dodds also plan to hold public meetings on the proposals in Brecon and Llandrindod in the coming week following on from a meeting in Llanidloes in the north of the County last week.

The Party has stated that the current consultation period isn’t good enough and that the Health Board has skirted around holding a full 12-week consultation process by announcing the changes as ‘temporary’. They have also criticised the Welsh Labour Government for forcing local Health Boards to enact cost-cutting (or austerity?) measures amid central Government underfunding.

Commenting Mid & West Wales Senedd Member Jane Dodds said:

“We cannot see snap decisions about the future of healthcare in Mid Wales like this rushed through without proper consultation with the community and relevant healthcare professionals.

“Communities across Mid Wales already have to put up with extraordinarily long waiting times, ambulance delays and poor health outcomes. They are now being asked to witness a further downgrading of their services with no promise that more cuts aren’t on their way.  

“I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government as soon as the Senedd is recalled from summer recess.”

Adding his comments Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick said:

“These proposals from the Health Board have not been subjected to the rigorous consultation process they require.

“Numerous residents, but crucially also local healthcare professionals have raised their objections and concerns to the plans that have been set out.

“We are calling on the Health Board to put a halt to these plans, go back to the drawing board and engage in proper and meaningful consultation with the public about the provision of their healthcare services.

“Labour promised better healthcare outcomes if they came to power, yet residents across Mid Wales are once again being faced with cuts to their public services, with the possibility of more on the horizon.”

ENDS