As Powys Teaching Health Board consults on proposals to reorganise hospital beds and urgent care, another question has been raised: where are the younger generation?

Through public consultations hosted within the community, to a petition campaign, there have been many vocal on Powys Teaching Health Board proposing fewer community hospital beds, changes to urgent care and the closure of some inpatient services.

But a question raised by campaigners Local People Local Beds - Powys asks young people to show up. They say the issue will effect everyone in Powys, regardless of age. using their analytics provided to them via Meta, they said: “Only 15% of people interacting with us are below 45 years old. Health care is your future. You are the ones that will become elderly. You are the ones who may have to deal with a reduced health care provision in Powys.”

They have called on local groups such as youth clubs and schools to raise awareness. “People must engage, before it is too late.”

Demographics obtained by the group show that 32.6% of people engaging with their campaign page are over the age of 65. 29.1% of followers are 55-64. 22.8% are 45-54, while 15.5% are classified as ‘other’.

The campaign group also said that during in-person consultations there were “very few” young people in attendance.

But some believe Facebook is not the right medium for reaching the younger generation, instead saying the campaign should be taken further, to sites like TikTok. Others say that the language used for the campaign needs to be relevant and go beyond age.

Organisers have tried to engage young people to attend meetings and consultations.

Commenting, David Chadwick MP said: “We've seen an incredible response from communities across Powys to the threat facing our local hospitals, with thousands of people coming together to make their voices heard.

“While younger people may not have been as visible at some of our public meetings, that doesn't mean they don't care about the future of our NHS and indeed some public meetings like Ystradgynlais did attract a lot of young people!

“These decisions will affect everyone, regardless of age. Young people have just as much at stake, whether that's being able to access emergency treatment, maternity services or local healthcare for themselves and their families.

“I would strongly encourage younger people to get involved in the campaign and make their voices heard and those who want to get involved are more than welcome to get in contact with me directly.”

The PTHB Better Together consultation started on Monday, October 5, and is expected to run until January 10, 2027.

It will include 13 drop-in events across Powys.

The proposals are:

• Centralise inpatient bed provision across Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown hospitals.

• Or cut inpatient beds cut further with provision at Brecon and Newtown hospitals.

• Concentrate urgent care by establishing bigger centres in Brecon and Newtown – this would see minor injury units at Llandrindod Wells, Welshpool and Ystradgynlais close.

• The urgent care centres at Brecon and Newtown would also have a “minor illness and injury unit” at Llandrindod Wells.

• The last option is to centralise mental health services at Bronllys hospital.

A decision following the consultation is expected in the spring of 2027.