Residents have raised concerns about the future of Llandrindod Wells Hospital at a recent surgery event.

The event, held by Reform MS for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Iain McIntosh, gave people the chance to discuss proposals by Powys Teaching Health Board which could see the hospital lose all its inpatient beds and potentially its minor injuries unit (MIU).

The board is consulting on two options for community hospital services across Powys. One would reduce provision from 146 beds to 90 across Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown, while the other would cut the total to 60 beds at Brecon and Newtown.

‘Alarming and possible dangerous’

Mr McIntosh said he was “totally opposed” to the proposed changed.

He added: “There are already issues with the major hospitals outside of Powys which handle the more serious medical conditions suffered by Powys residents. People go out of county for many services including various types of surgery and treatment for cancer.”

He said community hospitals provided step-down care for patients returning from major hospitals outside Powys, allowing them to receive nursing support closer to home before being discharged.

“Powys is on the verge of reducing the capacity of the area to take back its own patients in an alarming and possibly dangerous way,” he said.

Mr McIntosh questioned how patients would be supported at home if inpatient beds were removed, particularly given the health board’s existing staffing challenges.

He said recruiting district nurses to provide care across the county could involve significant travelling time, and questioned whether one or two visits a day could replace round-the-clock nursing care in hospital.

Mr McIntosh is holding a second surgery on Friday, October 30, for people concerned about proposed changes at Ystradgynlais Community Hospital.

Consultation runs until January 10

Powys Teaching Health Board says its Better Together programme aims to shift care away from hospitals towards support in people’s homes and communities where it is safe to do so. It says hospital and inpatient care would remain important for patients who need it, with the proposals also intended to strengthen rehabilitation, urgent care and support for people to live independently.

The Better Together public consultation runs until January 10, 2027.

Further details can be found at: pthb.nhs.wales/about-us/better-together/