David Chadwick has called the decision to deliberately extend waiting times for Powys patients seeking treatment in England “disgraceful and discriminatory”.

Speaking at the Welsh Liberal Democrats’ autumn conference, the Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP warned that many residents who had been weeks away from surgery are now facing waits of a year or more, with some at risk of further deterioration before treatment.

Earlier this year, Powys Teaching Health Board voted to temporarily delay treatment for patients receiving care outside Powys as part of cost-saving measures.

Mr Chadwick said the delays have disproportionately affected patients who normally travel to Herefordshire and Shropshire for procedures. The MP described this as “an active political choice, not an accident,” and said it has left many residents in pain and without timely access to care. He also accused Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay of showing “absolute indifference” to the issue.

“In Powys, we’ve seen a disgraceful decision to artificially extend waiting times; not because the system couldn’t cope, but because the Health Board was supposedly treating patients ‘too quickly,’” Mr Chadwick said after his speech.

“It’s utterly unacceptable that people in pain are being forced to wait longer because of short-sighted budget cuts.

“But what I find most shocking is the Welsh Labour Government’s complete silence on the issue, for months now, no condemnation, no action, no compassion.

“Powys residents deserve better than this, and I won’t stop fighting to put an end to this disgraceful policy.”

The MP is urging local residents to sign his petition calling for the policy to be scrapped ahead of plans to present it to the Welsh Government.