James Evans has called for Welsh Government ministers to have greater powers to intervene in health board decisions as Powys Teaching Health Board prepares to consider major changes to NHS services across the county.

Mr Evans, who is MS for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd and Shadow Minister for Health, Prevention and Sport, raised the issue in the Senedd yesterday (Tuesday), asking for a statement from the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Care about what powers ministers have to intervene in health board plans.

The proposals could see community hospital inpatient care concentrated on as few as two sites, while urgent care services could also be provided from fewer locations.

No changes have been decided and the meeting today is about whether the proposals should proceed to consultation.

If approved, the consultation is due to begin on October 5 and last for 14 weeks.

Mr Evans' comments followed a question from Liberal Democrat leader Jane Dodds, who had asked what the Welsh Government could do to intervene over the Powys proposals.

Ms Dodds highlighted the possibility of Powys being left with as few as 60 physical health beds across two hospitals, as well as changes to minor injury units and X-ray services.

She also questioned whether the consultation should include an option to retain the existing network of community hospitals.

In response, Trefnydd Heledd Fychan said the health board had not made any decisions and was still developing its plans and possible options ahead of the proposed consultation.

She said the Welsh Government expected health boards to engage openly and transparently with communities and make decisions based on evidence, robust options evaluations and impact assessments.

Mr Evans then asked for a statement on whether the law could be changed to give Welsh ministers greater powers to intervene directly in health boards.

He said: “We all know a consultation is not a referendum as well, and it does need to follow robust evidence.

“But one thing we hear time and time again is that Ministers cannot intervene directly in health boards.

“So, I'd be interested if the Health Minister could bring forward a statement on how the law can be changed to give Welsh Ministers the powers to intervene directly in health boards.

“That's something I would support, and I'm sure a lot of my colleagues would do the same, so that Ministers are actually accountable for the things that they talk about in this Chamber and can't just pass the buck back to the health board all the time.”

Trefnydd Heledd Fychan said she would make the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care aware of the issues raised by Mr Evans.

She encouraged him to have direct discussions with the health minister.

The proposals being considered by Powys Teaching Health Board include reducing community inpatient beds from the current 146 across eight sites to around 90 across three sites, or around 60 across two sites.

Under the three-site option, inpatient care would be provided at Newtown, Llandrindod Wells and Brecon.

Under the two-site option, it would be provided at Newtown and Brecon.

The plans would mean inpatient services being withdrawn from a number of existing community hospitals, although the health board says expanded community services would need to be developed before any reduction in inpatient capacity could take place.

The board is also considering options for concentrating urgent care services at new Urgent Care Centres in Newtown and Brecon.

A separate proposal would see adult mental health inpatient services brought together at Bronllys, or a new site in the Bronllys and Brecon area.

The health board has stressed that these are options for consultation and that no final decisions have been made.