Politicians outraged at community hospital bed cutback proposal

Politicians throughout Powys have expressed their outrage at reports of plans to remove ward beds in almost every community hospital in the county.

According to reports, Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) is considering removing beds in Ystradgynlais, Builth Wells, Knighton, Bronllys, Welshpool, Llanidloes and Machynlleth. Only Brecon and Newtown hospitals are certain to remain, while Llandrindod Wells Hospital is also understood to be under threat.

Only Brecon and Newtown would be confirmed as safe.

The news was first reported by Powys County Times and the Welsh Liberal Democrats have since launched a petition against the proposals.

The party have accused the Health Board of pursuing a failed model of decision-making that repeatedly asks rural communities to accept less while offering little reassurance that patients will receive better care elsewhere.

They have also said the previous Welsh Labour Government bears significant responsibility for the financial position the Health Board now finds itself in, failing to deliver a sustainable funding settlement for rural healthcare.

Local MP David Chadwick and Senedd Member Jane Dodds have stated that the new Plaid Cymru-led Welsh Government cannot continue the hands-off approach of hiding behind unelected health board bosses, and have called on the Welsh Health Minister to intervene directly andmake clear that these closures will not proceed.

They say the new Government must now prove it truly stands up for rural Wales by taking direct responsibility for protecting local hospitals.

Commenting on the proposed changes, David Chadwick Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe said: "These proposals are nothing short of an outrage.

"People across Powys already feel like second-class citizens when it comes to healthcare. Services have been steadily stripped away, people are forced to travel further than almost anyone else in Wales for treatment, and patients have been left waiting longer as access to treatment across the border has been restricted.

"Now the Health Board appears ready to make matters even worse by further cutting the very hospitals our communities depend upon.

"These proposals must be stopped. We will fight them to the bitter end, alongside local residents, staff and campaigners. The people of Powys deserve better than seeing their NHS dismantled piece by piece."

Jane Dodds MS, Senedd Member for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd and Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats said: "Years of mismanagement and underfunding under the previous Welsh Labour Government have left our NHS in this impossible position, but that cannot become an excuse for devastating rural communities.

"The new Plaid Cymru Government now faces an important test. Ministers must finally accept responsibility for the decisions being made in our NHS, not continue to hide behind unelected officials.

"The Health Minister must intervene directly and stop these cuts before lasting damage is done. If this Government truly believes rural Wales matters, now is the time to prove it."

In response, the Welsh Government said: "Decisions about the configuration of local NHS services are the responsibility of the local health board, which is best placed to assess the needs of its population.

“Powys Teaching Health Board is at a very early, preliminary stage of considering options and no decisions have been made. Should there be any proposed service changes they must be clinically led, evidence-based, and subject to appropriate engagement and consultation with patients, staff, local communities and stakeholders.

“We remain firmly committed to strengthening NHS services in Powys, as demonstrated by our 100-day commitment to commission a feasibility study of a Rapid Diagnostic Centre in the county."

Powys Teaching Healthboard, when approached for a response shared this statement.

Adrian Osborne, Deputy Director of Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “Powys communities and PTHB staff are passionate about health services, and they have a special place in the life of our county.

“But together we face some important and complex choices about the future. An ageing population, growing burden of ill health, fewer people of working age – all these factors mean that bold ideas are needed.

“We care deeply about the health and wellbeing of our residents. This is why we have established the Better Together programme, working with staff, patients, communities and partner organisations to explore potential options for safe, high quality and sustainable services in the future. This work is helping us develop and test ideas, understand the benefits and risks of different approaches, and guide further work to secure the future of NHS services in Powys.

“It would be wrong to suggest that decisions have been made about the future of community services in Powys, or that any future model of care has been agreed. Instead, it is vital that we take the time to carefully consider a wide range of options – looking at how we strengthen primary and community services, how we improve prevention and public health, and how we provide bed-based care in the best possible way for the future.

“No decisions have been made, and none will be made until there has been full and meaningful consultation with our staff and the public, which we expect to take place from September. More information will be available later this summer and we strongly encourage everyone to get involved and share their views.”

The health board say they undertook a major programme of listening and engaging last summer to consider a range of scenarios put forward by staff, public and stakeholders.

The scenarios included:

1. No change.

2. Minor changes and developments to the way we provide physical and mental health community services.

3. More services provided within “centres of excellence” including in Rural Regional Centres. This would mean that some of our services (such as hospital beds) are provided in fewer locations than now.

4. Developing and expanding the range of services available at home through strengthened primary and community teams.

5. Inpatient care, including community hospital beds, is provided outside the county in neighbouring health boards.

6. Provide a District General Hospital in Powys.

At that time, PTHB said scenarios 1 and 6 were discounted. “No change” is not an option as change is needed in order to ensure that health service are safe and sustainable for the future.

Since then, scenario 5 has also been discounted and community hospital beds will continue to be provided in the county.

PTHB strongly encourage everyone to read and respond to their Case for Change to help shape the right solutions for the future. You can share your feedback by writing to Better Together, Glasbury House, Bronllys Hospital, Bronllys LD3 OLY or by email to [email protected]

The health board insists no decisions have been made, and none will be made until there has been full and meaningful consultation with their staff and the public about the future of community services in Powys. They expect this consultation to take place from September.

More politicians have taken issue with the proposal. The Powys Labour Group has written to the Chief Executive of Powys Teaching Health Board seeking urgent clarification over reports that inpatient ward beds could be concentrated in just two hospitals.

The Labour Group says residents across Powys are deeply concerned by the reports and is calling for greater transparency from the Health Board about its plans.

Councillor Matthew Dorrance, Powys Labour Group Leader, said: "Residents across Powys will understandably be concerned by reports suggesting community hospital beds could be removed from much of the county.

"Our community hospitals play a vital role in supporting patients and their families, particularly in a large rural county where travelling long distances for care can be difficult.

"While we recognise the challenges facing the NHS and support efforts to improve healthcare outcomes, any proposals of this scale must be developed openly and with local communities at their heart."

The Labour Group has requested an urgent meeting with senior Health Board leaders to discuss the proposals and gain a fuller understanding of the options being developed through the Better Together programme, which is considering the future shape of healthcare services in Powys.

The Group is seeking further information on:

Labour councillors are also calling on the Health Board to commit to holding public meetings in communities across Powys before any decisions are made.

Cllr Huw Williams, Aber-craf and Ystradgynlais Ward, said: "People have a right to know what changes are being considered and how they may effect local healthcare services.

"The Health Board must ensure residents have meaningful opportunities to ask questions, challenge proposals and make their voices heard.

"We are therefore asking for public meetings in communities across Powys so that local people can engage directly with decision-makers before any recommendations are taken forward.

"Transparency and public trust are essential. Decisions about the future of healthcare in Powys cannot be made without the active involvement of the communities they will effect."

The Powys Labour Group said it looks forward to receiving a response from the Health Board and working constructively to ensure that local residents are fully informed and involved in discussions about the future of healthcare services in the county.

Welsh Liberal Democrat County Councillor for Talgarth William Powell has also written to the health board. The Councillor has written to PTHB CEO Hayley Thomas.

In the letter Mr Powell said: “Dear Hayley, I write to you as a deeply concerned Powys County Councillor to ask you to address this week's leaked reports regarding plans to decimate the provision of inpatient beds across our community hospitals in the County.

“It is well understood that these local hospitals are vital lifelines for rehabilitation and recovery, as well as maintaining the flow of patients from acute hospitals on our borders.

“The emergence of these potentially devastating proposed cuts is causing great alarm in our towns and villages. Losing these beds would force patients to travel much further for care and rehabilitation when at their most vulnerable. It would also add unsustainable pressure to our GP surgeries that are already under considerable strain.The emergence of these leaked plans without clear, official context has created widespread panic and undermined trust in decision makers. There should be a thorough investigation to trace the source of this damaging leak - but the public now deserves to know the truth.

“I therefore urge you to take immediate action:

“As longstanding County Councillor for Talgarth, I understand better than most the consequences of wrong-headed decision making on hospital provision, a quarter of a century after the disastrous closure of the former Mid Wales Hospital, which now stands in ruins.

“More urgently, I am demanding answers on the future of acute mental health beds at Bronllys Hospital, which were transferred there 25+ years ago.

“I look forward to your early response on how Powys teaching Health Board plans to address these profound concerns across our communities.”