Independents accuse Lib Dems of 'scaremongering' over hospital beds

A row has broken out between political groups in Powys over the campaign against possible changes to community hospital beds.

The Powys Independents have accused Liberal Democrat politicians of "scaremongering and political electioneering" by holding public meetings about the future of hospital beds.

The Lib Dems have rejected the accusation, saying residents need to know what changes are being considered before any formal consultation takes place.

The dispute follows a letter from Powys Teaching Health Board to county councillors confirming that no decisions have been made about future services.

The health board is considering options which could mean some bed-based services being provided from fewer locations, but says there are no plans or proposals to close any community hospital sites.

A formal consultation could begin later this year, with decisions not expected before spring 2027.

The Powys Independents, the 14-member opposition group on the county council, said they were concerned about any reduction in community hospital beds.

"These beds play an important role in supporting patients close to their homes and families, particularly in a rural county such as ours," the group said.

But it accused the Liberal Democrats of presenting proposals as though decisions had already been made.

"Residents deserve facts, not fearmongering," the group said.

It said the Liberal Democrats were "publicly condemning proposals before they have even been finalised" and questioned whether the campaign was becoming part of the run-up to next year's election.

The group also criticised the Liberal Democrats' record on small schools, referring to promises made before the last council elections which it said had not been kept after the party took control of the council.

The group said the future of healthcare in Powys was "far too important to be used as an election campaign tool".

But Liberal Democrat MP David Chadwick and MS Jane Dodds said the Independents' position was "frankly bizarre".

They pointed out that the Independents themselves had acknowledged that the health board was considering providing hospital beds from fewer locations.

"No one has claimed that final decisions have been made," they said.

"Quite the opposite: we are holding public meetings now because time and time again previous experiences have taught us that by the time the consultation ends it is already too late."

They said community hospital beds were vital in a rural county and that residents had a right to know what changes were being considered.

The Lib Dems said they had received support from local residents and healthcare professionals for holding the meetings.

They urged the Independents to "join us in making the case for protecting community hospital beds across Powys".

The health board has said its work is still at an early stage and that its board will consider in September whether to proceed to a formal consultation.

It has also confirmed that community hospital beds will continue to be provided in Powys, although future decisions could affect which services are delivered from individual hospital sites.

The row comes ahead of next May's Powys County Council elections.