With the emerging threat that beds in all hospitals apart from those in Brecon and Newtown could be cut, new figures revealed by the party show hospital beds in the county were 91% full on average across last year.

David Chadwick MP and Jane Dodds MS have warned the new figures show Powys needs “more community hospital beds, not fewer.”

The figures were obtained from Powys Teaching Health Board through a Freedom of Information request by the Welsh Liberal Democrats.

The data obtained showed Llandrindod Wells and Machynlleth hospitals both recorded average occupancy of 98%, while Welshpool and Newtown were both at 96%. Brecon War Memorial Hospital was at 94% and Llanidloes Hospital at 91%.

Ystradgynlais Community Hospital, where local residents have also been campaigning against the proposed removal of beds, recorded occupancy of 83%, while Bronllys recorded 71%.

Both David Chadwick and Jane Dodds have also stated that it is already well known that enough beds do not exist in Powys to cope with the current demand for step-down care, with patients being forced to remain in major hospitals in Hereford, Shrewsbury or Telford because of the lack of bed space available within Powys.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have argued that the figures raise serious questions over how Powys Teaching Health Board can safely reduce community bed capacity when several hospitals are already operating close to capacity.

David Chadwick, Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe, said: “These figures should set alarm bells ringing.

“We now know that some of our community hospitals are already operating at capacity. That leaves precious little spare capacity in the system.“People across Powys have been telling us for weeks that removing community hospital beds is the wrong approach. These figures add yet more weight to their concerns.

“Our community hospitals play an absolutely vital role in allowing people to recover closer to home, supporting families and helping patients move out of larger acute hospitals when they no longer need to be there.

“At the same time, one of the biggest challenges facing our NHS is delayed discharge because people cannot access the appropriate care they need outside an acute hospital.

“The answer to that problem cannot be to remove more capacity from our communities. Powys needs more community and social care beds, not fewer.”

Jane Dodds, Welsh Liberal Democrat Senedd Member for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd added: “These figures confirm exactly what communities across Powys have been telling us: our community hospitals are not surplus capacity, they are essential parts of our health service.

“The Plaid Cymru Welsh Government cannot stand on the sidelines while vital rural health services are cut back. The Health Minister needs to recognise the additional costs and challenges of delivering healthcare across a large rural county like Powys and ensure our Health Board has the funding it needs.

“David and I have now heard directly from thousands of residents who are determined to protect their community hospitals. We will make sure their voices are heard loud and clear in Cardiff Bay.

“Powys needs more community and social care capacity, not less. The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue fighting alongside our communities to protect these beds.”