Welshpool hospital cuts to go out for consultation
The decision follows the Board’s consideration of the Better Together Pre-Consultation Business Case at its meeting today, prior to which a near 8,000-signature petition opposing the changes was submitted.
They fear that this initial move is the start of the end for Welshpool hospital, and other community hospitals in Montgomeryshire with services centralised in Newtown.
Health chiefs say the proposals, that include removing all beds at Welshpool hospital as well as the X-Ray facility and Minor Injuries Unit, respond to major challenges facing health services.
With people living longer, often with several long-term conditions the health board said that demand is rising and recruiting and retaining the workforce needed to sustain small services across a large rural county is becoming increasingly difficult.
Better Together asks how NHS services should evolve over the next 10 years and beyond so they remain safe, effective and sustainable, while helping more people stay well, remain independent and receive care at home or closer to home.
No decisions have been made about future service changes. Today’s decision means the published options will now be opened to public scrutiny so residents, patients, carers, staff and partner organisations can consider the evidence, describe potential impacts, suggest alternatives and help shape what happens next.
While all options retain some services at all community hospital sites in Powys, they suggest a widespread reduction is made to improve the community services available in people’s homes and, as these improvements are achieved, the need for bed-based care would reduce.
The consultation options therefore set out a future vision with community hospital inpatient beds on fewer sites with North Powys to be centralised at Newtown Hospital.
Doing this, the health board claims, would strengthen urgent community responses and establish Urgent Care Centres, open from 8am to 8pm, seven days a week, with a wider range of assessment, treatment and diagnostic services than current Minor Injury Units can provide.
They claim that the proposals would also strengthen community mental health, crisis response, NHS 111 Wales Press 2 and sanctuary services, alongside a single centre of excellence for organic and functional mental health inpatient care in the Bronllys/Brecon area – a near two-hour drive from Welshpool.
The consultation will run from October 5 to January 10, 2027. Thirteen locality drop-in events will be held across Powys, alongside online events, providing opportunities for people to meet the team, ask questions and discuss the proposals.
Dr Carl Cooper, Chair of Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “Today’s decision marks the beginning of a conversation, not the end of one. The Board has agreed that these options should now be tested through a fair, transparent and meaningful consultation.
“The recommendations approved today have been informed by feedback from thousands of patients, residents, NHS staff and partner organisations over the last two years.
“No outcome has been predetermined. We want people to test the evidence, challenge our thinking and help inform what happens next. We will need to understand the evidence, experiences, concerns and alternatives raised during consultation and give them conscientious consideration in public before any final decision can be made.”
Kate Wright, Executive Medical Director, said: “Harm from prolonged hospital stays has become well evidenced. It is clear that a health system that can provide more care in community settings would deliver better care and outcomes for patients.
“These proposals explore how we can provide safe, high-quality care for future generations, support more people to stay well and independent, and retain inpatient care for those whose needs cannot safely be met at home. They are focused on strengthening community services for patients with physical and mental health needs.
“We want people to tell us where the proposals could improve care, where they could create difficulties and what else we should consider.”
Consultation documents, a questionnaire, accessible formats and full details of events will be available from October 5 on the Better Together website.
Feedback will be independently collated and analysed before being considered alongside any alternative proposals and new evidence received during the consultation.
The current plan is for the Board to consider a post-consultation decision case in spring 2027.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|