Welshpool will fight to save hospital beds

Welshpool has stepped up its fight to save its hospital beds, with a public meeting last night at the COWSHACC making a strong statement that Powys Teaching Health Board has a fight on its hands.

Earlier this summer we reported how plans leaked from Powys Teaching Health Board included a proposal to consolidate hospital beds from across Powys into just Newtown and Brecon.

It means that community hospitals like Welshpool would lose their beds, further denting the dwindling health services provided in the town.

But the Welsh Liberal Democrats have held a number of packed public meetings across Powys this month, and last night it was Welshpool’s turn to speak up.

While it was only just over half full with about 60 people in attendance, it was clear that the leak has angered residents with county and town councillors from across the political divide showing their support.

This morning, one of the organisers Cllr Richard Church (pictured), said: “Around 400 people from Powys need a hospital bed every day. There are only 148 beds as it is. There are no surplus beds in Powys, in fact there is a shortage of 250.

“Cutting that number again means people being treated further and further away. It is clear that the health board wants to centralise services from across Powys.

“What would that mean for people in Welshpool?

“Our hospital will be hugely diminished. It is very much Welshpool’s hospital, not just used, but supported by Welshpool people. The League of Friends and others have raised thousands to support the hospital for generations.

“Big sums of money have been spent on improving certain facilities and people want to know how those decisions will tie in with the new proposals.

“We all know that Shrewsbury hospital is overwhelmed. Taking away services from here will only drive more people into Shrewsbury, Wrexham, Telford or Aberystwyth.”

The health plans have been leaked from a consultation document under the title Better Together which looks at how local health services will be delivered in the future.

But Powys Teaching Health Board is facing unprecedented financial pressures and needs to make cuts with a budget deficit expected to reach £45 million this year.

They have already implemented a shocking policy that sees Welsh patients handed longer waiting times at hospitals across the border than English patients.

And there were calls last night for the Welsh Government to intervene and bolster funding for Powys.

The proposal to axe the community hospital beds is one of three under consideration with the Health Board claiming that 50% of people in those beds currently are ready to be treated at home. They believe more patients can be treated within their own homes, but this poses problems given the rural nature of Powys, according to protesters.

It is believed that Health Board is expected to discuss the proposals on September 16, after which a formal consultation could be held.

PICTURES: Phil Blagg Photography.