Concerns were voiced in Llandrindod Wells last night over proposed temporary changes to local health services by Powys Teaching Health Board.

This followed a similar public meeting held in Brecon the night before.

Residents from Llandrindod and other areas such as New Radnor and Builth Wells gathered at the Pavilion Mid Wales to take part in a public consultation with Chief Executive, Hayley Thomas; Chair, Karl Cooper; Assistant Medical Director, Dr Richard Stratton and Assistant Director of Community Services, David Farnsworth from the health board.

The meeting had been called by the Powys Liberal Democrats, with Llandrindod Wells being the fourth stop. Meetings had already taken place in Llanidloes, Machynlleth and Brecon.

Both Jane Dodds MS and David Chadwick MP have called for a pause to the proposals, with Ms Dodds asking ‘why the rush?’ Just recently, David Chadwick made an urgent request to Chancellor Rachel Reeves for more healthcare funding to safeguard local NHS services. Sending a letter to Ms Reeves he outlined some of the concerns of his constituents, amid ongoing worries about proposed changes to health services in Powys.

After opening remarks from Ms Dodds and Mr Chadwick, Ms Thomas laid out the health board’s proposals and justifications, highlighting the temporary cuts to Brecon and Llandrindod MIU opening times, and the changes to inpatient services at Bronllys and Llanidloes, Brecon and Newtown.

Changes in Bronllys and Llanidloes, which would be “Ready to Go Home units”, have been criticised by many as a “downgrading” of services.

Ms Thomas said that Brecon’s MIU sees on average 1.4 patients per night and Llandrindod’s just 1.9. Brecon’s MIU had to close 50 times between January and May because of staffing issues.

Taking to the floor for questions, one resident said: “I’m very angry. Our MIUs are being shortened. Is it bashing the old to get rid of us? Is that what they’re up to? Unless you keep a decent health system in this sparsely populated county, they’re all going to be dropping off like flies. I hope you’re happy with that.” Ms Thomas said that they recognise that the majority of patients are older, and they are considering how those temporary changes impact older people.

Cllr Jamie Jones said: “All we’re seeing is a decline in services. What we’re seeing is a decimating of the area. It’s an appalling situation. We are rural and my big concern is the Welsh NHS seems to have set the system up rather poorly.” He went on to suggest that more advertising could be done to bring in more staff and cut down on agency staff, to which Ms Thomas said they’d already done a lot to advertise job roles in the area, highlighting apprentice schemes available.

Local resident Jeff said: “I’m sure that if things were arranged slightly differently you would be able to operate more efficiently. I’m sure that the MIU units do not need to be reduced, they need to be improved.”

Cllr Steve Deeks-D'Silva speculated that if the hours change now, will they continue to be cut short, until it goes completely, saying: “My concern is that we are going to lose it. Is that what we’re looking at? Is this the long-term plan of saving money?”

Another resident said: “I think it’s disgraceful to even think of closing the minor injuries, temporary or not. I think it is damned disgraceful. What has this town got? I’ve been in the minor injuries a few times and it does something. I haven’t had to drive 40 miles. I can’t believe that Powys health board are even considering closing or cutting the hours. To me, it’s so ridiculous.”

Jane Dodds asked: “Is it rising costs? Why the rush? Why are we in this position being rushed through in terms of changes to our health services across Powys? That’s one of the reason why we organised these meetings, is because we feel like people haven’t had the chance to ask these questions.”

Ms Thomas said: “The period of engagement has been extended until September 8, and all of the feedback will be discussed by the board. With regards to the financials, it’s a mixture of increasing demand, increasing growth, and increasing cost.”

One resident asked why money spent on the 20mph road changes couldn’t be put into the health care services, but Jane Dodds said that they wouldn’t be able to respond to Senedd decisions, but would speak to the person later.

Another resident said that many accidents happen in agriculture, saying that there is an inequality to the way injuries are dealt with in the area. “There’s a cost being put on people in rural areas who can’t afford them,” they said.

When questions were raised over where people should go if the proposals go ahead and they need help with an injury, the audience was told to call 111, with objections from the crowd that they often can’t seem to get through. It was also highlighted that people have raised the issue in previous consultations that many of the call handlers aren’t aware of the minor injury units.

There was a big drive on the night from all present to encourage people to take part in the consultation.

The content of that consultation will form a report which gets put to the board in October - which will be judgement day. The consultation closes on September 8.

Ending the consultation, it was established that the proposed ‘small-scale’ changes have generated a lot of response, and that the health board will listen to the concerns.

A meeting on October 10 will include a report of the findings of the engagement process, which will “inform scrutiny” of the proposals.