Back in August, David Chadwick, MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe made an urgent request to Chancellor Rachel Reeves for more healthcare funding to safeguard local NHS services. He has now had a response.

In a letter sent to Ms Reeves, Mr Chadwick outlined some of the concerns of his constituents, amid ongoing worries about proposed changes to health services in Powys.

Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) announced the Minor Injury Units (MIU) at Brecon War Memorial Hospital will close overnight from September. Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital MIU will also see a reduction in its opening hours. The health board cites budgetary pressures and staffing issues as the reason for the changes. It prompted public consultations organised by the Liberal Democrats.

Now, in a response from Darren Jones, Chief Secretary to the Treasury, the implication is that the Welsh Government must allocate funding to areas ‘as it sees fit’. Mr Jones wrote: “The UK Government provides funding for the Welsh Government through the Barnett-based block grant. It is for the Welsh Government to allocate its funding in devolved areas as it sees fit, including to health services, and it is accountable to the Senedd for these decisions.”

Mr Chadwick wrote on his Facebook page: “My reading of the letter is that the UK Labour government believes Wales is getting its fair share of funding already, and no further money will be forthcoming. The letter clarifies that the Welsh government has the powers to raise extra money for public services.

“I’m a realist. People know that health service is in a very bad way on both sides of the border. Many of the buildings are older than the NHS itself. We have record waiting lists because we do not have enough consultants to perform assessments or surgeries. Hospitals are filled with patients who cannot be discharged. We don’t have enough GPs…I could go on.

“Fixing our healthcare service will cost money: it is the responsibility of the government to find that funding and spend it wisely. The Welsh government is currently failing on both accounts.”

One commenter on Facebook said: “Short-sightedness from the government as usual rather than looking at the bigger picture. This is just the usual robotic answer without taking into account the population and demographics in Wales.”

While another said: “Powys has unique geographical issues with so many people living far closer to hospitals beyond its borders, often in England, and so few major treatment centres within its boundaries. There needs to be a full acceptance that Powys residents should have entitlement to healthcare in places like Shrewsbury and Hereford where appropriate, and Powys needs special treatment re funding. This is not a Wales/England matter, it affects people's lives.”

Councillor Jake Berriman said: “This raises the very serious question about where and how the Welsh Government allocates its resources. One big disparity within the Health arena is the provision of free prescriptions to all in Wales, rather than a needs-based system.”