The temporary reduction of opening hours at two Powys Minor Injury Units (MIU) is a “bitter blow” to local people, James Evans has warned.

Powys Teaching Health Board yesterday announced the MIU at Brecon War Memorial Hospital will close overnight from September. Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital MIU will also see a reduction of its opening hours.

Brecon, currently open 24 hours a day, will be open from 8am to 8pm. Llandrindod Wells will also change to 8am to 8pm opening hours.

The health board said the changes are temporary, and will take place from September 2024 for a period of six months.

The health board cited challenges to maintain quality, safety, outcomes and financial sustainability for patients and communities as the reason for the changes, and said these immediate steps “would help maintain quality services within available resource”.

But Brecon and Radnorshire MS James Evans said he disagrees with the upcoming changes.

Mr Evans said: “We are all aware of the dire ambulance response times here, the difficulty in getting a GP appointment, the huge waits in our A&E departments in the major hospitals. To reduce our Minor Injury capacity at this time will only put yet more pressures on the rest of the NHS.

"PTHB cite budgetary pressures and staffing issues and say this is not the best use of their resources. I beg to differ. These units are often the difference between life and death in emergency situations and can be a place of safety until the emergency ambulance arrives.”

Mr Evans also said he has met with the health board’s Chief Executive Hayley Thomas to voice his concerns. He said he has urged her to to “look at cutting her management structure and back-office roles before taking the hatchet to frontline services.”

Yesterday, the health board also announced four hospitals will take on a more specialised focus to help ensure the best quality and outcomes for patients.

Bronllys and Llanidloes will be designated as “Ready To Go Home” units, providing focused care and support for patients who are ready to return home but are waiting for a package of community care.

Brecon and Newtown will take on an expanded role to support patients who need more specialised inpatient rehabilitation in a community hospital setting. This builds on their existing role as centres for stroke rehabilitation.

Speaking about these changes, Mr Evans said: “I welcome the move to create more specialist units in the wards at Brecon Hospital - I have long championed for there to be a stroke rehabilitation centre there, but this should not be at the expense of the ward in Bronllys hospital or a reduction in our MIU services.

"We must all take part in the Health Board consultation and keep what little services we currently have in Brecon & Radnorshire."

Like the opening hours, these temporary changes are taking place from September 2024 for a period of six months.

A period of engagement with patients, the public and staff is taking place during the summer to explain the temporary changes and invite feedback.

Further details will be available from the health board’s website at pthb.nhs.wales from Monday (July 29) with engagement taking place until Sunday, August 25.