The Welsh Liberal Democrats have described the decision of the Powys Teaching Health Board to approve plans to cut opening hours at Minor Injury Units and changes to wards in Powys as a “grave mistake”.

Today (Thursday), Powys Teaching Health Board (PHTB) members unanimously voted to cut the opening hours of Minor Injury Units and centralise some inpatient hospital care.

The Board approved a recommendation to temporarily change the opening hours for Minor Injury Units in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells to 8am to 8pm.

They also agreed a temporary change to the clinical model for inpatient care in Brecon, Bronllys, Llanidloes and Newtown. 

The proposals will be introduced on a temporary basis for a six-month period.

Both changes are expected to be in place by December. 

Reacting to the news, MP for Brecon and Radnorshire David Chadwick said: “This is a very worrying development from the Powys Teaching Health Board which will undoubtedly create significant problems for local residents when it comes to accessing healthcare services.

“Residents of Powys should not have to deal with the mess created by a series of neglectful Welsh Labour Ministers in Cardiff Bay.

“Welsh Labour’s legacy of failure in running the NHS in Wales is a shameful indictment of a political party that has forgotten its roots, the people of Wales deserve far better.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats will continue to fight for an NHS that is properly managed and funded in a way that guarantees a high quality of care for people when and where they need it.”

Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds added: “I am very disappointed by this decision from the Powys Teaching Health Board which will have a severe effect on the quality of healthcare on offer to local residents.

“As a predominantly rural area, we here in Powys cannot afford to place further hurdles in the way of residents simply trying to access healthcare services.

“While I appreciate that PTHB are, like many health boards across Wales, having to deal with a difficult financial picture thanks to decades of neglect to our NHS from Welsh Labour, I’m afraid that the decision to approve these plans was wrong.

“The people of Powys should not be expected to pick up the pieces left by Welsh Labour’s mismanagement of our healthcare services.”