Powys Liberal Democrats have called for a halt to plans by Powys Teaching Health Board to significantly alter the levels of services offered across the county.
Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick and Mid and West Wales MS Jane Dodds have criticised communications by the health board and the “lack of proper consultation process” with residents, GPs, the ambulance service and the wider healthcare network.
Proposals by the health board would see the opening times at Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Llandrindod Wells and Brecon cut and the “downgrading” of services available in Bronllys and Llanidloes hospitals which are to be designated as 'Ready to Go Home' units.
The party has launched a petition against the proposed plan.
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Mr Chadwick and Ms Dodds also plan to hold public meetings on the proposals in Brecon and Llandrindod in the coming week, following on from a meeting in Llanidloes in the north of the county last week.
The party has stated that the current consultation period “isn’t good enough” and claimed the health board has “skirted around” holding a full 12-week consultation process by announcing the changes as “temporary”.
They have also criticised the Welsh Labour Government for “forcing local health boards to enact cost-cutting measures amid central Government underfunding.”
“We cannot see snap decisions about the future of healthcare in Mid Wales like this rushed through without proper consultation with the community and relevant healthcare professionals,” said Ms Dodds.
“Communities across Mid Wales already have to put up with extraordinarily long waiting times, ambulance delays and poor health outcomes.
“They are now being asked to witness a further downgrading of their services with no promise that more cuts aren’t on their way. I will be raising this issue with the Welsh Government as soon as the Senedd is recalled from summer recess.”
“These proposals from the health board have not been subjected to the rigorous consultation process they require,” said Mr Chadwick.
“Numerous residents, but crucially also local healthcare professionals have raised their objections and concerns to the plans that have been set out. We are calling on the health board to put a halt to these plans, go back to the drawing board and engage in proper and meaningful consultation with the public about the provision of their healthcare services.
“Labour promised better healthcare outcomes if they came to power, yet residents across Mid Wales are once again being faced with cuts to their public services, with the possibility of more on the horizon.”
A spokesperson for Powys Teaching Health Board said: “The NHS across the country is facing significant challenges, which are also keenly felt here in Powys.
“It is clear that a wide ranging debate is needed about healthy lives, and about safe & sustainable health services for the longer term.
“But whilst we continue the debate and discussion about the longer term future, there are some critical issues that we must address in the short term.
“To help us stabilise health services now we are proposing two temporary changes to the way that patients access health services in Powys:
• Temporary changes to opening hours of our minor injury units in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells, and
• Temporary changes to the clinical model for our hospital inpatient services, with Llanidloes & Bronllys providing a vital role as “ready to go home units, and Newtown & Brecon having an enhanced role in specialist rehabilitation.
“The engagement period on these two temporary changes continues until 8 September, and all the feedback we receive will be considered at a meeting of the Board on 10 October. This will ensure that the issues raised during engagement can be conscientiously considered in public before any decisions are made. We encourage everyone to find out more and have their say including on our engagement website atwww.haveyoursaypowys.wales/temporary
“Then, later this autumn we will continue the vital conversation with patients and communities to consider the longer term shape of safe and sustainable services. We will share further details soon about how you can get involved and have your say on the longer term vision of health services in the county.“
A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “Our ability to invest in public services has been severely affected by the previous UK Government’s mismanagement of the economy and failure to commit sufficient resources to public finances over the last 14 years, including the devastating impact of a decade of austerity.
“Our budget this year is £3bn lower than it would have been had it grown in line with the economy since 2010.
“Despite this, we have prioritised funding for NHS Wales and are increasing funding for the NHS this year by more than 4 per cent, compared to less than 1 per cent in England.”