Under cuts announced by Powys Local Health Board (LHB) last week, the Llanidloes and Newtown hospitals face losing their birthing centres.

But campaigners have hit out at the move, claiming it will save the LHB very little money.

David Thomas, Plaid Assembly candidate for Montgomeryshire, said: “These facilities provide a homely and welcoming perinatal environment and their loss could reduce the options of giving birth in Montgomeryshire to Welshpool or a home birth.

“The National Childbirth Trust estimates 85 per cent of the costs of a birth are those of the midwife, so closing these valued birthing centres will save Powys Health Board very little money.Ê

“Also the increased likelihood of stress by giving birth further away from home and in more stressful surroundings is likely to increase the incidence of trauma and raise costs in the long run.

“The economics of the health service along the M4 corridor just do not apply to Montgomeryshire and it is time the Labour Assembly Government funded these maternity services.”

Emma Dillon, of Llanidloes, gave birth to her girl, Olivia Paige, on September 8. She said the health board is taking the choice away from expectant mums.

“It is gutting, the fact you have to travel and have your antenatal treatment elsewhere,” she said. “Mothers want choice and they are taking that away from us.”

But a spokesman for the LHB said the move was to modernise the services. He said: “It is not a cost-saving exercise. It is about bringing the service up to speed for the 21st Century.

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