Health services in Powys are set for a radical shake-up after a Government review found patients had been put at risk in hospitals across the county.

The Clinical Governance Support and Development Unit (CGSDU) review found significant shortcomings in care provided within Powys Local Health Board (LHB).

The report, released at a LHB meeting yesterday, revealed one patient admitted to Newtown hospital by an out-of-hours doctor had been left waiting in hospital for more than two days without being seen by a consultant.

Sheila Drayton, of the CGSDU, said: “The consultant had not been informed she was there.”

The report also found some patients had been sent to a district general hospital requiring a stitch, because trained staff were not on hand in the Powys hospitals to carry out the procedure.

LHB chairman Chris Mann said the report was fair and thorough, albeit hard hitting.

“Having this external perspective from such a highly experienced and skilled review team, puts the board in a much better position to focus on what needs doing,” he said.

The report had been based on interviews and conversations with 150 people within the health sector.

Ms Drayton said changes would need to be carried out to minor injuries units (MIUs) across the county if things were to improve.

Montgomery Community Health Council chief officer John Howard backed the review. “A a lot of changes need to be made in Powys, but when the LHB comes to make these changes it needs to keep the residents informed,” he said.