Llandrindod Wells is united in wanting its fully equipped hospital, the local MP says

Over 150 people turned out at a public rally to show Llandrindod Wells' unity against proposed health cuts.

They carried banners and placards and wore badges showing their united opposition to plans by Powys Teaching Health Board to cut beds and other services at the town's hospital as well as other places in Powys.

Organised by County Councillor Lauren D'Silva the event took place at the bandstand on a cold but dry November morning.

Among the speakers was a former nurse who warned those at Powys Teaching Health Board making the decision that 'their time will come'.

Mary Middleton, who spent 35 years as a nurse at Llandrindod Wells War Memorial Hospital, said: “These plans are shameful. 21st Century care they call it. Shame on those people making these shameful plans, how would they like to be treated when they are ill and older, believe me their time will come. I am sorry, it is not good enough.”

Mary was joined by Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick, Powys County Council Chairman Councillor Geoff Morgan who spoke as a member for Ithon Valley, Llandrindod Wells Mayor Councillor Steve Deeks-D'Silva, County Councillors Pete Roberts and D'Silva and Dr Toby Tattersall, who worked as a GP in the town for over 30 years.

They all thanked residents for attending and said it showed the health board that the town's hospital is important to the community.

Councillor Deeks-D'Silva said the community needs to keep the hospital and he urged everyone to attend a consultation meeting at the Pavilion on Tuesday, and fill in the consultation forms because united voices add greater pressure.

David Chadwick thanked everyone for showing they care and sending a message to the health board to say these changes are not going to happen while people sit at home and say nothing.

He reminded people that there are currently 148 hospital beds in Powys and the health board wants to cut them to 90 or 60 and that may mean taking beds, the x ray department and the minor injuries unit from Llandrindod Wells hospital.

“We should be united and vociferous in our opposition to these plans, these facilities are needed for the people that live here. Health care yet can be like playing a game of snakes and ladders and these proposals will mean even more of that behaviour,” he said.

He warned closing beds would mean people will have to travel further for treatment or to see loved ones, maybe on buses. Mr Chadwick said GPs across practices in Powys have written to the health board to oppose the plans, saying the most difficult thing is when someone needs to come back to a community hospital for palliative care and they can receive treatment there and be surrounded by loved ones. The GP's are concerned if the beds are removed they will be sent to Newtown or Brecon or brought home and left to cope by themselves.

He added; “Together we have to be united in our opposition to these plans and say that Llandrindod Wells wants its fully equipped hospital.”

County Councillor D'Silva said the health board wants to take away hospital beds and replace them with a hospital at home model.

“We need that hospital at home model but we also need the community hospital beds, we need both. It would be naïve to think the home model would be suitable for everyone's needs.

“When care is provided closer to home it means people get more visits from family and friends. Its scary to be sent away to another town with unfamiliar faces. I simply cannot envisage when a hospital at home model will replace the need for actual hospital beds.

“We were told at a councillor's briefing that these proposals are not about saving money, I don't believe it and I can see and hear that you don't believe it either. This is a cost cutting exercise.

“We need a decent standard of healthcare and it needs to be accessible. We are being treated like second class citizens, we have lost all faith in the health board and I call on them to genuinely listen to residents.”

Councillor D'Silva said Llais, the public's voice on healthcare in Wales, reported after October's consultation meetings that health board staff were not routinely seen taking notes or discussions and it was not clear how comments, questions and conversations were being recorded or considered.

Dr Tattersall, a retired GP and the President of the League of Friends at the hospital said when people are first discharged from the district general hospital they need lots of observation and that would be more difficult if they are at home.

He said patients being close to home is good for recovery and sympathetic to family and friends.

“The population of Llandrindod Wells is increasing and access to local healthcare facilities is critical to our town. We need to fight to keep our local beds and Minor Injuries Unit in Llandrindod Wells.”

County Councillor Pete Roberts said Powys County Council has identified a significant risk to the council as a result of the health board's plan, which could mean more pressure on their services.

He said it raises questions about whether they would have the extra workforce to deliver and they do not know what the extra costs would be.

He said the county council would protect its services.

He said the Liberal Democrats have received over 300 responses to their survey and they will be passed on to the health board.

He said; “I can see benefits in the hospital at home model, its been successfully introduced elsewhere in the country. But until workforce issues are understood and social care is considered, it is too early to remove the capacity of what we already have.

“Taken together these proposals risk creating a healthcare desert in Mid Wales. We care about the hospital, the people who work there and those who rely on it. So I say to the health board implement the hospital at home model first and prove it works, what we have been shown are assumptions. We do not believe your plans will work.”

County Councillor Morgan said he has written to the health board and the Welsh Government.

He said; “This health board needs breaking up, there are seven health boards in Wales and we do not need them. The people running health should be elected and we need local people that know the job and the area and who we trust.”

A resident who wished to remain anonymous told the Journal, local GPs were present at the rally and have made their strong opposition to the plans very clear to the health board, that there are reasons why the GP's are not speaking at meetings, that the health board has not taken into account social care and its not clear with people being cared for at home who would look after them and NHS managers are not accountable.