Public rally to be held in Powys town to show unity against health cuts

A public rally is being planned in Llandrindod Wells to show the town's unity against proposed health cuts.

County Councillor Lauren D'Silva is planning the event for Saturday November 7 and hopes it will show Powys Teaching Health Board that the town's hospital is important to residents as a community

She said as well as pre-arranged speakers she hopes there will be opportunities for people to share their stories and opinions.

Councillor D'Silva told Llandrindod Wells Town Council at the October meeting; “My aim is to demonstrate the unity we have against the proposed cuts as a town. More details coming soon.”

Councillor D'Silva also organised the hospital public meeting at the Pavilion recently on the day that county councillors were briefed on the health board's proposals.

She said they were even more bleak than those previously leaked.

“I read aloud the powerful letter that Powys GPs had submitted to the Health Board which strongly criticises the plans. The mood of the meeting was united against cuts to our hospital, both our hospital beds and the Minor Injuries Unit are threatened by the plans,” she said.

“Whilst preparing for the meeting it seemed everyone I spoke to had a story to tell about needing to travel too far for their healthcare and about elderly friends and relations hospitalised in Hereford who were isolated and needed friends and family close by.

“I believe we need more services available here in Llandrindod Hospital not less. We already have the facilities – for example we have a modern operating theatre which is apparently unused,” Councillor D'Silva added.

She said the next steps were Llandrindod residents would be receiving a paper questionnaire through the door from County Councillors which will help them to get a clearer picture of the likely impact of the PTHB proposals on the community.

She said this should be filled in and returned to the Lib Dem Office on Park Crescent.

Councillor D'Silva also reminded everyone that the health board's own consultation is open until January 10 and it can be accessed online

She said: “I feel some of the early questions have been crafted to elicit widespread agreement. Perhaps I am cynical, but I suspect those answers could be used to create statistics to say the majority of the public agree with their plans. You have until January 10 to make a response. I would urge all who can to attend the in-person PTHB consultation event at the Pavilion on November 10 and tell PTHB exactly how you feel about the plans face to face.”

The PTHB Better Together consultation started on Monday, October 5, and is expected to run until January 10, 2027.

It will include 13 drop-in events across Powys.

Their proposals are:

• Centralise inpatient bed provision across Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown hospitals.
• Or cut inpatient beds cut further with provision at Brecon and Newtown hospitals.
• Concentrate urgent care by establishing bigger centres in Brecon and Newtown – this would see minor injury units at Llandrindod Wells, Welshpool and Ystradgynlais close.
• The urgent care centres at Brecon and Newtown would also have a “minor illness and injury unit” at Llandrindod Wells.
• The last option is to centralise mental health services at Bronllys hospital.

A decision following the consultation is expected in the spring of 2027.

Meanwhile she said plans for the Temporary Homeless Accommodation on County Hall grounds near to Cefnllys Primary School have been withdrawn.

She said there was general public disquiet when the plans came to light and the most common feedback she heard from members of the public was that they supported the of housing the homeless but the plan to locate this facility next to a primary school was inappropriate and flawed.

Councillor D'Silva said she had met with Police and Community Support Officers to discuss the placing of one or more benches on Middleton Street and they agreed that the HSBC end of Middleton Street has a suitably wide pavement and is unlikely to attract anti-social behaviour.

She said several residents have requested benches on Middleton Street and she suggested that Middleton Street is a site option offered for a memorial bench when bereaved families come forward

She said she had also noticed some faded signs which are becoming hard to read as she walked around the ward and she has been invited to compile a list of signs that look due for replacement. If anyone spots a sign that’s faded let her know

The next Monthly Councillors’ Surgery with Councillor D'Silva and Cllr Pete Roberts is on Friday November 6 from 10am until 12 midday. Residents can make an appointment or drop in.