130 attend Knighton public meeting over future of community hospitals

Around 130 people packed into a public meeting in Knighton on Monday evening to voice concerns over proposed cuts to community hospital services across Powys.

The meeting, organised by the Welsh Liberal Democrats, was attended by Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe MP David Chadwick, Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd MS Jane Dodds and Welsh Liberal Democrat Councillor for Knighton with Beguildy Corinna Kenyon-Wade.

It was the latest in a series of public meetings organised by the party across Powys, following large turnouts in Llanidloes, Ystradgynlais, Builth Wells and Llandrindod Wells.

The meeting heard particular concerns about what Powys Teaching Health Board's Better Together proposals would mean for residents in Knighton, Presteigne and the surrounding communities.

Under the proposals now proceeding to formal consultation, Panpwnton Ward at Knighton Hospital would not reopen, meaning inpatient hospital beds would not return to the town.

Residents and medical staff expressed frustration and betrayal over the fact that when the ward was shut during Covid, they were promised it would reopen.

Residents in the Knighton and Presteigne area requiring community inpatient care would instead be expected to access beds in Llandrindod Wells under one option, or Newtown or Brecon under the other.

Under one of the options being consulted on, community inpatient beds would also be removed from Llandrindod Wells. One of the urgent-care options would additionally see its Minor Injury Unit close.

The Health Board has agreed to proceed to consultation despite widespread opposition to the proposals. The Welsh Liberal Democrats recently handed in a petition containing 7,930 signatures opposing cuts to Powys's community hospitals, with signatures continuing to be collected before they hand it into the Welsh Health Minister.

Welsh Liberal Democrat MP for Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe David Chadwick said:

"Once again we've seen a huge turnout from a community deeply worried about what these proposals will mean for local healthcare.

"For people in Knighton, the Health Board's plans are very clear: Panpwnton Ward would not reopen. If you need a community hospital bed, you could instead find yourself travelling to Llandrindod, Newtown or even Brecon.

"At the same time, Llandrindod's own services are under threat. It is difficult to see how removing services from both Knighton and potentially Llandrindod represents improving access to healthcare for people living in rural east Radnorshire.

"The strength of feeling we've seen at meeting after meeting across Powys cannot simply be ignored. We will continue challenging these proposals and pressing the Welsh Government to intervene."

Welsh Liberal Democrat MS for Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd Jane Dodds said:

"I'd like to thank everyone who came along and shared their experiences with us. People spoke passionately about what Knighton Hospital means to this community and about the realities of accessing healthcare across such a rural area.

"The Health Board and Welsh Government keep stressing that no final decisions have been made, but important decisions have already been taken about what the public is allowed to choose between. Options were removed before the formal consultation even began.

"People deserve a genuine say over the future of their health services, not simply a choice between two different versions of cuts and centralisation. The Plaid Cymru Government must act now."

ENDS