6 days ago
Newtown health campus plan 'could harm Llanidloes services'
Concerns have been raised about the future of health services in Llanidloes amid proposals for a state-of-the-art health and wellbeing campus in Newtown which could open by 2028.
Powys County Council and Powys Teaching Health Board are developing plans for new facilities near Park Street which, as part of the first of three phases, will include a clinic, dental and pharmacy provision, a new library, training facilities for health and social care staff, housing support, and a women's health hub.
A replacement school building for Newtown's largest primary school Ysgol Calon y Dderwen will also be built on the same site.
The second and third phases include replacing Newtown hospital and expanding the range of diagnostic and treatment services on the health and wellbeing campus.
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Llanidloes Town Council was told by Deputy Mayor Cllr Dan Craig on Monday (July 21) that there were "lots of good ideas" from a meeting with Powys Teaching Health Board's North Powys Wellbeing team.
"The question was where does Llanidloes Hospital fit in this?" Cllr Craig asked. "I don't think Llanidloes is in the reckoning. They said it was not affecting Llanidloes whatsoever.
"It did look like a good idea and if Llanidloes fits in with that it'll be good. I think if we were to oppose it, we could be in a worse situation."
Cllr Margot Jones, who is also Arwystli Medical Practice manager, said she was "very sceptical" about the proposals with Llanidloes "already losing services".
"This can never be a white elephant," she said. "They will take away services from other communities to help Newtown.
"Just be very careful. We've lost a lot of services and they're creaking.
"They've had seven years and they're still writing business plans. It's ridiculous how much money is being spent.
"It's all exciting ideas to bring the community together but when something isn't working what will they close? They'll close day services in Llanidloes.
"This hub will never become a white elephant, but Llanidloes could. Be very, very careful."
Cllr Gareth Morgan told fellow councillors that he too was "desperately concerned" about Llanidloes Hospital.
"It will be inevitably affected," he said. "[PTHB] will run it down and the next thing it will close.
"We should insist that the future of Llanidloes Hospital being an integral part of the scheme.
"People may have to travel 14 miles to Newtown and some can't cope with that.
"Services are obviously being run down quickly and we will be left with nothing.
"The concept [of the wellbeing campus] is fine, but they simply cannot ignore Llanidloes."
Cllr Alan Bennett said health provision in Mid Wales was going from "bad to worse" with the Wales Air Ambulance base closure in Welshpool and the proposed closure of the stroke unit at Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.
"We're going to lose out greatly," he said.
Cllr Andrew Morel said public services across the county were being shifted into fewer towns, focussing on 'hub towns' such as Welshpool, Newtown, Llandrindod, Brecon, and Ystradgynlais.
"Are those hub towns really the best places to serve our communities?" he asked.
PTHB says the latest proposals for the first phase will be publicly available and open to views later this summer.
Separately, Llanidloes-based Arwystli Medical Practice has asked its patients to make their feelings known to Powys Teaching Health Board by Sunday (July 27) about adult physical and mental health community services across the county.
Margot Jones, practice manager, said: "It is important that you know about this survey that Powys Health Board have put out as an end to engagement process.
"You will all be aware of the six-month engagement process that the Health Board embarked upon last autumn, with the downgrading of Llanidloes Hospital.
"Please make your feelings known, either through this survey or by written submission."
