MP says health service plans "predetermined"

Plans that could downgrade the role of Welshpool Hospital while concentrating key services at Newtown have been attacked by the area’s MP, who claims the outcome of a major NHS consultation is already “predetermined”.

Montgomeryshire and Glyndŵr MP Steve Witherden made the claim after Powys Teaching Health Board agreed to formally consult on major changes to hospital and community health services across the county.

The proposals could see Newtown emerge as the main hospital centre for north Powys, retaining inpatient beds and gaining an enhanced urgent care role.

Welshpool faces a very different future, with inpatient beds potentially removed as services are concentrated on fewer hospital sites.

Mr Witherden has now called for the Welsh Government to intervene and provide the health board with more funding.

“The outcome is predetermined. Options, proposals, consultations; all rubberstamps on the path to make Powys a healthcare desert,” he said.

“The Welsh Government must intervene and give the board the funding it needs to stop this from happening.”

His intervention comes as communities prepare for a formal consultation on some of the biggest changes proposed for health services in Powys for years.

Under the options being put forward, inpatient hospital care would be concentrated on fewer sites.

Newtown would retain inpatient beds under the options affecting north Powys, strengthening its position as the main hospital serving the area.

Welshpool, Llanidloes and Machynlleth would no longer have inpatient beds under the proposals, although the health board says the hospitals themselves would remain open and continue providing other services.

The plans would also reshape urgent care, with a smaller number of Urgent Care Centres operating from 8am until 8pm, seven days a week, and offering a wider range of assessment, treatment and diagnostic services than existing Minor Injury Units.

The proposals therefore represent a significant shift in how hospital services would be provided across north Powys, with more services concentrated at Newtown while the role of other community hospitals changes.

Mr Witherden’s claim that the outcome is predetermined is disputed by the health board.

Following its decision to proceed to consultation, health board chairman Dr Carl Cooper said no outcome had been predetermined and that residents would be able to challenge the evidence, raise concerns and suggest alternatives before any final decision.

The health board says the changes are needed because of rising demand, difficulties recruiting and retaining staff and the need to provide more care in people’s homes and communities.

It has also stressed that all community hospital sites would remain open under the options, even where inpatient beds are removed.

The health board argues that investment in community services should allow more patients to receive care at or closer to home and reduce the need for hospital admissions.

The changes come alongside separate plans for the North Powys Wellbeing Programme in Newtown, although the health board confirmed this week that the first phase of that project has been delayed while arrangements to take it forward are secured.

The Better Together consultation will run from 5 October until 10 January 2027.

Feedback, alternative proposals and new evidence will then be considered before the health board is expected to make decisions on the future configuration of services in spring 2027.