Llanidloes Hospital concerns raised with First Minister
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00:00First Minister, I attended a meeting in Llandlois in August. Hundreds attended from the community.
00:07Not only were voices of concern expressed in that meeting from the public and politicians,
00:13but also from GPs, past and present, and other health professionals about Powys Teaching
00:18Health Board's proposals to downgrade services at Llandlois Hospital. Now, last week, the
00:25health board approved the proposals for what they refer to as a temporary change for ward-based
00:30services at the hospital. Can I ask you, First Minister, what is your view on this matter?
00:37Obviously, as a regional member, as well as the First Minister, you will know I have written to
00:41you, the former health minister, and also the current health minister, particularly in regards
00:48to the consultation on whether that was adequate, because it took place over the August period,
00:54and also on the term ëtemporary changeÃ, and to what degree you accept that this will be a
00:59temporary change, but also, of course, the health board also pointing out that they carried this out
01:04due to budgetary pressures.
01:06Well, thanks very much. You will be aware that service changes are not a decision for the Welsh
01:13Government, that the Welsh Government's role is to provide strategic direction, and it is up to
01:18the local health boards to respond to the local needs, and I think it doesn't make sense for us to
01:24be managing that from a positionóan office in Cardiff. What I will tell you is that there is a
01:32statutory role in terms of how you consult, how you make those changes, and changesóI'm sure
01:42there'll be continual changes in the health service. It's quite right that we have to change
01:46constantly if we want to keep updated. We may see more specialist areas. We may find that it's
01:54difficult to recruit people, but primarily it's got to be about safety and outcomes. What is the
01:59best outcome for the patient? That's what really should be driving what we do here. What I can tell
02:05you is that the end-of-life care will continue to be provided in Bronllys and Llanudloes hospital.
02:13Set-up care, including rehabilitation and reablement, will continue to be
02:18available for GP admissions. So, there is still a facility there.