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 changeí, 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.