Rebeca Phillips MS has written to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care seeking clarity on
the Welsh Government’s discussions with the Powys Teaching Health Board over its “Better
Together” proposals.
The proposals include plans to remove over 100 beds from community hospitals across Powys,
which would force many residents to travel afar for healthcare.
“Residents across Powys already feel they have a poor deal from their Health Board. “The
proposal to remove so many beds from local hospitals is seen as insulting to so many of my
constituents”, says Rebeca Phillips MS.
Rebeca Phillips, the Plaid Cymru Member of the Senedd (MS) for the Brycheiniog Tawe Nedd
constituency, has urged the Welsh Government to clarify whether the Powys Teaching Health
Board (PTHB) is listening to and acting upon the views and opinions of Powys residents amid
plans to remove over 100 beds from community hospitals across the county.
The plans fall under PTHB’s “Better Together” consultation, and while members of the public,
clinicians and elected representatives had requested an option within the consultation that would
not see services removed from community hospitals, PTHB chose to ignore such calls.
Although the day-to-day running of healthcare services in Wales is the legal responsibility of health boards,1 Rebeca Phillips MS has written to Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, seeking information on how the Welsh Government is ensuring that PTHB is genuinely considering the views of affected residents in its ongoing consultation.
She has also requested details of further discussions that the Cabinet Minister and other Welsh
Government officials may have had with PTHB representatives regarding the “Better Together”
proposals.
Rebeca Phillips MS said: “Residents across Powys already feel they have a poor deal from their
Health Board, with many patients having to travel to Swansea, Cardiff, Wrexham or across the
border to England for treatment that is available to other Welsh citizens in locations closer to
where they live.
“Therefore, the proposal to remove so many beds from local hospitals is seen as insulting to so
many of my constituents.
“I look forward to the Cabinet Minister’s response regarding the Welsh Government’s efforts to
seek assurances from the Powys Teaching Health Board on the ongoing consultation.
“In the meantime, I want to assure residents that I fully understand and share their concerns
regarding the proposal and continue to urge as many as possible to respond to the consultation.”
