‘COMPLETELY mystified, dismayed and angry’ is the reaction of three major stakeholders of Llanidloes Hospital about the lack of beds, a day ward that no longer provides a daily service and a broken bath which hasn’t been repaired – months after a new unit was opened.

In a scathing letter addressed to Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) chief executive Carol Shillabeer, the Mayor of Llanidloes Cllr Janet Crisp, chair of Llanidloes League of Friends Mary Oliver, and the chair of the Patients Forum John Wilden say they are ‘alarmed’ with the seeming downgrading of services and are ‘aghast and appalled’ that management appears to have driven down resources at Llanidloes Hospital.

They want an urgent meeting with PTHB to discuss the ongoing issues at the hospital.

Around £150,000 was raised by the community and the hospital’s League of Friends for the new palliative care unit at Llanidloes Hospital which opened in May.

The letter said: “As a community we were pleased to support this venture as we truly believed and still do that it would enhance the services provided at our Hospital and support the very necessary, professional and caring services that are delivered at this site. You yourself spoke of this in the opening ceremony.”

While work was carried out to complete the Palliative Care Unit, the stakeholders were informed during Autumn 2017 that due to the ‘significant disruption’ to patient care the hospital would have fewer beds for a 12-week period. Almost 12 months later the beds are still not available despite being reassured that they would in early 2018. The stakeholders say the lack of communication with the community has been “unbelievably egotistical”.

“You will understand that we are completely mystified, dismayed and angry that this has not happened as there has been little or no explanation for this which we find bewildering.

“As a matter of urgency, we would insist that the community is informed of the current situation and to have a date when this much needed facility with beds reopened will occur both on the ward and in the Palliative Care Unit.”

They claim that the Day Hospital no longer provides a daily service and was closed for two weeks in early November “bringing a greater strain on other parts of the services provided locally”.

In response, a PTHB spokesperson said: “Director of Primary and Community Care Patsy Roseblade has agreed to meet with Llanidloes Councillors in the New Year”.