RESIDENTS of a Radnorshire town have been told by health board officials that they remain “absolutely committed” to the continued development of services at their local hospital.

Amidst continuous speculation over the future of Knighton Community Hospital in recent years, Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) insists the hospital’s future looks bright.

Since 2020 the health board has struggled to recruit nurses to join the inpatient team at Knighton Hospital – leading to it now only being open part time.

The Ffrydd Road site is open between 8.45am-4.45pm Monday to Thursday; 9am-4.30am on Fridays and is closed at weekends. There is also no A&E department or Minor Injury Unit.

OTHER NEWS:

David Farnsworth, PTHB’s assistant director of community services, said in the latest edition of the Knighton and East Radnor Community Focus newsletter that continued talk of the hospital’s impending closure is news to all the staff working there.

“From time to time I still keep hearing people say that Knighton Hospital has closed,” he writes in the newsletter, published in late March.

“Well, that would be news to all of the clinical staff who work – and will continue to work – there.

“There are a number of outpatient clinics held at Knighton hospital and we are looking to increase the number and range of clinics.

“We have a maternity unit and local mums are continuing to have their babies locally.

“What has changed is that, despite our best efforts, we have not been able to recruit enough nursing staff to safely cover the inpatient ward and this has been temporarily closed since 2020.

County Times: Since 2020 the health board has struggled to recruit nurses to join the inpatient team at Knighton Hospital – leading to it now only being open part time. Pic: Google Streetview. Since 2020 the health board has struggled to recruit nurses to join the inpatient team at Knighton Hospital – leading to it now only being open part time. Pic: Google Streetview.

“This ward – the Panpwnton Ward – has been temporarily converted into four re-ablement rooms.

“These rooms provide an environment for patients who are not quite well enough to go home but don’t need to be in an acute hospital (such as those in Shrewsbury or Hereford).

“We call this a ‘step-down’ service. Residential care staff from Knighton look after these patients with input from local clinicians.”

Since 2020 the health board has been dogged by being unable to recruit registered nurses to join the inpatient team at Knighton Hospital.

Mr Farnsworth insists they continue to work hard on recruitment, but while there has been some interest, sadly this has not reached the levels needed to run a ward 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

He added: “I must stress that we are absolutely committed to the continued development of services for people in Knighton and east Radnorshire and will be continuing to work with you to ensure a bright future for Knighton Hospital.”