Powys councillor seeks evidence of staff support for changes

Cllr Graham Breeze, who represents Llanerchydol ward and is home to Welshpool Hospital, has challenged comments made by Powys Teaching Health Board UNISON branch secretary Cathie Poynton during a recent board meeting.

Speaking at the meeting, Ms Poynton said staff had been heavily involved in developing the proposals and that, "in the main", staff were supportive of the changes and understood why reform was needed.

She told board members: "Staff are the ones who have driven this change. They know about the change. They know the health board needs to change. They have been involved all the way through the process."

Ms Poynton acknowledged that "not everybody's happy", but said staff had engaged through various consultation processes and were largely supportive of the direction of travel.

Cathie Poynton, Powys Teaching Health Board's UNISON branch secretary, who told a board meeting that health board staff were "in the main" supportive of proposed changes to health services in Powys.

However, Cllr Breeze said the comments had "raised serious questions that deserve clear and transparent answers".

"I have yet to speak to a single member of staff who supports these proposals," he said.

"In fact, every member of staff I have spoken to is deeply concerned about what these changes could mean for patients, families and the future of healthcare provision in north Powys."

He added that other elected members had reported hearing similar concerns from healthcare workers across the county.

The health board is currently consulting on proposals that could affect services at community hospitals, including inpatient beds, X-ray provision and minor injury services.

Cllr Breeze said there was a significant difference between accepting that healthcare services need to evolve and supporting the loss of local services.

"Staff may well recognise the pressures facing the Health Board, but that should not be interpreted as support for losing beds and services that local communities rely upon," he said.

"If staff genuinely support these proposals, then the evidence should be published.

"If surveys have been undertaken, let's see the questions that were asked and the results."

Cllr Graham Breeze, who has questioned claims that Powys Teaching Health Board staff support proposed changes to hospital services across the county.

He added: "These are the most far-reaching healthcare proposals Powys has seen for a generation.

"The public deserves to know whether the claim that staff support the changes is based on robust evidence or simply an interpretation of a limited number of conversations.

"Before anyone speaks on behalf of the workforce, local people will want to know exactly how many staff were asked, or was it just a chat in a hospital corridor?"

The public consultation on the future of health services in Powys is due to continue until January 2027.

Ms Poynton, who has worked for Powys Teaching Health Board since 2003 and currently serves as Safety Systems and Information Coordinator while undertaking union duties on a part-time release basis, said staff understood that change would take time.

"Staff also understand, and I hate to use the management speak here but, it's a marathon not a sprint," she told the board.

"In the main they are looking forward to working with services, directorates and departments to see what we can change Powys Teaching Health Board into.

"I just wanted to let you know that in the main, the staff are with the change and know that changes need to be made."