Llanidloes Town Council has slammed Powys’ health board as bed-blocking begins at Aberystwyth’s Bronglais Hospital.

Following Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) changes, GPs have been instructed to stop sending patients to Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital, despite there being available beds.

This is said to have caused bed-blocking at Bronglais, with staff “incredulous” at the situation.

In October PTHB voted unanimously to reduce hours in minor injuries units and centralise inpatient care as a cost-cutting measure.

Llanidloes Council has branded this the start of a “downgrade disaster”, calling for the“resignation and removal” of PTHB board members.

In a Facebook status posted yesterday, 31 October, the Town Council wrote: “And so the Downgrade Disaster begins.

“We have been informed today that due to the disastrous decision made by PTHB on 10 October, even though there are currently four hospital beds available in Llanidloes War Memorial Hospital and a further five in Bronllys Hospital, local GPs have been told that they cannot allocate these to local patients.

“Said patients are therefore currently stuck, bed-blocking in Bronglais even though there are beds available for them here.

“We understand that staff at Bronglais are as incredulous at the situation as we are.

“Clearly the second rate decision making at PTHB didn't account for this.

“As you are aware we have indicated that we have no confidence in PTHB to deliver local health service and demand their resignation and removal.”

This summer Bronglais’ health board revealed the average discharge delay was 33 days, “putting lives at risk” before the changes to Powys came into effect.

PTHB voted to tackle the £23 million budget deficit forecast for this financial year, with all changes to come into force by 1 December.

The changes include moving some inpatient services out of Llanidloes and Bronllys Hospitals, instead grouping patients together according to specific need.

Llanidloes and Bronllys will specialise in getting patients fit and ready to go home, whilst Brecon and Newtown Hospitals will focus on rehabilitation for conditions such as strokes.

Patients in Powys may need to travel out of county to Aberystwyth, Telford or Shrewsbury for other inpatient treatment.

Ystradgynlais, Llandrindod Wells, Welshpool and Machynlleth hospitals will continue operating general medical wards.

Minor Injury Units in Brecon, previously open 24 hours, and Llandrindod Wells, previously open 7am-midnight, will now run from 8am-8pm.

PTHB was keen to point out that there will be no reduction in bed numbers due to the changes, and a review will take place after six months with the option to reverse the changes if needed.

PTHB chief executive Hayley Thomas said at the 10 October meeting: “There is no reduction in bed numbers over the sites as a result of these proposals.

“It’s the same capacity that we currently have going into the winter period.

“This is part of getting ready for winter and the reality is we need to address patient flow and delays across the whole system.

“The whole purpose around this is to improve our productivity and to have better outcomes.”

Powys Teaching Health Board didn’t respond to the call for resignations, but described the changes as “temporary” and that they aimed to “reduce delays in bringing patients back into Powys” by working closely with neighbouring health boards.

A spokesperson said: "We are working hard to respond to a number of challenges facing the NHS and patients in Powys.

“Following careful and conscientious consideration the Board has agreed a number of measures to address these challenges, including the temporary designation of two Ready To Go Home units - one in Llanidloes and one in Bronllys.

“These temporary changes will be in place for six months and will be subject to clinical review and evaluation which will include key measures relating to patient experience so that we are able to support more patients to return home more quickly, and reduce the risks from deconditioning during a prolonged stay in hospital.

“A key goal of these temporary changes is to reduce delays in bringing patients back into Powys from hospitals outside the county, and we continue to work closely with neighbouring health boards and Trusts to achieve this."