Council opposes changes to health services in Welshpool

  Published on 24 September 2026

Welshpool Town Council has formally opposed any planned reduction in services currently provided at Victoria Memorial Hospital, Welshpool, as Powys Teaching Health Board prepares to begin consultation on major changes to health services across the county.

At its Full Council meeting on Wednesday 23 September, councillors discussed the Health Board's Better Together programme and the potential implications for Welshpool and the wider area.

Powys Teaching Health Board agreed on 16 September to proceed to a county-wide public consultation on proposals covering adult physical health, adult mental health, urgent care and some diagnostic services. The consultation is expected to begin on 5 October 2026 and run for 14 weeks until 10 January 2027. The Health Board has emphasised that no final decisions on future services have yet been made.

However, the options being put forward for consultation would represent significant changes to the way community hospital services are provided across Powys.

For physical-health inpatient care, the options include reducing the current 146 beds across Powys to around 90 beds at three hospitals – Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown – or around 60 beds concentrated at Brecon and Newtown. Under both options, physical-health inpatient beds would therefore no longer be provided at Welshpool's Victoria Memorial Hospital.

Proposals also envisage changes to urgent care and diagnostic services. Victoria Memorial Hospital currently provides a Minor Injury Unit, alongside other community hospital services.

Following discussion, Welshpool Town Council unanimously resolved to oppose any planned reduction in services currently provided.

The Council also agreed to support campaigns opposing the proposed changes and to make Council resources, including meeting rooms where appropriate, available to support those campaigns. Members additionally called upon the Mayor of Welshpool to summon a community meeting so that residents can hear more about the proposals and discuss their potential impact on Welshpool and the surrounding area.

Mayor of Welshpool, Cllr Revd William Rowell, said:

“Victoria Memorial Hospital is an enormously important part of Welshpool and serves communities well beyond the boundaries of the town itself.

“The Council recognises the pressures facing health services and the need to plan carefully for their future, but Members are deeply concerned by proposals which could result in services being moved away from Welshpool.

“Our Council has made its position clear: we will oppose reductions in the services currently available at Welshpool Hospital and will work with our community to make sure Welshpool's voice is heard during the forthcoming consultation.

“I will also be calling a community meeting so that local residents have an opportunity to come together, understand what is being proposed and discuss what it could mean for our town and surrounding communities.”

The Town Council is encouraging residents to read the consultation material when the formal consultation opens and to make their views known directly to Powys Teaching Health Board.

A Senedd petition calling for a halt to the loss of hospital beds, facilities and community hospitals in Powys is also currently collecting signatures. Under the Senedd's petitions process, petitions receiving more than 250 signatures are considered by the Petitions Committee, while petitions reaching 10,000 signatures may be considered for a debate in the Senedd. The petition can be found here: https://petitions.senedd.wales/petitions/247123