A mid Wales MS is calling for health boards in mid Wales to be merged, with Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth becoming a centre of excellence for the region.

Gwynedd Maldwyn MS Elwyn Vaughan is reacting to plans to remove all inpatient beds at Machynlleth and Llanidloes hospitals and the ongoing concerns over downgrading of services at Bronglais.

In a video, he said: “Now that Powys Teaching Health Board have announced the intention to consult on the future of community hospitals, there are three things I want to see happening.

“First of all, I want to see an alternative vision developed for our services and for these sites. That's why I'm working with local doctors throughout Powys to present an alternative positive vision. That's what we'll be sharing with you in the coming weeks.

“The second thing we want to see happening is to make Bronglais the centre of rural health excellence. I know there's work happening on that front, but we need to see positive action in the near future.

“And the third thing I think we need to see happening is the future of Powys Teaching Health Board itself. It's time to merge it with Hywel Dda Health Board to have a regional approach to the whole of Mid Wales, and that's what I'll be fighting for again in the coming weeks and months.

“I think the time is right, and it won't happen overnight, but that's the vision we want to present to you.”

Health Minister, Mabon ap Gwynfor, has previously spoken of his intention to create health centres of excellence for long-neglected specialisms across Wales.

Politicians and campaign groups have hit back at Powys health board plans to strip all inpatient beds away from Machynlleth and Llanidloes hospitals, with calls for the health minister to step in and force the board to resign.

Powys Teaching Health Board approved plans at its meeting on 16 September to launch a consultation on its ‘Better Together’ programme.

Papers from the meeting show the health board proposes reducing inpatient beds from the current 146 across eight community hospitals to as little as 60 across three or two sites in Brecon, Llandrindod Wells and Newtown.

Under both options presented, inpatient beds would be removed from both Llanidloes and Machynlleth hospitals.

Local campaigners against health cuts are to hold a meeting in Aberystwyth next month to combine efforts.

Protect Bronglais Services Chair Lisa Francis said: “PBS is increasingly concerned about the lack of response from Welsh Government regarding the future of Bronglais. With Hywel Dda UHB facing serious financial and planning difficulties, and cuts being proposed across Mid Wales, healthcare in the region appears to be tipping into crisis.

“Geography matters. Rural communities cannot afford to lose essential local services when patients already face journeys of up to three hours for hospital appointments, often without direct public transport.

“Bronglais serves four counties and patients from three different health boards, yet decisions often appear to be made in isolation, without sufficient consideration of their impact on wider patient pathways.

“The people of Mid Wales deserve clear answers about the future of their health services”