Campaign groups from across mid Wales are to meet for a health summit in a bid to combine their efforts.

Protect Bronglais Services (PBS) is organising a Mid Wales Health Summit in Aberystwyth on Saturday 17 October, bringing together Senedd Members, MPs and representatives from community hospital action groups.

The summit follows a recent Hywel Dda consultation on proposed changes to stroke services at Bronglais, alongside threatened cuts to community hospital beds in Tywyn, Machynlleth, Llanidloes, Welshpool and Llandrindod Wells.

PBS warns that these changes could further increase pressure on Bronglais, Mid Wales’s only district general hospital.

PBS 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.

“We are asking Welsh Government to meet with communities and explain what these proposals will mean for healthcare across Mid Wales, and whether Ministers intend to intervene where necessary.

“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 and a meaningful opportunity to have their voices heard.”

PBS believes that, as publicly funded bodies, health boards must ultimately be accountable to elected representatives and Welsh Government.

The summit will be chaired by Jack Evershed and further details about the summit will be announced over the next two weeks.