A HEALTH board has been criticised for its ‘shortcomings’ when holding a consultation into the future of the soon-to-be-reopened Blaenau Health Centre.

The £3.9 million development will open next month, but without inpatient beds, despite repeated calls from local campaigners.

Last week, crowds of campaigners travelled to Caernarfon to call for the reintroduction of beds, x-ray services and a minor injuries unit (MIU) in the biggest town in Dwyfor and Meirionnydd.

For years, the Blaenau Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee has fought for services in the town, suggesting that other communities – such as Porthmadog and Tywyn – were treated more favourably.

In a last ditch attempt to convince Betsi Cadwaladr staff to include these “much needed” facilities in the new health care centre before it opens next month, the defence committee staff met with Gwynedd Council’s Care Scrutiny Committee and health board staff last week.

The county council slammed Betsi Cadwaladr for the “shortcomings” in their consultation and engagement process and suggests that the health board “learn from the process and works more effectively with the local community in the future”.

A bus full of protesters also travelled up from Blaenau to voice their outrage.

However, the group’s pleas were ultimately to fall on death ears as Betsi Cadwaladr staff confirmed in the meeting that there were no plans to include an MIU, x-ray service or inpatient beds in the area.

Representatives of the health board said that inpatient beds in Ysbyty Alltwen, 13 miles away in Porthmadog, was suitable for providing in-hospital treatment.

When asked to comment on the meeting, a spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “We always welcome the opportunity to discuss the plans for services for Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog.

“We have been working with our partners and stakeholders since June 2013 to develop plans for the new health and wellbeing centre.

“We were pleased to discuss these plans further with Gwynedd Council today.

“We are making a significant investment by bringing new and enhanced services into the town which include amongst others, new palliative care, heart failure, respiratory and audiology clinics and an increased dementia day service.

“The full suite of services which will be on offer at Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog will help us to provide care closer to people’s homes across the age range, preventing lengthy journeys for treatment.

“We are now looking forward to this innovative facility opening in Blaenau Ffestiniog next month.”

A Gwynedd Council spokesperson said: “At the meeting, Gwynedd Council’s Care Scrutiny Committee agreed on several draft recommendations including: Examining transport arrangements across Gwynedd need to be a looked at and further research will be carried out in this area; gathering and monitoring data and evidence to see if the current provision is adequate; the council and the health board should work together to assess the information and report back as soon as possible; due to changes over the last five to six years, the Care Scrutiny Committee requests that the health board undertake a new assessment of health provisions and needs in the Blaenau Ffestiniog area.”

The Blaenau Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee was asked to comment.

The matter will be given further consideration at the Care Scrutiny Committee meeting on 21 September.