Update on Temporary Service Changes

Latest Update 25 November 2025

Health services in Powys are facing significant challenges related to quality, workforce and long-term sustainability.

During 2024 we introduced a number of temporary changes to help us respond to these challenges whilst maintaining vital patient care.

The Board approved the following temporary service changes:

A change to the opening hours (8am to 8pm) for the Minor Injury Units (MIUs) in Brecon and Llandrindod Wells.
Implementation of two Ready to Go Home Units (RTGHUs) in Llanidloes and Bronllys in combination with strengthened inpatient rehabilitation at Brecon and Newtown.

We reviewed the temporary changes in July 2025. The temporary changes were delivering benefits for patient care, but we recognise the strength of public feeling about local community hospital services.

When we reviewed the temporary changes in July 2025, we had planned a period of formal consultation from Autumn 2025 looking at all the adult physical and mental health community services we provide across the county. This would help us to make decisions about the temporary changes.

These are complex issues, and we do not want to rush the decisions that need to be made. We now expect the formal consultation to take place next year.

In the meantime, the temporary changes will remain under review. This review process will look at quality, safety, outcomes and patient experience. It will also listen to the public and local stakeholders.

Next Steps

As part of that review, we have published a Discussion Paper. It provides an update on the temporary service changes introduced by Powys Teaching Health Board in December 2024 and seeks your views. It:

explains why the temporary changes were proposed,
summarises the engagement undertaken during Summer 2024 and what we heard,
sets out the decisions made by the Board in October 2024 and the implementation of the temporary changes,
shares the work we have undertaken to review and evaluate the temporary changes, and
seeks your views by 15 February 2026

We invite you to read this Discussion Paper and the supporting documents including the Board reports and feedback posters and share your views.

Please join us at one of our community discussion events between November 2025 and February 2026, or share your views online at www.haveyoursaypowys.wales/tsc2025

For more information about Better Together is available from pthb.nhs.wales/bettertogether