Urgent temporary changes to stroke services at Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil

This page provides information about urgent temporary changes being made to hospital stroke services in the Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board area (including Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil) from week commencing 6 January 2025.

When you experience stroke symptoms you may need specialist tests and treatment to give you the best chance of recovery. Act F.A.S.T. and dial 999 for emergency stroke care.

Normally the best place if you experience stroke symptoms is  a major hospital with the full range of hospital specialists and equipment. This might include specialist brain scans, and providing “clot busting” medicine to dissolve blood clots and restore blood flow to the brain.

Because Powys is very sparsely populated, we receive our emergency and specialist hospital stroke care in neighbouring hospitals outside the county.

One of these hospitals is Prince Charles Hospital in Merthyr Tydfil which is run by Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board (CTMUHB). This is currently the main specialist stroke hospital for some communities in South Powys. Due to urgent issues facing CTMUHB they are making some emergency temporary changes to their specialist hospital stroke services. From week commencing 6 January, expert staff and services for those requiring emergency treatment and care for a stroke, will be based at the Royal Glamorgan Hospital at Llantrisant rather than at Prince Charles Hospital.

Access to other specialist hospital stroke services for Powys residents is unaffected. The key role of Welsh Ambulance Service University NHS Trust is also unaffected, and when you experience stroke symptoms they will take you to the best place for access to stroke care.

Depending on where you live in Powys your main specialist stroke hospital may be Morriston Hospital (Swansea), Glangwili Hospital (Carmarthen), Bronglais Hospital (Aberystwyth), Maelor Hospital (Wrexham), Princess Royal Hospital (Telford), County Hospital (Hereford), Grange Hospital (Cwmbran). These services are not affected and continue to offer specialist hospital stroke services.

For more information on what to do if you or a loved one are experiencing stroke symptoms visit the NHS 111 Wales website.