Rural health board shake-up opposed as locals fight cuts to hospital beds

Under its Better Together programme, external the health board is proposing changes to services in a range of areas - adult physical health, adult mental health, urgent care and some diagnostic services.

Among the proposed changes, external, the most controversial could affect inpatient beds in most of Powys' community hospitals where occupancy rates are usually around 85 to 90%.

Powys does not have a general hospital, but it does have beds in eight community hospitals.

According to a report to the health board the current model "provides valued local services, but its dispersed configuration makes it increasingly difficult to meet needs consistently".