HEALTH campaigners are urging Powys people to turn up to the only Future Fit event which will be held in Powys through the three month consultation.

This afternoon (Thursday), Future Fit will be holding their consultation event at the Elephant and Castle in Newtown from 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

It will be the only chance for Powys residents to meet doctors, nurses and other healthcare staff, ask questions and find out more about the proposals.

On May 30, Future Fit launched their 14-week public consultation which runs until September 4, on the future of NHS services at The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital and the Princess Royal Hospital in Telford.

Back in March the UK Government In March, The UK Government announced that Shropshire, Telford & Wrekin Sustainability & Transformation Partnership (STP) would receive over £300m funding for the Future Fit programme to make the changes to services.

Health campaigner and Powys County Councillor, Joy Jones, said: "This is it, it's really important that as many people as possible turn up.

"Out of the blue. I've had personal experience in the last few days of how important it is to have the Accident and Emergency unit in Shrewsbury after family members were taken there.

"I'm so grateful to the nurses and doctors at Shrewsbury

"It's not just about getting treatment for people who are ill and injured as soon as possible but the travelling for families.

"This is why it's so important we pick Option One."

"Those extra 20miniutes it takes to reach Telford could be the difference between life and death.

"You also need to consider the cost of fuel, it's rising and every penny counts to many families in this area.

"Many of us have fought for years to be part of the decision making process.

"Once the decision is taken, that's it there will be no use complaining afterwards."

As back up to the main consultation, Powys Local Health Board have been holding pop up consultation sessions across the County.

Powys Local Teaching Board, Assistant Director, Communications and Engagement, Adrian Osborne, said: "The pop up events have been going really well, keeping us very busy with questions and comments about the NHS Future Fit proposals and what they mean for the people of Montgomeryshire.

"Russell George joined us on Saturday in Newtown, as well as Llanidloes GP Dr Andy Raynsford and I was able to join the event organised by Welshpool Town Council, and hats off to Robert Robinson and team for working so hard to make sure that local communities are aware and have the opportunity to respond. "

This week Pop Up events have been held at Montgomery and Caersws and further events take place around the county in July

The Options under consideration are:

The options are:

Option1: The Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes an Emergency Care site and the Princess Royal Hospital becomes a Planned Care site

(This is the CCGs’ preferred option)

Option 2: The Princess Royal Hospital becomes an Emergency Care site and the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital becomes a Planned Care site

Under either option, both hospitals would have an Urgent Care Centre that is open 24 hours a day, seven days a week. where patients would receive care for illnesses and injuries that are not life or limb-threatening but require urgent attention.

Having a single Emergency Care site would mean that specialist doctors can treat the most serious cases in a dedicated emergency department, which is proven to be safer, provide better results for patients and reduce the amount of time people have to stay in hospital.

Having a dedicated Planned Care site would mean that patients will wait less time for their appointments and beds would be protected for planned operations, meaning that is highly unlikely operations will be cancelled due to emergency admissions.

Under either option, the proposals mean that Shropshire will keep the full range of services already offered with high quality, state-of-the-art care for patients available at two vibrant local hospitals.

Further Pop Up Events organised by Powys Teaching Health Board take place at:

July 10, 4pm to 6.30pm Llanidloes Sport Centre.

July 10, 5pm to 8.30pm Welshpool Town Hall

July 12, 9am to 1pm, Llandrindod County Hall Foyer, 9am to 1pm

July 13, 10am to 12noon Llanrhaeadr-ym-Mochnant, St Dogfan's Church

July 13, 2pm to 4pm and 5pm to 7pm, Llanfyllin Library

Other times and dates at Welshpool, Knighton and Llanfair Caereinion, to be confirmed.

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