Newtown ‘abandoned’ by Health Service

New town has been “abandoned” by the Health Authority, according to campaigners who have stepped up their bid to obtain proper health cover for the town.

More than 1,500 residents have signed up to the campaign to call for Shropdoc to be permanently based at Newtown Hospital with Town Mayor, Cllr. Joy Jones (right), demanding: “We are the largest town in Powys and deserve 24-hour cover.”

Residents from the Newtown area currently have to travel to Welshpool for out-of-hours treatment. This has created huge problems over the past three weeks with patients battling terrible weather and treacherous driving conditions to receive treatment.

Many elderly residents that have fallen in the icy blast have suffered further due to the delay in receiving treatment and Cllr. Jones says there is a lot of anger in the town from residents.

“We have been totally abandoned by the Medical Services,” she said. “Residents that have signed the petition are very angry. We have an excellent minor injuries service here in Newtown but once that closes early evening, we are expected to drive all the way to Welshpool for treatment which is unacceptable and some are putting their lives at risk in doing so.

“It is not easy to get to Welshpool with the traffic problems we face and especially during the terrible weather we have had. There are also a lot of people in the area on low incomes that don’t own a car and can’t get there. There are bank holidays approaching over the Festive Period so the hospital in Newtown will be closed for longer and the problems will get worse.

“We will be out and about gathering support for the petition and I encourage all residents to sign up. This is a vital service that Newtown must have.”

Cllr. Jones intends to hand the petition over to the Health Board in the New Year.

-          Get in touch with your town councilor

-          Sign the petition at WH Smith

-          Sign the petition at the council chambers

-          Download the file below and sign it with your family and friends before returning to the council chambers