Concern mounts over health body closure

Concern is mounting over the impact the closure of the Institute of Rural Health in Newtown will have on rural healthcare.

The IRH, based at St David's House, closed last month with the loss of several jobs, as reported by MyNewtown.

The organisation, which was set up in 1997 and originally based at Gregynog Hall, researched and championed the health and wellbeing of rural communities.

It had helped develop ideas such as remote technology which allowed GPs to hold surgeries with patients via Skype.

The organisation said it could no longer keep running due to the lack of funding it received and being unable to secure new grants.

It had received grants from the Welsh Government, DEFRA and British Medical Association in the past, but no new funding was coming through.

A local GP, who did not want to be named, said it was a blow to the rural healtcare community nationally and even internationally.

"The institute was a pioneer. Outside the medical and healthcare world it wasn't necessarily that well known. But the work it undertook to promote and develop rural healthcare was outstanding.

"It was run by people who understood the needs of rural areas and patients and were able to research and develop systems and practices that ensured rural communities were considered."

He added: "This isn't just about the loss of an organisation and jobs in Newtown. It's about the loss of an organisation that ensured rural needs were considered att all levels within the UK healthcare and NHS system.

"It was recognised worldwide for its work and now it has gone. More should have been done to save this organisation."