Ceredigion County Council will debate a motion on 12 June during a full Council meeting. The motion calls on Hywel Dda University Health Board to ensure that residents of Ceredigion and mid Wales receive the same standard of stroke care as those in other parts of the Board’s area.
The motion, proposed by Councillor Alun Williams and seconded by Councillor Eryl Evans, is in response to the Health Board’s recent consultation on a “treat and transfer” model, which would see stroke services moved nearly 70 miles from Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth to Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli.
Such a change would significantly reduce local provision, forcing patients and their families to travel long distances—up to four hours by public transport—for essential care or to visit loved ones.
The motion highlights Bronglais Hospital’s strong performance, noting that it currently holds a Grade B rating under the National Stroke Audit Programme (SSNAP)—a clear indicator of high-quality care.
It also expresses support for the local campaign group Protect Bronglais Services, which is working to safeguard the hospital’s future and has organised a public meeting on Friday 20 June at 7:00 pm in the Great Hall, Aberystwyth Arts Centre, to discuss the impact of the proposed changes.
Councillor Alun Williams said:
“Bronglais may be on the geographical edge of the Hywel Dda Health Board area, but it is central to the lives of people across Ceredigion, Powys and Meirionnydd. We must take an extremely critical view of any proposals that threaten local access to essential healthcare.”
“Bronglais may be on the geographical edge of the Hywel Dda Health Board area, but it is central to the lives of people across Ceredigion, Powys and Meirionnydd. We must take an extremely critical view of any proposals that threaten local access to essential healthcare.”
Councillor Eryl Evans added:
“Public transport in this region is already inadequate. Moving stroke services to Llanelli would only worsen health inequalities in rural Wales. A journey from Aberystwyth to Llanelli takes around two hours by car or nearly four hours by public transport. We cannot expect families to travel such distances daily to visit loved ones. Regular contact with family can be vital to stroke patients’ recovery, but under these plans, it may become impossible.”
“Public transport in this region is already inadequate. Moving stroke services to Llanelli would only worsen health inequalities in rural Wales. A journey from Aberystwyth to Llanelli takes around two hours by car or nearly four hours by public transport. We cannot expect families to travel such distances daily to visit loved ones. Regular contact with family can be vital to stroke patients’ recovery, but under these plans, it may become impossible.”
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