Llangollen Community Hospital closure protest meeting

In-patient beds are due to move from Llangollen community hospital to Chirk

About 70 people attended a public meeting to protest at the planned closure of a Denbighshire hospital.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is to consult over its planned re-organisation, which includes closing Llangollen Community Hospital.

It says facilities will be replaced, but in-patient beds would be transferred to Chirk, near Wrexham.

A motion calling for a referendum on the future of the hospital was carried at the meeting.

As part of recently announced reorganisation plans, the hospital will shut but services will be replaced.

However, the health boards says: "Community bed health care will be provided through the roll out of the enhanced care service and through commissioning care home beds and the use of beds at Chirk hospital."

Local resident Martin Crunpton said bus services to Chirk were inadequate.

Mr Crunpton, of the group Llangollen Protest, said: "The only bus from Llangollen that passes Wrexham Maelor is the two-hourly Barmouth X94.

"No bus service goes directly to Chirk hospital.

"The regular bus services for both Wrexham and Chirk involve walking a considerable distance to their respective hospitals, which many simply cannot do.

"For those without cars, it's hospital transport or nothing. The closure must be stopped."

The health board said it will be holding a consultation event with the local community in and around Llangollen once the consultation starts on 20 August.