Inpatient services could be scrapped at the Memorial Hospital

Gwynedd Local Health Board (LHB) said it needs to reorganise the services is provides across Meirionnydd.

It wants to close all 17 beds at the town's memorial hospital. The proposal has prompted Saturday's planned march.

Some or all of the beds at the hospital in Tywyn would also close under the health board's proposals.

Gwynedd LHB published plans to modernise services in Blaenau Ffestiniog in July.

Since then the proposals have been put out to public consultation, with public meetings attracting hundreds of people in the area.

The LHB review said that modernisation was essential to improve the quality of care and use of resources.

This is not modernisation, it's withdrawing important services in the community Gwilym Euros Roberts, Hospital Defence Committee

It said that the memorial hospital was "not providing services in an efficient way, due to low bed occupancy rates," and that the hospital building, which was built in 1925, was "unsuitable in terms of ward layout and ensuring the privacy of patients".

The LHB plans include cutting all in-patient facilities at the hospital, and increasing the amount of home care.

But minor injuries and X-ray services would continue to be provided, it said.

Opponents of the scheme said the plans threatened the future of health care in the area.

The Chairman of the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee, Gwilym Euros Roberts said it was a big talking point in the town.

X-ray services look set to stay at the hospital

He said: "The people of Blaenau and the surrounding area demand the best standard of care and service possible within our community.

"The hospital was built as a memorial to the brave men and women from the area who gave their lives for our freedom during two World Wars.

"We will not stand aside and let bureaucrats and accountants tell us that current services at the hospital are not acceptable or profitable."

The defence committee has drawn up its own solution, called the "Peoples Option", which it claims would increase the services provided at the memorial hospital.

Mr Roberts said he hoped the march would show the strength of their opposition.

"This is not modernisation, it's withdrawing important services in the community. What's modern about taking away beds?