Patients in Powys are feeling neglected as second-class citizens due to longer waiting times, and the health board’s financial struggles leading to further cuts will only exacerbate the issue, Senedd members have cautioned. James Evans, recently appointed as the Conservatives’ shadow health secretary, voiced his apprehensions regarding the plans of Powys teaching health board to balance its finances.
Representing Brecon and Radnorshire, Mr Evans highlighted that the board’s strategies involve requesting English providers to delay treatment for Powys patients as a cost-saving measure. Addressing the Senedd, he remarked: “Powys patients already feel like second-class citizens due to longer waiting times for treatment compared to other areas across the country, and proposals that deliberately extend waiting times will only deepen those problems.”
He continued by stressing the importance of timely care, noting that delays lead to increased use of other services such as GPs, physiotherapists, A&E departments, and ambulances due to patients being in pain. For the latest health and Covid news, sign up to our newsletter here.
Labelled as ‘ludicrous’ by Russell George, another Conservative representing Montgomeryshire, it was revealed that 60% of his constituents are treated in hospitals across the border. He said: “Powys health board is proposing to ask providers in England to not see patients too quickly because they can’t afford to pay.
“I can’t quite believe that I’m actually saying this. It is a ludicrous position to be in that patients from Wales could be sat in the same hospital, being seen by the same health professionals, but are not seen as quickly as English patients.”
Ahead of an all-important health board meeting on Friday, he directly addressed Health Secretary Jeremy Miles, pressing the Welsh Government for immediate action.
Jane Dodds, leader of the Welsh Lib Dems, also expressed her grave worries regarding the impact of a £9.4m shortfall, looking at a future where recruitment freezes and reduced agency staff seem likely.
Mr Miles responded firmly in the Senedd, revealing that the Welsh Government had funnelled notable extra funding into the health board before Christmas, although he opted not to disclose the exact figure, noting: “All health boards need to be able to balance their budgets.
“This isn’t a negotiable element… what I hope to see is that the board is able to make decisions that enable the budget to be balanced and also to make sure that people get the care in the timely way that they need.”
Speaking more widely about the strains of winter on January 7, Mr Miles shed light on the worrying uptick in flu cases within NHS Wales hospitals throughout December. He said: “The latest available data show there are more than 900 people with flu, Covid-19 and RSV in our hospital beds. This is 20% more than in the same period last year.”
He also commented on what some might call ‘mismanagement’. Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor has voiced concerns regarding escalating winter demands on the health service, which appear to be increasing annually while the system’s capacity to handle such pressures is diminishing. The party’s shadow health secretary highlighted a worrying trend in the reduced number of over 65s and healthcare workers receiving the flu vaccine compared to the previous year.
Mr ap Gwynfor also took aim at what he termed “underinvestment” in the NHS estate capacity and the “consistent mismanagement of scarce resources” by the Welsh Government. Meanwhile, Labour backbencher Lesley Griffiths, representing Wrexham, expressed concerns that only 27% of NHS staff have taken up the flu vaccine this season, emphasising the need for better promotion of its uptake.
Ms Griffiths, who has previously served as health minister, proposed extending eligibility for the free jab, such as offering it to everyone over the age of 55.