Decision on delaying Powys patients' healthcare to save £9.9million is deferred for further work on the risks and impacts

Powys Teaching Health Board met on Friday morning to look at a series of options to save £9.9 million and improve this year’s financial situation.

One of the recommendations was to intentionally increase waiting times by between five 10 11 weeks for operations and out-patient appointments for Powys patients in English hospitals.

However, members agreed that further work needs to be done before a final decision is taken including talking to English hospital providers to look at the length of waiting times, risks involved and to carry out further work on finalising the impact assessment.

Chairman Dr Carl Cooper said the board would need to reconvene at the earliest opportunity to make a decision based on that work.

The Chief Officer of Llais, Katie Blackburn said waiting for care is a significant issue not only for the individual but also on their families and carers.

She said the proposal to delay care for what could be between 4,000 and 10,000 patients would be about ‘levelling down’ as patients in the north of Powys currently receive quicker care than those in the south. She said she was concerned that the short term decision may have really long term impacts.

The health board’s Executive Director of Primary, CommunityCare and Mental Health, Elaine Lorton said she had met with GP practices from across Powys and they were concerned about the impact on the population. 

She said they felt patients’ needs would increase via increased pain medication and demands to have their appointments expedited.

Former Brecon and Radnorshire Senedd Member and Vice Chairman of the Board, Kirsty Williams said because of low delivery confidence and admissions that further works needs to be done she wondered if the board should pause, gather the further information and ensure that when the board takes a difficult decision they would have all the information available to them.

Mr Cooper said: “As a health board our first and foremost priority is to ensure the best possible health and healthcare for the people of Powys.

“But, approaching the end of 2024/25, the financial climate for the NHS across the UK remains very challenging. This is reflected in our own financial position here in Powys. 

“At our meeting, the Board gave very careful consideration to a number of additional measures that could be taken before the end of March 2025. These include asking hospital providers in England to slow down the delivery of planned care activity including outpatient appointments and inpatient procedures. 

“This is a highly sensitive issue and was subject to robust and rigorous discussion by Board members.

“These discussions acknowledged the very real impact on patients who are waiting for a planned procedure – particularly given the considerable rise in waiting times since the start of the COVID pandemic – but also the very significant consequences if we do not take further action to improve the financial position of the health board. 

“Recognising the impact and potential consequences, the Board endorsed that further discussions should take place with providers of planned care services in England in order to further develop the assessment of potential savings and finalise the integrated impact assessment.” 

A final decision will be made by the Board in public at a future date.

Dr Cooper added: “When this meeting of the Board is arranged we will ensure that details are communicated through our normal channels. 

“All patients are advised to continue to attend appointments as normal, pending further discussions at the Board meeting.” 

The Board meeting also received an update on a number of other financial measures which are already under way. 

These include a recruitment freeze and tighter controls on expenditure on agency staff. Members noted these measures.