POWYS’ health board will face greater scrutiny from the Welsh Government due to serious concerns raised about its finances, Wales’ health secretary has announced.
Jeremy Miles confirmed on Tuesday that Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB), along with Swansea Bay University, will be escalated to level four for finance, strategy and planning.
This is the second highest level on the Welsh Government’s new five-point intervention scale – one short of being placed in special measures.
Speaking in the Senedd on November 5, Mr Miles said he has to take “serious decisions” about whether NHS organisations need additional support and oversight from the Welsh Government.
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“(At) Swansea Bay University and Powys Teaching health boards we need to increase the level of support because of the growing financial deficits both organisations are reporting,” said Mr Miles.
“Therefore, I have taken the decision to escalate both health boards to level four – which was previously known as targeted intervention – for finance, strategy and planning.
“These decisions have not been taken lightly. Escalation is not a form of punishment.
“It is the best way to support these NHS organisations to improve the quality of service and care people receive in Wales from the health service in their local area and, ultimately, their outcomes.”
Welsh Conservative shadow health minister, Sam Rowlands, said there had been “next to no progress” under Welsh Labour.
“As the issues in the Welsh NHS accumulate, people across Wales aren’t seeing the improvements we would expect after repeated Labour promises.
“Both Powys and Swansea Bay health boards have been escalated again, with Betsi Cadwaladr remaining in special measures.
“There has been next to no progress. In fact, the situation is getting worse.”
Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru’s shadow health secretary agreed, describing the update on escalation arrangements as a “grimly familiar situation of the normalisation of failing standards”.
Mr Miles said all seven major health boards remain in some form of intervention, with no changes to the escalation levels of other NHS organisations.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board remains at level five – in special measures. Mr Miles said the Welsh Government has agreed the de-escalation criteria it must meet to move to level four and has published the latest progress report on its website.
Swansea Bay will also remain at level four for performance and outcomes and at level three for maternity and neonatal services.
Despite progress being made in some areas, there are no changes to the escalation levels of the other NHS organisations at this stage. This means all NHS trusts and strategic health authorities remain at level one.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board remains at level four for finance, strategy and planning and at level three for urgent and emergency care performance at the Grange University Hospital.
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