Two Montgomeryshire politicians have unearthed plans by Powys Local Health Board to cut funding for Powys patients being treated in English hospitals.
The revelations have been exposed by Montgomeryshire’s MP, Glyn Davies and AM, Russell George, after being approached by distressed constituents who have been told by their GPs that they could be forced to wait a further 10 weeks for elective treatment, due to the financial pressures being faced by the LHB.
The two Welsh Conservative politicians understand that the health board, who commission treatment services on behalf of Powys residents from a range of hospitals in England and Wales, has asked both The Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic NHS Trust and the Shrewsbury and Shropshire NHS Trust, to extending referral to treatment times for the rest of this financial year because of budgetary pressures. In a move that could potentially save the health board £2m, they have told the neighbouring Trusts that they will now only pay for treatment carried out on routine cases in a 32 to 36 week ‘window’.
Commenting, Mr George said:
"This health board is effectively telling colleagues in England that they are treating patients too quickly. That is absolutely scandalous and must be stopped immediately.
"It is ludicrous to suggest that people from Wales should wait longer for an operation just so it saves some money.
"We now have a hospital in England treating English patients in 18 weeks but being forced to refuse treatment for Welsh patients before 32 weeks. That is unfair and it cannot continue.
"I have seen patients in my constituency office break down in tears because they have been told they must wait longer for treatment and remain in pain and discomfort.
"We already knew the Welsh Government's record-breaking health cuts were putting immense strain on staff and services but these forced delays are beyond shameful."
Mr Davies was also deeply critical of the Welsh Government’s handling of NHS finances. He added:
"Powys Health Board has been clearly forced into this position by the Welsh Government, who are cutting core funding given to local health boards.
"The Welsh Government has money to pay for free prescriptions yet its savage cuts are affecting front-line services to patients.
"While it may be deeply critical of how the Coalition Government is running the NHS in England, at least they treat people who are suffering – the purpose of the NHS.
"The decision to increase the waiting times for surgery to 36 week will shock Powys patients. In England it would have to wait 18 weeks, in the rest of Wales 26 weeks but in Powys it is now a disgraceful 36 weeks.
"The situation is very clear – don’t fall ill in Powys."