Local health board 'short changed' says MS

Local MS has raised concerns over what he describes as a lack of fairness in additional NHS funding allocated to health boards in Wales.

Last month, Health Secretary Jeremy Miles announced an emergency £50 million funding boost to increase capacity within the NHS and commission private sector services where possible.

Of the £40 million distributed so far, Powys Teaching Health Board received just £265,000—representing only 0.66% of the total allocation.

In contrast, larger health boards such as Cwm Taf Morgannwg and Cardiff and Vale received 20.22% (£8.1 million) and 14.90% (£6 million), respectively.

The disparity in funding comes amid troubling waiting times for Powys residents. According to the NHS 111 My Planned Care website, trauma and orthopaedic patients in Powys face an average waiting time of 37 weeks compared to 31 weeks in Cardiff.

For children requiring autism diagnoses or assessments for additional learning needs, the situation is even more severe. Powys Teaching Health Board confirmed that some children have been waiting more than 200 weeks—nearly four years—for diagnoses critical to securing support.

"Powys Deserves Better"

Commenting on the figures, Russell George, member of the Senedd for Montgomeryshire expressed his frustration:

“It’s clear to me that Powys is again being shortchanged by the Welsh Government. We have people waiting a very long time on waiting lists, and the people of Powys deserve to be taken seriously.”

George highlighted the unique challenges faced by Powys residents, many of whom must travel significant distances—sometimes across the border to England—for healthcare.

“Receiving our fair share of funding is essential for paying other health boards in both Wales and England for treatment,” he said.

George criticized the Welsh Government for a lack of transparency, noting that the Health Secretary initially avoided answering his questions. He added, “I am disappointed but not surprised that the Welsh Government is completely disconnected from our rural communities.”

The funding breakdown shows that Powys Teaching Health Board received the smallest allocation. Meanwhile, health boards in urban and densely populated areas received a significantly higher proportion, reflecting an ongoing challenge for rural communities like Powys to secure equitable healthcare resources.

With waiting times and funding disparities in the spotlight, the debate raises questions about the Welsh Government’s commitment to addressing rural health inequalities.