An indication of how difficult things are already, without the further cuts necessitated by the mess Labour left behind in the economy, is evident in the lead article in this morning’s Western Mail.
The paper says that Health Boards are facing unprecedented cuts of up to £500m this year to balance their books. They say that some boards must make savings of up to £7m a month prompting concerns that frontline staff, beds and operations may be slashed:
Kate Watkins, acting director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said: “The scale of the financial challenge for the NHS in Wales is unprecedented. Even if government spending on the NHS increases by a modest degree over the next few years, the rising costs of fuel, energy, drugs and equipment, together with a rising demand for health services because of our ageing population, will mean a substantial budget shortfall in real terms.
“The scale of the challenge this time around means that bold approaches must be considered.”
All the indications are that this crisis will force the restructuring of health spend that finance directors say is needed if we are to use resources effectively and which the Minister has so far failed to take up.
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