Health

NHS Wales faces ‘historically low’ funding settlement

Published

5 months ago

October 23, 2025

NHS WALES faces an exceptionally low funding settlement by historical standards in the Welsh Government’s spending plans for next year, finance experts have warned.

Taking evidence on the outline draft budget, the Senedd’s finance committee heard the health service would receive a lower increase than the average over the past 15 years.

Ed Poole, a lecturer and part of the Wales Fiscal Analysis team at Cardiff University, said the health and social care budget is rising by about £261m – 2.1% before inflation or 0.5% in real terms – “and that’s way below the historical growth rate in health spending”.

Dr Poole told today’s (October 22) meeting: “It’s below the 3.6% real-terms annual increase that we’ve seen in the NHS, it’s below the 2.1% real-terms increase we’ve seen since 2010 which includes, of course, the austerity budget years.”

He added the increase would be significantly lower than that planned for NHS England.

Dr Poole explained headroom has been left for negotiations with other political parties, with about £380m said to be unallocated in the budget, but cautioned “that’s probably unrealistic”.

“If that were to be brought forward then we’d have an historically low settlement for the NHS,” he said. “So, I think the amount of additional money from those unallocated funds is quite a bit smaller than is presented.”

Guto Ifan, also a lecturer and part of the Wales Fiscal Analysis team, said: “It’s not totally neutral. So, for example, it’s a political decision to increase every part of the budget… in the same way and protect budgets from… projected inflationary costs.”

Mr Ifan pointed to UK Treasury transparency data, which showed consequential funding from NHS spending in England next year will be about £518m, saying: “The increase to the NHS is going to be below that, so that again is a political decision.”

He said even if the entire £231m extra available for day-to-day spending – as part of the unallocated £380m – went to the Welsh NHS, it would equate to a 2.5% real-terms rise.

David Phillips, an associate director at the Institute for Fiscal Studies who leads the research institute’s work on devolved finance, echoed the academics’ evidence.

He said: “Even if all this unallocated money… was put into the NHS, that would still be only roughly in line with the estimate of what you need to just keep things steady in terms of performance – let alone see the improvements we want.”

Labour needs support from other parties to pass its spending plans and has held talks with the Conservatives over a budget deal this week.

The Tories have called for land transaction tax to be scrapped on people’s primary homes, with experts estimating the cost at about £200m and warning it would push house prices up.

Mr Phillips stressed: “There really isn’t this money for the next Senedd to do as it pleases with – unless it’s willing to make tough choices on things like the NHS.”

He added: “If you want to start to use some of that money for new initiatives, that means either difficult decisions for the NHS… other services or difficult choices on tax.”

The economist set out the context of a difficult year – with the Welsh Government’s funding going up by less in the coming financial year than in the past couple, Labour lacking a majority to pass spending plans, and a competitive Senedd election looming in May.

He told the committee funding in the 2026/27 draft budget would increase just above current forecasts of whole-economy inflation, adding: “The Welsh Government has in the past described this as a neutral or business-as-usual budget, I don’t think that’s really the case.”

Mr Phillips argued a business-as-usual budget would give different increases to areas such as health and schools to account for the differing pressures facing each.

He said: “At first glance, it seems laudable to do a neutral budget then give the next Senedd more choice about how to allocate funding. I don’t think framing the existing allocations that have been proposed as neutral or business as usual has been that helpful.”

Dr Poole warned: “If the Senedd is unable to pass a budget, that is a whole other level of magnitude of uncertainty… it’s all bets are off at that point.”

Health

Plaid Cymru to hold public meeting over Withybush hospital surgery cuts

Published

5 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Candidates say residents must be heard after emergency services decision

PLAID CYMRU candidates for the Ceredigion Penfro constituency will host a public meeting in Pembrokeshire to discuss concerns over the future of services at Withybush Hospital.

The event will take place at 6:30pm on Monday (Mar 31) at Letterston Village Hall, giving residents the opportunity to share their experiences and concerns following Hywel Dda University Health Board’s decision last month to remove emergency general surgery from the hospital.

Campaigners say the move will force many patients requiring urgent treatment to travel further for care, raising fears about the potential impact on patient safety in rural west Wales.

Elin Jones, Plaid Cymru lead candidate for Ceredigion Penfro, said: “Withybush is such an important hospital for the community and residents of Pembrokeshire. The decision to remove its emergency general surgery will severely weaken the life-saving capacity of this hospital.

“Plaid Cymru has long championed small rural hospitals such as Bronglais and Withybush. We need to ensure these hospitals remain strong local services within our communities. Withybush should have the basic life-saving and everyday treatment services it needs to function as a full general hospital.”

Kerry Ferguson, Plaid Cymru candidate for Pembrokeshire within the Ceredigion Penfro constituency, said the recent success of a public petition had demonstrated the strength of local feeling.

“It’s great to see that the online petition calling for Welsh Government intervention to restore emergency surgery and essential services at Withybush has reached its target, meaning it will now be debated in the Senedd,” she said.

“We are extremely disappointed by the Health Board’s decision to remove emergency general surgery at Withybush. Increased journey times for anyone in need of urgent medical treatment will put lives at risk. We need government intervention now to overturn this decision.”

Residents across Pembrokeshire have continued to raise concerns about the future of services at the hospital, which has long been a focal point in debates about healthcare provision in rural west Wales.

Health

Politicians seek legal advice over hospital decisions as petition passes 11,000 signatures

Published

10 hours ago

March 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

PEMBROKESHIRE’S two Members of the Senedd have written jointly to the Welsh Government’s Counsel General seeking legal advice on possible ways to challenge decisions made by Hywel Dda University Health Board affecting healthcare services in the county.

Paul Davies MS and Samuel Kurtz MS have asked the Counsel General, Julie James MS, to outline what legal mechanisms may exist to scrutinise or challenge the health board’s decision-making process, particularly in relation to changes impacting services at Withybush Hospital.

Their move comes amid growing concern from residents, clinicians and community groups about the impact of service changes on patient safety and access to care, especially in a rural county where travel times to alternative hospitals can be significant.

Public concern has also been reflected in a petition calling for intervention over the future of services at Withybush Hospital. The petition has now attracted more than 11,000 signatures and continues to gain support.

Having passed the required threshold, the petition can now be considered for debate in Senedd Cymru.

The two MSs say the level of public backing highlights the strength of feeling locally and the need for greater scrutiny of decisions being taken about healthcare provision.

Paul Davies MS said: “Residents across Pembrokeshire are deeply concerned about the cumulative impact that changes to healthcare services could have on patient safety and access to care in a rural area. The fact that more than 11,000 people have signed the petition highlights just how strongly people feel about this issue.”

Samuel Kurtz MS added: “People deserve confidence that decisions affecting vital healthcare services have been taken properly and with full consideration of the impact on local communities. We have therefore written to the Counsel General to seek advice on what legal avenues may exist to challenge these decisions and what powers the Welsh Government has to intervene where serious concerns have been raised.”

The MSs have also asked the Welsh Government to clarify what role it can play in reviewing or intervening where there are significant concerns about the governance and decision-making processes of a health board.

Health

Welsh Ambulance Service to host bi-monthly Board meeting

Published

3 days ago

March 13, 2026

Tom Sinclair

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE is preparing to host its bi-monthly Board meeting – and the public are invited.

Join the meeting on Thursday 26 March via Microsoft Teams to hear senior leaders cover a full agenda, including approval of the Integrated Medium-Term Plan for 2026-29, which outlines what the organisation will prioritise and deliver, how it will use its resources and how it will continue to improve care for the people of Wales over the next three years.

Board members will approve the initial revenue budget for the year ahead and receive an update on current financial performance.

The Board will also hear from Mr Clarke from Cwmbran, who describes an experience of trying to access help via 999 for his late father who was terminally ill.

There will also be an opportunity to pose a question to the Board.

Chair Colin Dennis said: “Board meetings give you the opportunity to really get to know our ambulance service, with a clear view of how important decisions are shaped and the processes behind them.

“They also create a forum to hear directly about ongoing work, explore how we can strengthen support for the Trust’s staff and patients, and connect with the people responsible for shaping those decisions.”

Click here to watch the Board meeting on Thursday 26 March 2026 from 9.30am.

This link will be active from 10 minutes before the meeting starts.

To pre-submit a question, please email [email protected] by no later than Wednesday 25 March 2026.An agenda will be available on the Trust’s website in the days prior to the meeting.