Health boards given extra £82 million

Clearly, the quality and standards of the NHS in Wales is of the utmost importance to us all.

The NHS and NHS workers in Wales are under enormous and ever increasing pressures. We know that our members strive day in and day out to deliver the best possible care for patients.

UNISON agrees that the contingency funding announced today by the Health Minister will help our members to continue to provide a service they are proud of and so we welcome this decision.

We know that this is not a ‘bail out’, but is a logical and rational response to the demands that the Welsh NHS is currently facing.”

It seems we’ve been here before. This £82 million bailout comes after repeated assurances given to us by the Minister that Health Boards would break even.

The Minister also told the committee that three Health Boards may be allowed more at the end of the year through brokerage.

It shows that the government has simply not got a grip on the health service.

This time, the Minister has raided the capital budget to pay for this...

It’s becoming clear that there is a lack of financial planning and robust financial management as well, which will inevitable effect frontline services.