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Emilia Belli, the Westminster correspondent for BBC Wales News, reported that NHS patients from Wales needing knee and hip operations in England are experiencing significant delays after a health board requested English hospitals to align with Wales’ longer waiting times. The Powys health board made this decision due to financial constraints, leading to unexpected delays for patients like Mel Wallace, a 59-year-old resident of Howey, Powys.
Initially told she would have a 12-month wait for her hip replacement, Mel now faces an additional 45-week wait after already waiting for 59 weeks. Health board chief executive Hayley Thomas emphasized the importance of treating people in Powys within the same timeframe as residents elsewhere in Wales. The change in policy came into effect on July 1, impacting planned treatments for Powys patients at hospitals in Hereford, Shrewsbury, Telford, and Oswestry, now based on average NHS Wales waiting times.
The Welsh government remains committed to reducing waiting times and ensuring equitable access to treatment for all residents, including those in Powys. With significantly shorter waiting times in England, the Powys health board decided to align treatment times with NHS Wales standards to reduce costs. Patients like Mel Wallace, who previously enjoyed activities like walking her dogs and riding her motorbike, now face challenges in daily tasks like putting on socks due to extended waiting periods.
Stephen Evans, a 66-year-old local government officer from Builth Wells, and John Silk, a 92-year-old resident of Talgarth, also shared their frustrations with delayed surgeries and lack of communication from the health board. While the health board cites financial constraints for the policy change, patients stress the need for fair access to medical treatments regardless of geographic location. Political representatives and NHS trusts have expressed concerns about the impact of these delays on patient care and the need for adequate funding to address waiting list challenges
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