THE Welsh Government should be drawing up a “rescue plan” to ease Hywel Dda Health Board’s budget woes, the Welsh Conservative leader has insisted.

Despite Andrew RT Davies calling for more to be done by the Welsh Government to control Hywel Dda’s finances, First Minister Carwyn Jones has been accused of “indifference” toward concerns that services could collapse unless the board’s budget situation is improved.

The health board has admitted it is expecting to overspend by £70m this financial year coming after previous years when the board has failed to remain within its budget.

That prompted questions to Mr Jones by Mr Davies who said the Welsh Government should be doing more work with Hywel Dda, which is in ‘targeted intervention’ status with the Welsh Government.

Speaking outside the Assembly Chamber, Mr Davies said: “Hywel Dda’s deficit is getting worse, it’s waiting times are getting worse, and it’s ability to attract and retain staff is getting worse.

“The Welsh Government’s targeted intervention in bringing about improvements in the health board and its finances has clearly failed.

“The First Minister must therefore take some responsibility, and show some leadership by bringing forward a road map to rescue what is already a desperate situation.”

During the exchange in the Senedd, Mr Jones said: “The board were given a clear target to not exceed their planned deficit of £58.9m, but it wasn’t until December that they said they would miss this target.

“There are still significant concerns with financial management and reporting within the board, which we are following up in detail with them, and we are confident that the health budget will still balance overall in the current year, even with this increased deficit in Hywel Dda.”

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