SENIOR managers at Hywel Dda Health Board have vowed to “stabilise” the board’s financial problems, despite warning that the board is facing mounting problems.

The health board has consistently failed to stay within its budget, and the board’s Audit and Risk Assurance Committee said it was so concerned about the financial problems the board is expecting to find itself in this year, that it asked for details on what was being done at senior management level.

In a report to a meeting of the full board, Karen Miles, the director of finance, planning and performance, said a range of options were being considered following the ARAC meeting, including issues over medication spending, staff pay - especially in terms of agency staff, and requesting additional funding to meet additional demand during the winter period.

Ms Miles said that, while a lot of work was needed to address the financial issues, the board’s senior management team was confident it could improve the financial situation.

She said: “The board will see that there is a great deal of work in train to recover the financial position. The amount of work and organisational grip on these issues has never been greater, however we face some unprecedented challenges.

“The executive team is facing these challenges head on and is optimistic that we can stabilise the organisation’s financial position which has been deteriorating for a number of years.