, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
James.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
James, are you happy for John to come in and then I'll come back to you?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Do you want to come in, Mabon?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay. I could go on, but I'm going to stop it there because of time. James Evans.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
The point I'm getting to is that the point that you're making, Cabinet Secretary, is that there's no spare capacity within the NHS—that's the point you just made. There is capacity in other parts of the NHS, outside of Wales, clearly—we know that from the…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
But not financial. That's what I'm digging into.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
The headline there is that there is no extra capacity within the Welsh NHS, so the waiting lists are as they are for capacity reasons, not financial reasons, apart from the Powys situation.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Thank you, Hywel. One last question on the health boards' positions from me. Of course, we're aware of Powys health board's position because it had to make that decision in a board meeting, so it's a public position, but, of course, other health boards in…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
We're struggling a bit for time, but Hywel wanted to come in, and I've got one last question on health boards' financial situation, and then we'll move on. Hywel.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay. Thanks. Did you have a question to come back on that, James?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Nick, did you still want to come in?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Thank you. Joyce.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Bigger buying power.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay. And then—. James, do you want to come in on this point?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay. So, there's been some discussion around Powys health board's deficit position. The First Minister this week made a very clear statement that it's unreasonable for Welsh patients to be told that they need to wait longer than their English counterparts…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay. And in terms of this financial year, because we're talking about the next financial year, but in terms of this financial year, surely those discussions would have taken place prior to now, in terms of them balancing this year's budget, in terms of…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
So, what areas have chairs already discussed with you about deprioritising certain areas?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Okay, that's understood. Thank you. In terms of the real challenges that we've spoken about, and you've spoken about, in terms of the strain on NHS services, what discussions have you had with health boards about the potential of deprioritising some areas?…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Thank you, Alex. In terms of revenues, Cabinet Secretary, how much additional funding in this financial year was sourced from reserves to cover the deficits that we talked about? And how much, in your draft budget for 2025-26, addresses the risk of further…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Thank you, Joyce. Alex, did you want to come in?
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Joyce, you wanted to come in.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Sure. Okay. Thank you, Hywel. I appreciate that. James Evans.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Yes.
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Sure. Okay. So, most years, most health boards end up in a deficit position, and that can't be a sustainable position, so I assume you agree with that. So, is there enough funding that you've allocated in your 2025-26 budget to ensure that, in your position…
, Health and Social Care Committee
Welsh Government draft budget 2025-26
Yes.
