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A health board in Wales might request that the NHS in England postpone the treatment provided to patients residing in Wales as a cost-saving measure.
This implies that individuals in Powys may face hospital waiting times that could stretch up to 11 weeks or more, as some patients there are treated by NHS England due to the county's proximity to the border with England.
Powys Teaching Health Board stated that if the changes were implemented, they would remain compliant with NHS Wales waiting times standards and emphasized that "extraordinary measures are required" to achieve cost reductions.
The Welsh government aims to ensure that all patients receive care within 104 weeks by March 2025.
Wales saw record waiting times published in October, with the list passing the 800,000 mark for the first time.
As part of its strategy to address waiting times, the Welsh government plans to increase the number of treatments sourced from England.
Powys patients receive certain cross-border services from the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, as well as from Shrewsbury and Telford NHS Trust, and Wye Valley NHS Trust.
The Powys health board is currently exploring "exceptional measures" to achieve nearly £10 million in savings, and is in talks with NHS England about potential delays in implementation.
This implies that individuals residing in Powys who seek medical treatment from hospitals in England might intentionally face longer wait times for their care.
Alongside a potential rise in treatment wait times, Powys has implemented a hiring freeze and restricted spending on agency staff.
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Marina Bowles, a resident of Rhayader, suffers from arthritis and is registered as blind. Throughout her life, she has consistently traveled to England for her medical treatment.
"I've been waiting for more than a year for surgery, and these suggested changes would only extend the wait time for individuals like myself, which is incredibly challenging when you're in pain every day," she expressed.
"Officials at the Senedd have expressed their intention to reduce waiting lists by transferring patients to England. However, the initiatives in Powys contradict this approach."
Ms. Bowles, a former nurse in the county prior to her retirement, remarked, "Powys is not an ideal place to age. It feels like a neglected county."
"The local elderly population is significant, yet this demographic is not taken into account when it comes to budget planning."
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During a meeting scheduled for Friday, the health board will evaluate various scenarios that may result in increased waiting times for surgeries and outpatient appointments, potentially extending them by five to eleven weeks.
The proposed plans would not include cancer patients, individuals undergoing "other urgent elective procedures," and children.
Powys has a demographic that skews older compared to the average across Wales, leading to elevated and rising expenses associated with care.
A representative from Powys Teaching Health Board stated: "We must take extraordinary measures to secure an additional £9.9 million in savings in order to meet the financial goals set by the Welsh government."
It was also mentioned that the suggested modifications would be reviewed during a public gathering organized by the health board on Friday.
