Despite the UK Government writing off more than £13 billion worth of debt held by NHS Trusts in England, the Welsh Government has yet to make an announcement regarding the millions of debt that Welsh NHS Boards are expected to have built up.
In 2019/2020 alone, Welsh NHS Boards accrued deficits of nearly £100 million with Welsh Government-run Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which covers North Wales, forecast to have a deficit of £41 million for the last financial year.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Angela Burns AM, said:
“At this time we need to ensure that our Welsh NHS can do its job and focus on protecting the lives of people across Wales rather than getting distracted with managing their past finances or being concerned about looking bad to the Welsh Government over their debts.
“It’s been a week since the UK Government wrote off the debts of the NHS Trusts in England, and it’s about time the Welsh Government did the same here.
“When we come out of this crises – and we will come out of it – we need to make sure that our Welsh NHS is in the best position it can be to continue to save lives and get back onto the front foot of all the delay operations and procedures due to Covid-19.”