Frequently asked Questions
Q. Where can I read more about how this decision was made?
This decision was made at a meeting in public of the Board on 26 March 2025.
As a health board our first and foremost priority is to ensure the best possible healthcare for the people of Powys.
The financial climate for the NHS across the UK remains very challenging. This is reflected in our own financial position here in Powys.
At our meeting, the Board gave very careful consideration to a number of additional measures that will be taken during 2025/26 to improve our financial position whilst continuing to deliver good quality services for Powys patients in line with Welsh Government targets.
We are committed to achieving operational savings of £11m on top of the £10.5m savings achieved in 2024-2025. Further actions that the Board has agreed as part of our 2025/26 plan include:
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Co-ordinated action to reduce the impact of Delayed Transfers of Care
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Continuing to work with the NHS Wales Joint Commissioning Committee to manage costs associated with nationally commissioned services (e.g. specialist services)
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Commissioning activity from all providers based on the NHS Wales Performance targets
Q. What action do I need to take?
You do not need to take any action.
Existing bookings for outpatient appointments or treatments are not affected.
If you are waiting for an inpatient or daycase treatment you will remain on the waiting list and will receive an invitation for your treatment based on NHS Wales waiting time measures.
If you are waiting for an outpatient appointment, these are not currently affected by this change but this is being kept under review by the health board.
Q. What steps can I take to keep well while I am waiting?
Information about Keeping Well While You Wait is available from our Waiting Well Service.
Our website provides useful guidance and top tips.
For example, Add To Your Life is an online, personal health assessment that provides you with lots of valuable, tailored information developed to help you get the best from your NHS treatment. Taking action now to improve your physical health and mental wellbeing will not only reduce the risk of any complications during your treatment, but it will also benefit your recovery and long-term health, getting you feeling better sooner. To complete your health assessment today, visit the Add To Your Life website.
Q. Which types of appointment are included?
From the beginning of July 2025, we have been working with the hospitals in England so that wherever you live in Powys, you will receive planned care treatments (inpatients and daycases) and outpatient appointments based on the NHS Wales waiting time measures.
Prior to July 2025, all planned care in Wales was delivered based on NHS Wales waiting time measures, and all planned care in England was delivered based on NHS England waiting time measures.
The NHS Performance Framework sets out the targets for the NHS in Wales in 2025/26 which are that no patient waits more than 52 weeks for first outpatient appointment and no patient waits more than 104 weeks for treatment. Work is continuing to reduce waiting times in NHS Wales in line with Welsh Government priorities.
Providers have also been asked to consider patients with an English GP to be treated to NHS England standards.
This change does NOT include:
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Cancer referrals
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Urgent and emergency referrals
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Appointments for people under 18
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People resident outside Powys (including if you are registered with a Powys GP)
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Follow up appointments and your ongoing care for long term conditions (e.g. diabetes)
If you already have a date for your appointment or procedure, then this is not affected. Please attend your appointment as normal.
You do not need to take any action. You will remain on the waiting list and the hospital will contact you to arrange your appointment. There is no need to contact your hospital provider or your GP practice to ask for an update on when your appointment will take place, or to expedite your appointment unless your symptoms have significantly changed.
This is not a decision we have taken lightly, and it reflects the way we are funded. We must take action to live within our means, or we will build up bigger financial difficulties for the future.
Q. I live in Powys but have an GP in England. Does this apply to me?
Providers in NHS England have been asked to consider patients who are resident in Powys but have an GP based in England to be treated according to NHS England waiting times.
Q. I live in England but have a Powys GP. Does this apply to me?
No. This does not include residents of England with a Powys GP.
Q. Which organisations / hospitals are affected by these measures
Waiting times for treatments for Powys residents with a Welsh GP will be based on NHS Wales waiting time measures in all hospitals / organisations.
Q. When do these measures begin?
These measures will begin July 2025.
Q. Do these measures apply to people who are already on a waiting list?
Yes, these measures will apply to people on a waiting list on 1 July 2025, and to people who join the waiting list after 1 July 2025.
Q. I have a date for my appointment or treatment at a hospital in England. Should I attend?
Yes.
If you have an existing booked appointment or treatment date then this is not affected by these measures. Please attend as normal.
Q. I have a date for my appointment or treatment in a Powys hospital. Should I attend?
Yes.
If you have an existing booked appointment or treatment date then this is not affected by these measures. Please attend as normal.
Q. I have a date for my appointment or treatment . Will it be postponed because of these measures?
No.
If you have an existing booked appointment or treatment date then this is not affected by these measures. Please attend as normal.
Please be aware that there are other reasons why an appointment may be postponed.
Q. What is the difference in waiting times between England and Wales?
The NHS Wales Performance Framework sets out the targets for the NHS in Wales in 2025/26 which are that no patient waits more than 52 weeks for first outpatient appointment and no patient waits more than 104 weeks for treatment.
For the NHS in England, the targets are that by March 2026 72% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks for first outpatient appointment, and 65% of patients will wait no longer than 18 weeks for treatment.
Q. How long will I wait? How can I find out about current waiting times?
Your waiting time will depend on a lot of different factors.
It can vary depending on the severity of your illness, the urgency of your operation, and the speciality and provider you are referred to. Your hospital Consultant will still assess your referral on receipt and there is no change to the clinical guidelines or practice on setting the clinical priority of the waiting list.
If you are on a waiting list for a hospital in Wales, please visit the NHS 111 Wales Planned Care website for information about current average waiting times:
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Visit the NHS 111 Wales - Planned Care website
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Choose the organisation you have been referred to (e.g. choose Hywel Dda University Hospital if you are waiting for an appointment at Bronglais Hospital)
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Choose the service (e.g. Gynaecology)
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The website will tell you the AVERAGE waiting times for outpatient appointments and for starting treatment. It will also tell you how long waiting times can be for some patients.
If you are on a waiting list for a hospital in England, information about current average waiting times is available from the My Planned Care NHS website.
The average waiting time is the average of all patients waiting within the specialty at each organisation. Some patients will wait less time than the average and some will wait longer than the average. Patients are managed on clinical urgency and therefore waiting times can vary depending on each patient’s clinical condition.
Please note that waiting times for Powys residents may also be longer than the average times on this website as we are commissioning your care based on NHS Wales waiting time measures.
Q. What if my condition gets worse while I am waiting?
If there is a change in the condition for which you were referred, please follow the advice given to you by the clinician who referred you to the hospital.
If there is a significant change in your condition then please seek advice from the clinician who referred you.
Q. Will you be writing to all patients?
No.
These measures mean that wherever you live in Powys you will now receive your treatment based on Welsh waiting time standards.
You do not need to take any action. You will be contacted by the hospital to arrange an appointment based on NHS Wales waiting time measures.
Q. Will I be seen more quickly if I transfer to a different provider?
No.
We advise all patients to remain on your current pathway.
If you request a referral to a different provider then this is likely to make your waiting time longer than if you stay with your current provider.
We ask patients not to contact their GP to request a new referral to a different provider.
Q. How can I share feedback including complaints and concerns?
Useful information is available from our website at https://pthb.nhs.wales/feedback
Q. How long will these measures be in place?
We currently expect to continue to plan your inpatient or daycase treatment care based on Welsh waiting time standards. This reflects the priorities of Welsh Government and the way we are funded. It also helps to ensure that wherever you live in Powys you are treated fairly compared with the rest of Wales.
The NHS Performance Framework sets out the targets for the NHS in Wales in 2025/26 which are that no patient waits more than 52 weeks for first outpatient appointment and no patient waits more than 104 weeks for treatment. Work is continuing to reduce waiting times in NHS Wales in line with Welsh Government priorities.