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New NHS target 'may lead to cuts' New NHS target 'may lead to cuts'
(9 minutes later)
Key Welsh NHS waiting list targets for next year cannot be met without service cuts, finance experts have claimed.Key Welsh NHS waiting list targets for next year cannot be met without service cuts, finance experts have claimed.
NHS finance directors say the proposed 3.1% Welsh budget increase is not enough to help meet the challenging 26-week treatment deadline.NHS finance directors say the proposed 3.1% Welsh budget increase is not enough to help meet the challenging 26-week treatment deadline.
As a result, they have warned the assembly government that pressure to hit the target could lead to staff and service cuts elsewhere. They have warned the assembly government pressure to hit the target could lead to staff and service cuts.
The NHS in Wales has been told it must meet the new target by December 2009. But Health Minister Edwina Hart said with "better management" the targets could be met.
The service has been allocated £63m in extra funding to help it reach this goal. The service has been allocated £63m in extra funding and has been told it must meet the new target by December 2009.
"The NHS always believes it cannot reach its targets and finance directors always make the claims for further money, because last year we had very similar concerns and groans about whether they could manage - of course the NHS budget totally balanced last year," Ms Hart said.
The service has been given £63m to cut waiting, but the NHS officials said this, which is part of an overall proposed budget increase of just over 3% would not be enough to pay for the scheme.
NHS finance directors say it will be a significant challenge, given all the other pressures on the health service.NHS finance directors say it will be a significant challenge, given all the other pressures on the health service.
These pressures include inflation, a legal cut in junior doctors' hours and the introduction of new policies such as free hospital car parking.These pressures include inflation, a legal cut in junior doctors' hours and the introduction of new policies such as free hospital car parking.
The directors believe extremely difficult decisions about priorities in the service will have to be made, despite planned productivity gains and efficiencies aimed at helping the NHS reach the treatment target being introduced.The directors believe extremely difficult decisions about priorities in the service will have to be made, despite planned productivity gains and efficiencies aimed at helping the NHS reach the treatment target being introduced.