A trust near to the Welsh border will stop carrying out non-specialised planned care on behalf of a number of Welsh NHS bodies following what it describes as “continuing payment issues”.
University Hospitals Bristol Trust board papers reveal that from April it will stop undertaking all “non-specialised, elective activity” for Welsh local health boards, which is not covered by an existing contract.
The trust refused to elaborate on the nature of the payment issues. A spokeswoman said: “We are in the process of communicating directly with the Welsh LHBs and it would not be appropriate for us to discuss this publicly at this point.”
The trust has contracts with three Welsh local health boards and specialist activity from Wales makes up 1.25 per cent of its budget.
Aneurin Bevan University Health Board, which provides and commissions care for south-east Wales, has a number of contracts with Bristol, as well as with providers in Herefordshire and Gloucestershire. It is unclear whether it is affected by Bristol’s decision.
A health board spokesman said: “The health board has no plans to end these arrangements and does not have specified savings targets for these services. The health board is not aware of the University Hospitals Bristol Trust board decision and is unable to comment on its position regarding payment issues.”
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