Concerns have been raised after it was announced that Hywel Dda University Health Board is on of two to Welsh health boards that has entered ‘enhanced monitoring’ by the Welsh Government after a “failure to produce balanced and approvable plans” on how to deliver healthcare in their areas.

The announcement means that both Hywel Dda (which covers Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion) and Cardiff and the Vale health boards are now under targeted intervention and enhanced monitoring for finance and planning.

Commenting on the news, Senedd Member for Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Samuel Kurtz MS said: “I am concerned to learn of the Welsh Government’s decision to intervene in the running of Hywel Dda Health Board.

“This news raises question marks over the way that the Health Board has been managed over recent years.

“When we need our NHS fighting fit to battle the backlogs, this intervention casts a cloud over patient services.”

Also raising concerns, Leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats Jane Dodds MS said: “This announcement is yet the latest in a series of negative announcements related to Labour’s running of the Welsh NHS.

“Figures last month show us that 100,000 extra people joined an NHS Wales waiting list during the last year. With almost 750,000 on patient pathways, well over one-fifth of the Welsh population are now on a waiting list.

“Meanwhile 60,557 people have waited over two years for treatment compared to only 2,885 in England.

“It is therefore concerning that two more health boards appear to be struggling to produce balanced and approvable plans to deliver treatment in their areas.

“Labour must start performing better on health and provide health boards with the strategic direction they need to get things back on track.”