Powys Teaching Health Board (PTHB) will face greater scrutiny from the Welsh Government due to serious concerns about its finances, Wales’ health secretary has announced.

Jeremy Miles confirmed that PTHB, along with Swansea Bay University Health Board, will be escalated to level four for finance, strategy, and planning.

This is the second-highest level on the Welsh Government’s new five-point intervention scale, just one level short of special measures.

Mr Miles warned: “We need to increase the level of support because of the growing financial deficits both organisations are reporting.”

In a statement on November 5, Mr Miles said all seven major health boards remain in some form of intervention, with no changes to the escalation levels of other NHS organisations.

Mr Miles added that Betsi Cadwaladr remains in special measures, and a progress report has been published with agreed de-escalation criteria for the board to meet.

He told the Senedd: “These decisions have not been taken lightly.

“Escalation is not a form of punishment; it is the best way to support these NHS organisations in improving the quality of service and care people receive in Wales, in their local areas, and ultimately, their outcomes.”

Welsh Conservative shadow health minister, Sam Rowlands, said there had been “next to no progress” under Welsh Labour.

“As the issues in the Welsh NHS accumulate, people across Wales aren’t seeing the improvements we would expect after repeated Labour promises,” he said.

MS for Brecon and Radnorshire James Evans told the B&R that the news is “disturbing”.

“Welsh Labour’s record on the NHS in Wales is abysmal and this is symptomatic of a failure of leadership from the top,” he said.

“Many locals have raised concerns about recent decisions to reduce MIU opening hours and questioned whether this will actually save any money.

“Budgets are stretched in all public services, but the health board needs to start listening to its frontline staff and the residents it serves if it is to find efficiencies and better ways of working to address its growing financial deficit.”