Shropshire Star

£700,000 bill for treating Welsh patients in Shropshire

Health chiefs in Shropshire are paying an extra £700,000 a year to treat increasing numbers of Welsh patients coming over the border for care, it was claimed today.

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The number of Welsh patients attending A&E at the Royal Shrewsbury Hospital has risen by nearly nine per cent over the past two years, with 530 a month coming through the doors now as opposed to 500 in 2013.

The numbers attending Minor Injury Units in Shropshire from Wales has also grown from 70 to 100 people per month – with the opening of a primary care centre in Oswestry and the closure of the MIU in Chirk thought to be primarily responsible.

Meanwhile, going the other way, the number of English patients using health facilities in Wrexham has fallen from 180 to 190 per month to 130 over the same time period. The figures have been revealed in a new document from the Shropshire Clinical Commissioning Group, which buys health services for the county.

Shrewsbury MP Daniel Kawczynski has written to Welsh health minister Mark Drakeford to illustrate his concerns about the number of patients crossing the border.

Mr Kawczynski said: "The resulting financial consequence for Shropshire is leading to a cost pressure of approximately £700,000 for a full financial year.

"Whilst there is no question Welsh patients should continue to be treated in England, my CCG has suggested it is unable to continue funding this from a capitation based budget that is allocated on behalf of local taxpayers to Shropshire, for the provision of care services for English residents.

"I personally find the idea that Shropshire patients should be forced to subsidise the Welsh Government simply unacceptable."

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