At the end of August, PTHB was reporting a £15.731 million overspend against its 2025/2026 budget deficit, which is forecast to be £28.312 million. This is £3.933 million more than the £11.798 million deficit the health board had expected by this stage of the year – this is calculated on the £28.3 million being divided by 12 and this sum then multiplied by five. Mr Hopgood told the board that it had been “previously assumed” that this increase in costs would be covered by the government. “Is this likely to be the case next year?”READ MORE: Powys woman waiting an extra year due to health board plansHe also asked whether health boards in Wales, through the Joint Commissioning Committee (JCC), were putting together an argument to tackle the tariff uplift in England. Ms Thomas explained that the increased costs impacts PTHB and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board which covers North Wales “more” than others in Wales.