The cost of moving to a new model of health provision in Powys could increase in the short term, according to a health board finance chief.

This is because the health board would need to fund the “up-front costs” as well as funding the current provision as it transitions to a leaner, more home-based care model.

At the outset of the meeting, PTHB chairman Dr Carl Cooper said that the discussion of a pre-consultation business case was the culmination of two years’ work on the "Better Together" programme.

Dr Cooper stressed that a final decision would be made in the spring next year after the consultation responses had been analysed.

Following an hour-long presentation, interim chief executive Pete Hopgood said: "In conclusion, the evidence demonstrates the clear need to change. The case for change is driven by quality, safety, outcomes and the ability to meet future population need.

"Five options are proposed for consultation. Each option contains potential benefits, disadvantages, dependencies and risks.

"Travel, equality, rurality, visiting, workforce, community capacity, primary care, social care and delivery impacts deserve a full and transparent exploration."

He asked the board to authorise the move to full consultation.

Mr Hopgood said: "The test today is not whether all details of future implementation have been finalised but whether evidence of the need to change is sufficiently robust and credible to enable informed and meaningful consultation."

Board members then quizzed senior staff on the plans.

Independent member Steve Elliott asked: "There will be some quite considerable up-front costs, how do we propose to manage that given our current financial position?"

The health board is already projecting a deficit of just under £45 million this year.

Acting executive director for finance Hywel Pullen said: "There would be the need to invest in our community services up front, we would require increased costs for a time while we're double running."

The "reduction of costs" from using services from health boards and trusts outside of the county, as well as "eventually closing wards" as the health board consolidates to certain sites, would come later, he explained.

Mr Pullen said: "We will need to build those costs into future plans and those would need to be approved by the (Welsh) government as we implement change."

Board member Mick Giannasi said that his concerns had been "ticked off" one by one from the answers given to his colleagues' questions.

Mr Giannasi said: "I am drawn to the conclusion that the case for change is very well evidenced and compelling.

"The fragility of the current model is already evident across a whole range of factors, quality and safety, workforce resilience, access, the estate and our financial position.

"For me maintaining the status quo is not an option."

He indicated that he would vote in favour of going to consultation to test the proposals.

Eventually, Dr Cooper steered the board to a vote, which saw the proposal backed unanimously.

The consultation is due to start on October 5 and run until January 10, 2027, and will include 13 drop-in events across Powys.