Plans for health and social care integration in Powys, mid-Wales have received a £7.1m funding boost.

The county's Regional Partnership Board has approved the 2026-27 funding, which represents the final year of guaranteed support from Welsh Government's Regional Integration Fund.

Dr Carl Cooper, interim chair, and co-vice chairs, Cllr Pete Roberts and Clair Swales of Powys Regional Partnership Board, said: ‘The 2026-27 Delivery and Resource Plan establishes a set of priorities and initiatives to further strengthen integrated health and social care in the county.

‘It will see us continue our shift towards prevention, supporting people's independence and flexible delivery, while planning for the future of programmes beyond the current funding commitment.

‘It also emphasises the importance of partnership working and continuous improvement of all health and social care as we look to deliver cost effective services, across a dispersed rural population.'

The funding will focus on: children and young people; prevention and early help; helping people return home from hospital/out-of-county placements; integrated, whole system working; and short-term cost avoidance and system enablers (eg workforce).

Previous schemes have included: emotional health and wellbeing support to 3,600 children; welfare checks, help after falls, and support with daily tasks in the home to elderly people on more than 14,000 occasions (2024-25); advice on careers in health and social care given to 5,500 learners; and avoidance of 280 hospital admissions in 2024-25 through home support services.

Lee Peart is editor of Hemming Group’s Healthcare Management magazine.