The uncertainty of modern life is making it "difficult" to plan services for Powys, a health chief has said.
Professor Vivienne Harpwood who chairs Powys Teaching Health Board, told a meeting of the Powys Public Service Board on Thursday, March 17 that "we just don't know what we're in for".
It came as members looked at draft Wellbeing and Population Needs assessments, which provide the data that will shape future policy making for the county.
Due to the ongoing Covid-19 pandemic the face-to-face focus groups, street surveys, and public events were done online.
Professor Vivienne Harpwood who chairs Powys Teaching Health Board, said: “Both documents are amazing, not only because there’s so much work gone into them but the fact there’s so much information in them.”
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“But my concern is in these very troubled and uncertain times it’s very difficult to look at trends with any certainty for the future.
“These are wonderful snapshots of what’s been achieved, we just don’t know what were in for: the economy is in a mess, there won’t be as much money around and we won’t be able to provide for people in the same way we have possibly.
“There will be more poverty, the gap between the rich and the poor will increase.”
Prof Harpwood ended her comments on an optimistic note by hoping that things will be “alright.”
Powys council’s head of transformation and communications, Emma Palmer said: “The Population Assessment will provide the evidence to develop the statutory regional joint action plan.
“Both assessments provide and honest account of what we know and don’t know.”
Mid and West Wales Fire and Rescue Service, deputy chief fire officer Iwan Cray said: “It’s important for us as individual organisations to use these documents to shape internal plans.”
Powys council leader Cllr Rosemarie Harris, who chaired the meeting said: “It’s important that we disseminate as much information as we can to the residents.”
Cllr Harris added that the assessments should be given to councillors elected in May as the information contained in them are “very comprehensive”
The assessments were agreed by the board.
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