Recent data shows that the number of patients in Wales waiting for treatment has decreased by nearly 2,000. In December, there were 800,395 patients on various patient pathways, which is a drop from 802,268 the previous month. Despite this improvement, the number of patients waiting more than 36 weeks has reached a record high of 284,586, surpassing the Welsh government’s target of no patients waiting that long.
While progress has been made in reducing the number of patients waiting the longest, with a 3% decrease in those waiting over two years, there is still work to do. Health Minister Jeremy Miles acknowledged the improvement but emphasized that efforts to increase capacity and reduce waiting times must continue. He highlighted the need for collaboration between the NHS and local authorities to enhance patient flow through the health system.
Response to the latest figures was mixed, with Conservative’s Andrew RT Davies expressing skepticism about the sustainability of the downward trend in waiting lists under the Labour government. Plaid Cymru’s health spokesman Mabon ap Gwynfor also raised concerns about the time taken to see a decrease in waiting lists, pointing out previous instances of waiting lists increasing under Labour’s leadership.
In addition to waiting lists, the data also includes statistics on cancer care and emergency services. Although there has been an improvement in cancer care with more patients starting treatment within 62 days, it falls short of the Welsh government’s target. Emergency services saw a decrease in the number of patients attending A&E, leading to a rise in the percentage of patients being seen within four hours. However, there was still a significant number of hours lost due to handover delays, indicating continued pressure on ambulance crews
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