In Labour-run Wales, two-year waits for treatment have increased to 21,290, the first time they’ve increased in two years. In addition to this, the number of patient pathways has now reached 775,031, the highest on record.
Yet despite Conservative-run England’s population being 18x higher than Labour-run Wales’, two-year waits stand at just 275, with median waits for NHS treatment being half of that in Wales.
In the Senedd next week (03/07/24), the Welsh Conservatives are bringing forward a Senedd motion on Labour’s disastrous health record, but also outlining our plan to tackle Wales’ dire NHS waiting lists.
Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Sam Rowlands MS, said:
“It’s deeply concerning that NHS statistics show that the Welsh NHS is going backwards under the Labour Welsh Government.
“Unlike in Conservative-run England where waiting lists are being cut, waiting lists are now increasing in Labour-run Wales, with people’s lives on the line.
“In the Senedd next week, I look forward to bringing forward our Welsh Conservative debate on Labour’s disastrous health record, but also outlining our Welsh Conservative plan to tackle Wales’ dire NHS waiting lists.”
The motion which will be debated next week reads:
To propose that the Senedd:
1. Celebrates the hard work and dedication of people working in the Welsh NHS.
2. Recognises the UK Government’s offer to help the Welsh Government with tackling NHS waiting lists.
3. Regrets that:
a) two-year waits for treatment have increased to 21,290 in Wales, the first time they’ve increased in two years, compared to 275 in England;
b) median waits for NHS treatment are 22 weeks in Wales, compared with 13.9 weeks in England;
c) the number of patient pathways in Wales has increased again to 775,031, the highest figure on record, while waiting lists have fallen over the last 6 months in England; and
d) 54.2 per cent of red ambulance calls don’t arrive within eight minutes.
4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:
a) begin the phasing out of outdated NHS technologies;
b) bring forward a substantial workforce plan with a tuition fee refund for healthcare workers that stay in Wales for five years after their studies;
c) ensure the full Barnett consequential arising from NHS spending by the UK Government is made available for the health service in Wales; and
d) work with the UK Government to understand best practice in cutting NHS waiting lists.
