Five years to clear two – year NHS waits in Wales
The latest Welsh NHS statistics indicate a worrying trend in 2 year waiting lists. After missing their target to eliminate inhumane two year waits by March this year, the Labour Government moved the goalposts and set April 2024 as their new target.
However, the statistics today show a worrying trend. In the last couple of months the numbers have dropped by an average of 478 people. If this rate continues, it will take another 5 years to completely eliminate the two-year backlog.
Wales NHS waiting lists in general have gone up by more than 5,000
In addition, waiting lists in general have gone up by more than 5,000, which puts the number in line with what they were last August, virtually eliminating all progress.
Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Russell George MS said:
“For the inhuman two-year waiting list to be eliminated within the Labour Government’s revised target, we would need to see a reduction of 2,800 patients off the list every month. However, within the latest statistics we are seeing a reduction of only 478 on average in the past couple of months. The latest numbers put the overall waiting list in line with how they were in August last year, which indicates no progress.
“This is a worrying trend and the Labour Health Minister needs to explain clearly to everyone waiting in pain for years, how exactly she is going to clear the backlog by April 2024.
“In the summer months when the NHS is at it’s quietest, this is the time to do everything possible to reduce the number of patients, desperately waiting for treatment. When the winter pressures begin to kick in, I am concerned that the list will start to rise further, as resources are deployed to tackle these seasonal hotspots.
The Labour-run Welsh NHS is in a shambles after 24 years of Labour mismanagement.
“The Labour-run Welsh NHS is in a shambles after 24 years of Labour mismanagement. It cannot be right that in England two-year waits have been virtually eliminated. Welsh Conservatives have called for Labour to rapidly roll out surgical hubs as was done in England to get on top of this backlog, yet the Welsh Government have ignored our pleas.
“They must swallow their pride and be open to suggestions as opposed to ignoring the issue in the hope that it will go away.”
