The latest NHS statistics show that waiting lists and two-year waits have increased in Wales, alongside continued poor performance against key NHS targets.
The total number of patient pathways waiting for treatment stood at 709,700 in July, up from 698,400 in June, while the estimated number of individual patients waiting for treatment was 555,200.
The number of pathways waiting more than two years rose from 4,100 to 4,731, compared with 235 in England.
Patients in Wales are also waiting longer, with the median waiting time standing at 16.3 weeks, compared with 12 weeks in England.
Cancer performance remained well below target, with just 60.1% of patients starting treatment within 62 days in July, against a target of 75%.
In August, just 63.8% of patients spent less than four hours in Welsh emergency departments, against the 95% target, while 10,977 patients waited 12 hours or more, against a target of zero.
Red ambulance response targets were also missed, with a median response time of 9 minutes and 2 seconds and a 90th percentile response time of 22 minutes and 9 seconds.
Commenting on the latest statistics, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, Natasha Asghar MS said:
“These figures show that the pressures on our NHS continue to grow under Plaid, with waiting lists and two-year waits failing to improve.
“Patients are waiting longer for treatment, cancer targets are still being missed, thousands are facing waits of more than two years, ambulances continue to miss response targets and almost 11,000 people waited more than 12 hours in A&E in August.
“Yet this week, Plaid Cymru have been focused only on their obsession with constitutional change and independence, spending more time with the SNP and Sinn Féin than with the striking health visitors they promised to help.
“Patients across Wales will expect the Welsh Government’s focus to be on getting waiting lists down and improving outcomes for patients, not on breaking up our country.
“They cannot keep blaming others. Plaid Cymru are now running the Welsh Government and they need to take responsibility for delivering the improvements patients desperately need.”
Action needed after serious safety concerns found at mental health unit
Welsh Conservatives have called for urgent action after Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) identified significant safety concerns at a specialist mental health rehabilitation unit at University Hospital Llandough.
An unannounced three-day inspection of the Llanfair Unit in June 2026 found low compliance with mandatory training, including life support, safeguarding and moving and handling.
HIW said it was not assured that sufficient staff had the competencies required to manage risks safely, resulting in immediate patient and staff safety concerns.
The inspection also identified longstanding problems with the condition of the unit, including mould, ceiling leaks, faulty showers and broken toilet and bathing facilities.
Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, said,
“Patients receiving specialist mental health care should be able to expect properly maintained facilities and trained staff to keep them safe
“HIW has identified serious gaps in staff training, including cases where staff involved in restraint interventions were not compliant with the required aggression management training.
“It is unacceptable that patients and staff have been dealing with longstanding problems including mould, leaks and broken bathroom facilities.
“I recognise there are some positive findings in this report, including praise for the compassion shown by staff at the Llanfair Unit, but the safety concerns must be urgently addressed.
“Cardiff and Vale University Health Board must now deliver the improvements it has promised and patients and their families deserve to see those improvements translated into lasting change.”
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