The latest NHS statistics for Wales show that performance has worsened across key areas of the health service.
Performance against the 62-day target for patients starting cancer treatment fell to 56.7% in April, well below the 75% target. In Swansea Bay, just 48.4% of cancer patients are treated within the target time.
NHS treatment waiting lists have increased to 680,003 pathways in April, with an estimated 536,500 patients waiting for treatment in April. Two-year waits have also risen to 3,694, compared with only 191 in England.
A&E waits have also deteriorated. In May, 11,066 patients waited 12 hours or more in Welsh emergency departments, up from 10,287 in April, the target is 0.
For Ambulance Red calls, the median decreased to 9 minutes 12 seconds but the 90th percentile increased to 22 minutes 39 seconds, meaning the response time targets for red calls remains unmet.
Plaid Cymru are just as responsible for the latest NHS figures, after years of propping up the previous Labour government. They now face a monumental task to bring down waiting lists, improve outcomes for cancer patients, reduce ambulance wait times and tackle the long delays in emergency departments across Wales.
The Welsh Government has announced an additional £145 million for NHS Wales. A total of £100 million on reducing waiting times with £25 million invested in new surgical hubs. Whilst this is a welcome step, it is a drop in the ocean compared with what is needed to fix our health services and improve patient outcomes.
Commenting on the latest statistics, Welsh Conservative Shadow Cabinet Minister for Health and Social Care, Natasha Asghar MS, said:
“These figures show a worrying backslide in NHS performance in Wales. Cancer treatment times have fallen, waiting lists have risen, two-year waits are up and more patients are being left waiting over 12 hours in emergency departments.
“Plaid Cymru cannot escape responsibility for this. They propped up the previous Welsh Labour Government by backing their budgets and are now in Government themselves. Patients across Wales need action, not more talk of improvement.
“Whilst any extra funding for the NHS is welcome, £145 million will not be enough unless it is accompanied by urgent reform, a comprehensive workforce strategy and real delivery for patients.
“The Welsh Conservatives have been clear that the Welsh Government needs to declare a health emergency in our NHS. We need more beds in our hospitals, a robust NHS workforce and a serious plan to cut waiting lists and to support our emergency departments.”
