Responding to Labour’s health minister’s press conference and written statement, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS said:
“Again, what we have is a statement of ambition, not a plan, and while what has been outlined includes positive steps, it comes far too late for an NHS long under pressure.
“In her press conference, the Health Minister said Covid has not gone away, but her predecessor said it would be ‘foolish’ to publish a recovery plan before the pandemic’s end – this reckless lack of preparation has left our health service in turmoil with patients and staff paying the price.
“Now 60,000 people are waiting over two years for treatment in Wales, when it is zero in England and Scotland. The Minister is living in a fantasy land if she thinks she can eliminate waits of over a year anytime soon when 1-in-4 patients are experiencing such delays thanks to Labour’s mismanagement.
“Labour need to get a grip on the NHS and stop breaking all the wrong records.”