Welsh Government Faces Criticism Over NHS Waiting List Failures

The Welsh Labour Government has come under fire for consistently failing to meet targets outlined in its Planned Care Recovery Plan, according to Plaid Cymru’s health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor. Latest figures reveal that the government has not achieved any of its set goals aimed at reducing waiting lists within the National Health Service (NHS) in Wales.

The Planned Care Recovery Plan, initiated in 2022, established five key targets to address waiting times for medical appointments and treatments. The targets included ensuring that no one would wait longer than a year for their first outpatient appointment by the end of 2022, eliminating waits exceeding two years by March 2023, and reducing waits longer than one year in most specialties by Spring 2025. Other goals involved speeding up diagnostic testing and cancer treatment, with targets set for Spring 2024 and 2026 respectively. Unfortunately, none of these benchmarks have been met since their inception.

Mr. ap Gwynfor expressed concern over the implications of these unmet targets. He pointed out that the percentage of cancer patients receiving treatment within the crucial 62-day window fell from 61.3% to 60.2% this month, well below the 80% target. He described the situation as a “see-sawing of data” that is unsustainable and indicative of deeper issues within the health service.

In his critique, Mr. ap Gwynfor asserted that the Labour Government has “normalised low expectations” by celebrating minor progress while missing crucial targets. He highlighted the First Minister’s commitment to reducing two-year waits to 8,000 by Spring 2025 as an example of diluted goals, especially after failing to eliminate these waits by 2022 as originally planned.

The health spokesperson further noted the financial burden of these ongoing issues, revealing that the Welsh Government has spent a staggering £1.5 billion in this Senedd term alone attempting to tackle waiting lists. He stated, “Any progress is welcomed, but this see-sawing of data is completely unsustainable. The Government’s response is to put an extremely expensive sticking plaster on a very deep wound.”

Mr. ap Gwynfor emphasized that the current waiting lists are symptomatic of more profound problems within the NHS, including governance, social care, and primary care. He called for a comprehensive strategy to address these issues, particularly in cancer care, stating that early treatment saves lives and that Wales needs a more coherent approach rather than the “current muddled approach.”

Critically, Mr. ap Gwynfor remarked on the historical context of these failures, indicating that Labour has not only missed current targets but has also failed to meet any NHS targets for over a decade when statistics are backdated. “Labour has had countless opportunities over decades to reduce waiting lists, but they continue to fail,” he said.

He concluded by advocating for a change in leadership, asserting that the people of Wales “deserve an NHS fit for purpose.” With the next elections scheduled for 2026, he suggested that Plaid Cymru offers a viable alternative that is committed to addressing the challenges facing the NHS and ensuring a healthier future for Wales.