New figures revealing that productivity in the Welsh NHS is lower than in England proves the Government must spend health money more wisely, says Pembrokeshire’s AMs.
The Nuffield Trust report into healthcare systems across the UK showed that while more was spent on the NHS in Wales, productivity levels were considerably lower than across the border in England.
Now South Pembrokeshire AM Angela Burns and Preseli Pembrokeshire AM Paul Davies are calling on the Welsh Assembly Government to spend more carefully.
“This money could be spent more wisely and efficiently,” said Mrs Burns. “We want to know what the plans are to address productivity and outcome levels and to ensure that every pound that we have is spent on front-line services because that is what people want.”
Mr Davies said that both he and Mrs Burns have casework involving patients who have had operations cancelled or been waiting for too long for treatment.
“I would think that every Assembly Member in Wales has been visited by patients who have had problems with the NHS,” he said.
“The problem is not with the staff but with the way the money is spent.
“Too much is wasted on bureaucracy and not enough is reaching the front-line, where it could make a significant difference to these patients.”
The new report follows a statement made in the Autumn by the All Wales directors of NHS who said that £1bn of the annual health budget in Wales was not being spent properly.
Mrs Burns added: “This is yet more evidence that the Assembly Government is not spending its NHS budget wisely.
“It needs to look closely at developments in England to see how the performance of health services in Wales could be improved. England is spending less per capita, yet getting better results.
“The staff of the NHS work incredibly hard and yet the overly complex system dilutes their efforts in many areas leading to patchy patient care.
“There is no point in pouring more and more money in to the system if it is not effective in delivering the front-line services we all need.”
