Speaking ahead of the Welsh Labour Government unveiling its Draft Budget later today, Welsh Conservatives have called on Labour Ministers to stop their £1billion cuts to the Welsh NHS.
In the 12 months since Welsh Labour’s decision to cut the Welsh NHS:
- Local Health Boards have faced ‘grave’ and ‘unprecedented financial pressures’
- Cancer patients have been denied access to 24 vital medicines available in England
- A & E waiting time targets have not been met once
- Number of patients waiting over 26 weeks for NHS treatment has almost trebled
Under Welsh Labour plans, unveiled last year, the Welsh NHS is facing a real terms cut of £1billion between 2011/12 and 2013/14.
According to the Kings’ Fund, under Labour, Wales is facing NHS cuts of 8.3%, more than any other part of the UK.
Over the past 12 months, Welsh Conservatives have been campaigning to protect the NHS budget to support underfunded Welsh hospices, protect nursing numbers and establish a Cancer Drugs Fund to tackle the postcode lottery in access to lifesaving cancer medicines.
Paul Davies AM, Shadow Minister for Finance, said, “Welsh Labour’s draft budget is a chance to revisit their disastrous decision last year to cut the NHS in Wales by £1billion.
“After a year in which financial pressures have seen patients forced to wait longer for NHS treatment, denied vital cancer medicines and made to contend with unprecedented staffing pressures, it’s time for Welsh Labour Ministers to admit that cutting the Welsh NHS was a mistake.
“Welsh patients should not have to put up with lower standards of care or reduced access to vital medicines than patients in other parts of the UK.
“Local Health Boards are facing an unprecedented financial squeeze, threatening community hospitals and local maternity units and putting considerable pressure on NHS staff.
“Having seen the impact of their decision, this budget is an opportunity for Welsh Labour Ministers to ditch their planned cuts to the Welsh NHS.”
