The number of patients waiting to start cardiac treatment in Wales has risen by more than 30 per cent since December 2009.
There are now 13,613 patients waiting – more than a hundred of which have been on lists for more than nine months.
Despite a target that no patient should wait longer than 36 weeks for treatment, there has been a 10,800 per cent rise in the number of patients waiting 36 weeks or more since March 2010.
The figures have been highlighted by the Welsh Conservatives on the day Health Minister Lesley Griffiths said waiting times should not be allowed “to slip”.
Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said: “Welsh NHS waiting times are slipping.
“The number of patients waiting for cardiac treatment continues to soar, while the overall number of people waiting for NHS treatment has rocketed.
“As of March 31st this year, 5,207 people had been waiting more than 36 weeks. A year ago it was 76.
“That’s not just a slip – that’s a disastrous slide and things have got to change.
“The new Health Minister needs to be honest about the situation she has inherited and get down to the business of putting it right.
“The Welsh Labour Government’s plans to cut the NHS budget by £1 billion over the next 3 years are unlikely to help in resolving this issue.”
