Kirsty Williams
A record high number of people have been waiting over 36 weeks for the start of their treatment in the NHS, according to figures published today.
By the end of December, a total of 415,518 patients were waiting for the start of their treatment. Of those patients, 86.6% had been waiting less than 26 weeks and 96.5% had been waiting less than 36 weeks from the date the referral letter was received by the hospital.
The Welsh Government has a target for 95% of patients to wait less than 26 weeks until the start of their treatment and a target for 100% of patients to be seen within the 36 week period.
Kirsty Williams, leader of the Welsh Liberal Democrats, said:
“More people are waiting longer than ever before under this Welsh Labour government.
“To force 14,745 people to wait longer than 36 weeks is obscene and the Welsh Labour government should apologise for its disastrous mishandling of our health service.
“Waiting for the start of their treatment is a very stressful time for any patient. Reducing these long waiting periods has to be a priority for this Welsh Labour Government.
“Whether it is inadequate cancer care, poor ambulance response times or lengthy waiting times, the Welsh Labour Government is failing to offer the health service that patients in Wales need and deserve. This poverty of ambition is letting patients across Wales down.
“NHS staff are working incredibly hard to help patients, but their attempts are being hampered by an incompetent Welsh Labour Government.”
