The NHS

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Waiting lists, GPs and dentists, cancer care, emergency departments and ambulances, maternity services and the NHS workforce.

In the Programme for Government this sits under the well-being objective Building a health and care service fit for the future, and cutting waiting lists.

Have your say: 1 open consultation on this subject

National Cancer Strategy for Wales, closes 31 October 2026

See them all

ThemesEverything Waiting lists and planned care GPs, dentists and pharmacies Cancer and diagnostics Emergency care and ambulances Maternity and women's health NHS staff

Statements and debates: 16; in the Seventh Senedd
Contributions: 1,340; in the Seventh Senedd
Written questions: 430; in the Seventh Senedd
Commitments raised: 11 of 13; in the Seventh Senedd

How often it comes up

May 2026Oct 2026

1,340 contributions in the Seventh Senedd touched on this. The busiest month was Oct 2026, with 449.

Who raises it

Plaid57%
Reform22%
Conservative10%
Labour8%

On this page

The debate so far
Where things stand
What the government has promised
From the Welsh Government
In the news
Key moments in the Senedd
Related votes
Who raises it
Who ministers have met
Declared interests
What people say matters
Written questions
Petitions
In committee
From Senedd Research
Latest contributions
Month by month
How this brief is put together

The debate so far

In the Seventh Senedd, health has been argued about mainly between a Plaid Cymru Government and the opposition parties. Cabinet Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor has set out surgical hubs and a £145 million waiting times fund. Opposition Members have pressed for a date to end two-year waits and questioned recovery at Betsi Cadwaladr. Debates also covered rural and Powys hospital services, GPs and dentistry, nursing graduate jobs, winter planning, maternity, palliative care and prostate cancer.

The main arguments

Mabon ap Gwynfor (Plaid Cymru) says 10 surgical hubs and £145 million will end two-year waits within months. Ken Skates and Huw Thomas (Welsh Labour) say lists fell for 10 months under Labour's £120 million and ask for a firm date.

Where things stand

Statistics published by the Welsh Government. Each chart covers the years since the 2016 Senedd election, or as far back as the figures go, and marks each election since.

NHS waiting list

714,218

August 2026

A year earlier: 795,360 (August 2025)
Before the 2026 election: 680,003 (April 2026)

Patient pathways waiting to start treatment at the end of each month. This counts pathways, not people: one person can be waiting on more than one pathway.

Source: Welsh Government, NHS waiting lists: pathways waiting 26 weeks, 36 weeks, one year and two years, September 2011 onwards. Accredited official statistics. Next update due on 19 November 2026. Checked on 30 October 2026.

Show the figures

NHS waiting list: every figure in the chart, newest first.
Period	Wales
August 2026	714,218
July 2026	709,687
June 2026	698,390
May 2026	689,721
April 2026	680,003
March 2026	666,694
February 2026	687,958
January 2026	713,048
December 2025	740,954
November 2025	757,866
October 2025	781,240
September 2025	790,407
August 2025	795,360
July 2025	795,433
June 2025	796,396
May 2025	798,180
April 2025	791,607
March 2025	790,020

Pathways waiting more than two years

5,068

August 2026

A year earlier: 8,848 (August 2025)
Before the 2026 election: 3,694 (April 2026)

Emergency department waits under four hours

63.9%

September 2026

A year earlier: 66.7% (September 2025)
Before the 2026 election: 65.9% (April 2026)

Ambulance response to red calls

9 minutes 32 seconds

September 2026

A year earlier: 8 minutes 36 seconds (September 2025)
Before the 2026 election: 9 minutes 24 seconds (April 2026)

Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0.

How we show official statistics Figures on this brief quoted in the Senedd (92)

What the government has promised

13 commitments in the Welsh Government's Programme for Government 2026 to 2030 fall under this brief, in the Programme's own words. Under each is how often it has been raised in the Seventh Senedd.

Reducing waiting lists

Cut waiting times and improve delivery of planned care by transforming and modernising outpatient services, expanding diagnostic and surgical capacity and establishing up to 10 surgical hubs across Wales.
Latest figure: NHS waiting list, 714,218, August 2026.
Latest figure: Pathways waiting more than two years, 5,068, August 2026.
Raised in 43 speeches and 10 written questions. Most recently on 21 October 2026, by Mabon ap Gwynfor. Matched on: “clinical pathways”.
Read it in the Programme

Improving outcomes through person-centred care

Ensure integrated care is delivered closer to home with prevention at its core, to support earlier diagnosis, reduced admissions and delays in discharge.
Too general to match reliably, so not tracked.
Read it in the Programme
Strengthen national clinical pathways for all age groups, with a particular focus on mental health, stroke, diabetes, ophthalmology and cardiovascular care, to ensure safe, equitable and high‑quality care across Wales, embedding patients’ rights and reducing regional variation. The ambition for NHS Wales will be set out through a National Clinical Services Plan.
Raised in 5 speeches and 1 written question. Most recently on 21 October 2026, by Mabon ap Gwynfor. Matched on: “clinical pathways”.
Read it in the Programme
Deliver a National Cancer Strategy focused on prevention, earlier diagnosis, research and innovation, equitable access to services and more person‑centred cancer care.
Raised in 32 speeches, 1 agenda item and 9 written questions. Most recently on 21 October 2026: Reform UK Debate: Prostate cancer strategy. Matched on: “cancer strategy”.
Read it in the Programme
Improve health and care outcomes and experiences for women and girls including through a strengthened NHS Wales Women’s Health Plan, ensuring women are heard, listened to and actively involved in shaping the services they use and the decisions that affect their care. We will also continue to deliver improved outcomes for women, families and babies through our broader maternity and neonatal care initiatives.
Raised in 33 speeches, 1 agenda item and 3 written questions. Most recently on 21 October 2026, by Zaynub Akbar. Matched on: “women's health”.
Read it in the Programme
Improve outcomes for people living with dementia through earlier diagnosis, timely access to assessment and treatment including strengthened support and prevention as well as the publication of a Dementia Strategy.
Raised in 11 speeches, 1 written question and 2 petitions. Most recently on 20 October 2026, by Delyth Jewell. Matched on: “dementia”.
Read it in the Programme
Work to address the key challenges facing palliative and end of life care.
Raised in 27 speeches, 1 agenda item, 1 written question and 1 petition. Most recently on 14 October 2026: Welsh Labour Debate: Palliative and end-of-life care. Matched on: “end-of-life care”.
Read it in the Programme
Embed an outcomes‑focused approach to health and care, using evidence, data and patient experience to shape, deliver and improve services that achieve better health outcomes for the people of Wales.
Too general to match reliably, so not tracked.
Read it in the Programme

Improving workforce and system infrastructure sustainability

Build a sustainable and skilled workforce through the delivery of a long‑term workforce strategy which increases the number of GPs by up to 100, improving access to out‑of‑hours care, reduces pressure on hospitals and Accident & Emergency departments, and supports flexible working and continued professional development.
Raised in 22 speeches and 1 written question. Most recently on 20 October 2026, by Rhun ap Iorwerth. Matched on: “number of GPs”, “workforce strategy”.
Read it in the Programme
Improve access to dental services, including exploring options to establish a new dental school in partnership with Aberystwyth University and Bangor University, and ensuring health boards assess local dentistry needs and take reasonable steps to ensure sufficient dental provision for their populations.
Raised in 18 speeches and 3 written questions. Most recently on 13 October 2026, by Laura Anne Jones. Matched on: “dental school”.
Read it in the Programme
Review and, where necessary, strengthen or change organisational and governance structures to improve the effectiveness and accountability of the system.
Raised in 24 speeches, 1 agenda item and 3 written questions. Most recently on 7 October 2026, by Sera Evans. Matched on: “special measures”.
Read it in the Programme

Source: Welsh Government, Programme for government 2026 to 2030: New ambition for Wales, first published on 10 September 2026. Contains public sector information licensed under the Open Government Licence v3.0. Mentions are found by matching the names of plans, bodies and schemes; a mention says nothing about progress.

Related votes

21 October 2026

Reform UK Debate - Prostate cancer strategy

Reform UK's Llŷr Powell proposed that the Senedd call on the Welsh Government to include prostate cancer in the national cancer strategy for Wales. Paul Davies of the Welsh Conservatives tabled an amendment for a national screening programme. The Senedd agreed the motion as written.

Motion without amendment
This vote was on the motion as originally written, asking the Welsh Government to include prostate cancer in the national cancer strategy for Wales, with no changes.
Agreed
For 90Against 0

16 September 2026

Reform UK Debate - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute

Reform UK's Llŷr Powell asked the Senedd to regret the health visitor pay dispute with Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board and to call on the Welsh Government to act. The Senedd agreed Plaid Cymru's Amendment 1 and Labour's Amendment 4, but rejected the final motion as amended, so nothing was adopted.

Motion without amendment
Vote on Reform UK's original motion, unchanged, regretting the dispute and calling on the Welsh Government to help settle it with a fair pay offer.
Rejected
For 38Against 46
Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan proposed adding that the dispute predates the current government and has been an issue for several years.
Agreed
For 48Against 36
Amendment 2, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan proposed replacing the call for action with wording saying the Health Minister has urged talks and the Welsh Government backs a stable health visiting workforce.
RejectedGovernment defeated
For 42Against 42
Amendment 3, tabled in the name of Paul Davies
The Conservatives' Paul Davies proposed adding that Plaid Cymru signed a letter backing a Band 6 to Band 7 upgrade, and regretting that it has not honoured it in government.
Rejected
For 42Against 42
Amendment 4, tabled in the name of Lynne Neagle
Labour's Lynne Neagle proposed adding words recognising health visitors' role in giving children the best start and safeguarding them, and urging the health board to end the dispute.
Agreed
For 84Against 0
Motion as amended
Final vote on the motion as changed by the agreed amendments (1 and 4): regretting the dispute and calling on the Welsh Government to act on pay.
Rejected
For 42Against 42

8 July 2026

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - ophthalmology services

Gwyn Williams (Plaid Cymru) brought a motion on long NHS eye care waits in Wales. It asks the Welsh Government to set up surgical hubs, act on all committee recommendations and consider an all-Wales ophthalmology health board. The Senedd agreed the motion.

Motion
A vote on the motion as written, which asks the Welsh Government to act on eye care waiting times, surgical hubs and services. No amendments were tabled.
Agreed
For 75Against 0Abstain 14

24 June 2026

Welsh Conservatives Debate - hospital services and hospital closures

The Welsh Conservatives, led by Paul Davies, asked the Welsh Government to rule out hospital closures and downgrades of services during this Senedd term. Plaid Cymru's replacement wording was rejected. The Senedd added a Labour patient safety amendment and a Reform UK amendment on the maintenance backlog, then agreed the motion as amended.

Motion without amendment
Whether to agree the Conservative motion as originally written, asking the Welsh Government to rule out hospital closures and downgrades during this Senedd term.
Rejected
For 7Against 79
Amendment 1, tabled in the name of Heledd Fychan
Plaid Cymru's Heledd Fychan proposed replacing the whole motion with wording on clinically led planning, community engagement, community services and the estate maintenance backlog.
RejectedGovernment defeated

How these votes work: the Senedd first votes on the motion as written. If that fails, it votes on each amendment in turn, then on the motion with any agreed changes.

Explanations are written by AI from the published motion and the debate. Check the wording on the vote's page before quoting.

Votes are tagged from their own titles and the agenda item they were held under.

Declared interests

Members whose entries in the Register of Members' Interests relate to this brief, matched by the brief's words and phrases. Members must register these interests, and having one doesn't mean anything improper.

Sara Crowley1 related entry
- Remunerated Employment, Directorships etc.: Member Name and nature of the employer: NHS Performance and Improvement, hosted by Public Health Wales Nature of the post: Diabetes Transitional Care National Coordinator Amount…
Catherine Cullen1 related entry
- Remunerated Employment, Directorships etc.: Spouse Name and nature of the employer: The Grange University Hospital Nature of the post: Consultant Cardiologist
Jane Dodds1 related entry
- Remunerated Employment, Directorships etc.: Spouse Name and nature of the employer: Great Ormond Street Hospital Nature of the post: Social Worker
Peredur Owen Griffiths1 related entry
- Voluntary record of Members’ other interests: Information relevant to entry: Guest of Redkite Solicitors at Wales Air Ambulance 25th Anniversary Gala on 26 June 2026
Huw Irranca-Davies1 related entry
- Remunerated Employment, Directorships etc.: Spouse Name and nature of the employer: Powys Local Health Board and Swansea Bay University Health Board Nature of the post: Radiographer
Marc Jones1 related entry
- Remunerated Employment, Directorships etc.: Wife Name and nature of the employer: Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board Nature of the post: Nurse
Iain McIntosh1 related entry
- Voluntary record of Members’ other interests: Information relevant to entry: Son is an Ambulance Call Centre manager for the South Central Ambulance Service in Bicester, Oxfordshire.
Gareth Thomas1 related entry
- Gifts, Hospitality, Material Benefits or Advantage: Member Description of the gift: 1500ml Bottle of champagne Name of the person or organisation providing the gift: Smart Smiles Value or estimated value: £350 Date on which it was…
Mabon ap Gwynfor1 related entry
- Voluntary record of Members’ other interests: Information relevant to entry: Member of National & European Parliamentarians For Cancer Action.

The full register

Month by month

Contributions tagged in each month of the Seventh Senedd. No sittings were held in August 2026.

Show the numbers

Month	Contributions
May 2026	16
June 2026	275
July 2026	190
August 2026	No sittings
September 2026	410
October 2026	449

How this brief is put together

This brief follows the Programme commitments listed above and tags the record with the phrases below. Keyword matching can miss business that discusses the issue in other words, and can tag a passing mention.

Show the phrases it uses

A contribution is tagged when its English text contains one of these phrases. Capital letters don't matter, except in abbreviations, which must match exactly. It is also tagged when the title of the agenda item or question it was part of contains one, as long as the contribution is at least 30 words long. The brief is also tagged whenever one of its themes is.

Phrases for the brief as a whole

“health board”
“health boards”
“Betsi Cadwaladr”
“NHS Wales”
“the NHS”
“our NHS”
“Welsh NHS”
“NHS services”
“NHS treatment”
“NHS waiting”
“health service”
“hospital”
“hospitals”
“ophthalmology”
“eye care”
“stroke services”
“dementia”
“diabetes”
“palliative care”
“end-of-life care”
“end of life care”
“hospice”
“hospices”
“special measures”
“targeted intervention”
“Escalation and Intervention Framework”

Waiting lists and planned care

“waiting list”
“waiting lists”
“waiting time”
“waiting times”
“elective care”
“planned care”
“referral to treatment”
“two-year wait”
“two-year waits”
“long waits”
“longest waits”
“orthopaedic”
“orthopaedics”
“cataract”
“cataracts”
“hip replacement”
“knee replacement”
“patients waiting”
“outpatient”
“outpatients”
“surgical hub”
“surgical hubs”

Abbreviations

“RTT”

GPs, dentists and pharmacies

“GP surgery”
“GP surgeries”
“GP practice”
“GP practices”
“general practice”
“GP appointment”
“GP appointments”
“family doctor”
“dentist”
“dentists”
“dental”
“dentistry”
“dental school”
“community pharmacy”
“community pharmacies”
“pharmacist”
“pharmacists”
“optometry”
“primary care”
“out-of-hours”

Abbreviations

“GP”
“GPs”

Cancer and diagnostics

“cancer”
“cancers”
“oncology”
“radiotherapy”
“chemotherapy”
“screening programme”
“screening programmes”
“diagnostic”
“diagnostics”
“CT scanner”
“CT scanners”
“endoscopy”
“single cancer pathway”

Abbreviations

“MRI”

Emergency care and ambulances

“emergency department”
“emergency departments”
“accident and emergency”
“A&E”
“ambulance”
“ambulances”
“handover delays”
“red calls”
“bed occupancy”
“hospital beds”
“corridor care”
“patient flow”
“major trauma”
“urgent care”
“same-day emergency care”
“NHS 111”
“minor injuries unit”
“winter pressures”

Maternity and women's health

“maternity”
“maternity services”
“midwife”
“midwives”
“midwifery”
“neonatal”
“women's health”
“Women's Health Plan”
“endometriosis”
“menopause”
“gynaecology”

NHS staff

“NHS staff”
“NHS workforce”
“health workforce”
“nurses”
“nursing staff”
“nursing workforce”
“junior doctors”
“resident doctors”
“agency staff”
“agency nurses”
“medical school”
“medical students”
“Health Education and Improvement Wales”

Abbreviations

“HEIW”

Period	Wales
August 2026	5,068
July 2026	4,731
June 2026	4,082
May 2026	4,208
April 2026	3,694
March 2026	2,589
February 2026	4,517
January 2026	5,208
December 2025	5,252
November 2025	6,883
October 2025	7,333
September 2025	6,678
August 2025	8,848
July 2025	8,110
June 2025	7,550
May 2025	10,338
April 2025	9,650
March 2025	8,389
February 2025	15,505
January 2025	21,087
December 2024	23,621
November 2024	24,361
October 2024	24,202
September 2024	23,701
August 2024	24,193
July 2024	23,830
June 2024	23,418
May 2024	22,455
April 2024	21,290
March 2024	20,636
February 2024	22,980
January 2024	23,447
December 2023	24,248
November 2023	24,785
October 2023	25,669
September 2023	26,439
August 2023	27,041
July 2023	27,681
June 2023	28,331
May 2023	30,769
April 2023	31,481
March 2023	31,726
February 2023	37,594
January 2023	41,103
December 2022	45,385
November 2022	49,594
October 2022	54,491
September 2022	57,284
August 2022	59,350
July 2022	60,557
June 2022	62,136
May 2022	65,053
April 2022	68,032
March 2022	70,417
February 2022	64,102
January 2022	56,515
December 2021	49,692
November 2021	42,616
October 2021	35,568
September 2021	27,641
August 2021	20,899
July 2021	15,790
June 2021	12,173
May 2021	9,775
April 2021	7,666
March 2021	6,126
February 2021	4,771
January 2021	3,865
December 2020	2,783
November 2020	2,112
October 2020	1,680
September 2020	1,314
August 2020	1,096
July 2020	880
June 2020	683
May 2020	526
April 2020	350
March 2020	279
February 2020	241
January 2020	234
December 2019	221
November 2019	216
October 2019	211
September 2019	211
August 2019	192
July 2019	208
June 2019	162
May 2019	169
April 2019	167
March 2019	166
February 2019	172
January 2019	207
December 2018	203
November 2018	186
October 2018	188
September 2018	180
August 2018	181
July 2018	177
June 2018	164
May 2018	173
April 2018	181
March 2018	174
February 2018	174
January 2018	177
December 2017	198
November 2017	167
October 2017	163
September 2017	161
August 2017	160
July 2017	149
June 2017	143
May 2017	141
April 2017	133
March 2017	128
February 2017	128
January 2017	127
December 2016	122
November 2016	116
October 2016	120
September 2016	119
August 2016	106
July 2016	105
June 2016	91
May 2016	86

Period	Wales
September 2026	63.9%
August 2026	63.8%
July 2026	64.1%
June 2026	63.0%
May 2026	64.4%
April 2026	65.9%
March 2026	65.3%
February 2026	64.9%
January 2026	64.5%
December 2025	64.3%
November 2025	65.0%
October 2025	66.0%
September 2025	66.7%
August 2025	66.5%
July 2025	68.2%
June 2025	67.0%
May 2025	68.0%
April 2025	68.4%
March 2025	66.9%
February 2025	67.8%
January 2025	67.6%
December 2024	64.8%
November 2024	67.6%
October 2024	68.0%
September 2024	68.4%
August 2024	68.9%
July 2024	68.9%
June 2024	68.5%
May 2024	69.4%
April 2024	69.9%
March 2024	67.5%
February 2024	67.6%
January 2024	68.1%
December 2023	66.4%
November 2023	69.1%
October 2023	68.5%
September 2023	69.6%
August 2023	68.7%
July 2023	70.4%
June 2023	72.2%
May 2023	71.7%
April 2023	70.0%
March 2023	69.5%
February 2023	71.5%
January 2023	69.9%
December 2022	63.5%
November 2022	67.3%
October 2022	66.6%
September 2022	67.9%
August 2022	67.1%
July 2022	65.9%
June 2022	66.4%
May 2022	66.6%
April 2022	65.8%
March 2022	65.0%
February 2022	66.3%
January 2022	67.8%
December 2021	66.2%
November 2021	67.5%
October 2021	65.6%
September 2021	67.5%
August 2021	69.7%
July 2021	71.0%
June 2021	71.7%
May 2021	72.2%
April 2021	75.3%
March 2021	75.8%
February 2021	75.0%
January 2021	75.0%
December 2020	70.8%
November 2020	75.7%
October 2020	77.3%
September 2020	78.5%
August 2020	80.0%
July 2020	82.1%
June 2020	86.1%
May 2020	87.7%
April 2020	87.0%
March 2020	77.9%
February 2020	74.6%
January 2020	73.6%
December 2019	71.3%
November 2019	74.1%
October 2019	75.3%
September 2019	75.3%
August 2019	77.5%
July 2019	77.7%
June 2019	78.0%
May 2019	78.4%
April 2019	76.6%
March 2019	78.7%
February 2019	79.0%
January 2019	77.2%
December 2018	77.8%
November 2018	80.1%
October 2018	80.0%
September 2018	80.3%
August 2018	80.0%
July 2018	81.4%
June 2018	83.3%
May 2018	82.0%
April 2018	80.0%
March 2018	75.7%
February 2018	76.0%
January 2018	78.0%
December 2017	79.0%
November 2017	82.9%
October 2017	83.5%
September 2017	84.5%
August 2017	84.7%
July 2017	83.8%
June 2017	84.0%
May 2017	83.2%
April 2017	82.9%
March 2017	81.0%
February 2017	80.9%
January 2017	79.0%
December 2016	80.4%
November 2016	82.1%
October 2016	82.4%
September 2016	82.9%
August 2016	84.4%
July 2016	83.2%
June 2016	83.3%
May 2016	82.6%

The debate so far

The main arguments

The debate so far

The main arguments

Where the parties stand

Plaid Cymru

Welsh LabourShifted

Welsh Conservatives

Reform UK

Welsh Liberal DemocratsShifted

Wales Green Party

What the government is being pressed on

What the public is asking for

Who ministers are meeting

In the Sixth Senedd (2021 to 2026)

Where things stand

NHS waiting list

Pathways waiting more than two years

Emergency department waits under four hours

Ambulance response to red calls

What the government has promised

Reducing waiting lists

Improving outcomes through person-centred care

Improving workforce and system infrastructure sustainability

From the Welsh Government

In the news

Key moments in the Senedd

Related votes

Reform UK Debate - Prostate cancer strategy

Reform UK Debate - Cwm Taf Morgannwg University Health Board health visitor pay dispute

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv) - ophthalmology services

Welsh Conservatives Debate - hospital services and hospital closures

Who raises it

Answering for the government

Which parties raise it

Members who raise it most

Who ministers have met

Declared interests

What people say matters

Written questions

Petitions

In committee

From Senedd Research

Latest contributions

Month by month

How this brief is put together

Phrases for the brief as a whole