Written question WQ82978

Information on the number of elective hip and knee replacements is not collected centrally on a monthly basis. However, Digital Health and Care Wales publish annual tables detailing the number of operations carried out. The last data available is for the year 2019-20 and can be found at https://dhcw.nhs.wales/information-services/welsh-data-hub/annual-pedw-data-tables/

As with other specialities, and due to the necessary COVID related restrictions, orthopaedic surgery, including hip and knee replacements, has been heavily reduced throughout the pandemic as core resources have been reprioritised to ensure those most in need are seen / treated first. This prioritisation does not always address the long waiting patients initially and has meant that some patients are waiting longer than we would like for appointments and treatment. I can assure you that all patients are being seen in order of clinical priority, which is based on guidelines from the Royal College of Surgeons. As a consequence only essential hip and knee replacements were undertaken.

Health boards and NHS Trusts in Wales have recently submitted their annual plans for the 2021-22 period. These plans outline how they will deliver services throughout the year, including support for patients who are waiting for orthopaedic surgery. Officials are currently evaluating the plans and will continue to work closely with our health and social services as they continue to implement their plans.

In March, we published Health and Social Care in Wales COVID-19: Looking Forward, our ambitious but realistic approach to building back our health and care system in Wales, supported by £100 million of additional funding. Health boards have received a share of this funding and will be using it to support delivery across a number of fronts, including orthopaedics and musculoskeletal (MSK) services. This funding will help to increase capacity, through insourcing and outsourcing activity and further implementation of actions that were put in place during the pandemic, such as virtual appointments, signposting and communications with patients.

Health boards are in the process of contacting all their patients to assess their clinical needs and to offer them support whilst they are waiting to ensure that they keep active and to support their general well-being. This will not be a one-off exercise and communications between patients and health boards will be ongoing. I expect all organisations to maintain regular communication with their patients to keep them updated on what is happening with their care and treatment.

Escape-pain is a very effective pain management tool available to patients. It is one of a suite of tools offered to patients. We do not collect data on the number of courses offered across Wales.