Written question WQ84681
- Asked by
- Russell GeorgeConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 5 days
Question
What pressure is the Minister placing on local health boards to clear elective surgery backlogs while the NHS recovery plan is in progress, and what guidance has she outlined to health boards on reducing waiting lists?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
Tackling the waiting times backlog is a key priority for the Welsh Government and is a Programme for Government commitment. I have allocated nearly £250 million this year to support the NHS recovery, with health boards using the money to run additional sessions locally, as well as to use both insourcing and outsourcing activity.
I have also made available £170 million a year recurrently from April specifically for planned care and I have made it clear to health boards that I expect to see this reflected in their Integrated Medium Term Plans that are due for submission at the end of March.
In terms of activity, we have published management information that shows activity levels at an all Wales level (Ad-hoc statistical requests: 17 February 2022 | GOV.WALES). My officials are working with DHCW to ensure the quality of the data is acceptable and we will then look to publish by health board. This will be at inpatient, daycase and outpatient by health board and the aim is for this to be available alongside the publication of the April data in June.