Written question WQ89733
- Asked by
- Andrew RT DaviesConservative
- To be answered by
- Minister for Health and Social Services
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 8 days
Question
Further to WQ89663, does the Minister have an associated and linked commitment to reduce the overall number of patient pathways for treatment waits, given that an increase in the overall pathway numbers would inadvertently reduce the proportion waiting 104 weeks without reducing the actual number waiting 104 weeks?
Answer
Answered by Minister for Health and Social Services
I expect all health boards to be working to clear all open pathways over 104-weeks as quickly as possible. As has been reported, the overall number of open pathways over 104-weeks has fallen for 18 consecutive months and is now at its lowest since August 2021. I expect further improvements to be seen over the coming months.
The rate of increase in the total waiting list size has reduced over the last couple of months, with the increase between August and September being 0.1% and has only risen by 0.9% over the last year. In England, the increase has been 8.8% over the last 12 months.
As health boards implement outpatient transformation, and pathway redesign we expect more activity to remain or move to primary care or other appropriate settings. This should result in the number of people coming onto the waiting list to reduce and a reduction in the total list size should be seen.