Written question WQ97796
- Asked by
- Darren MillarConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 7 days
Question
How is the Welsh Government working with health boards to address one-year waits for children less than 18 years of age?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care
In the planned care recovery plan issued April 2022 children’s waits were prioritised. The health boards through their accountability arrangements are accountable to demonstrate improvement against these targets To support delivery of the recovery plan, a recurrent investment of £170m has been provided together with additional investment in year including the £120m this year. The investment is provided for all waits based on clinical need and treat in turn, regardless of age.
Significant improvement in reducing waits has been made, initially prioritising over two-year waits, but progress on over one-year waits is also evident.
Pathways waiting for their first outpatient appointment, waiting over 1 year:
o Mar 2022: 6,762
o Aug 2025: 4,215
o Change: 38% reduction
Total pathways waiting over 1 year:
o Mar 2022: 11,291
o Aug 2025: 8,022
o Change: 29% reduction
Total pathways waiting over 2 years:
o Mar 2022: 5,197
o Aug 2025: 558
o Change: 89% reduction
The Child Health Network have prioritized paediatric waiting times and have committed to work with the Planned Care Programme to support pathway redesign with the aim to improve waits through increased productivity and service redesign around a more integrated approach linking community and hospital services.