Written question WQ98742

Tackling the treatment backlog is a top priority in our 100-day plan. As I outlined in my Oral Statement to the Senedd on my priorities, the waiting list backlog inherited from the previous Government is utterly unacceptable and is imposing significant strains on patients and staff alike. We will be putting measures in place not only to address these immediate pressures, but also to more sustainably incorporate elective care demand within regular NHS activity to ensure we are never in this position again

In response, the Welsh Government is taking specific measures:

• Clear national priority to eliminate all two-year waits, with a clinically-led focus on treating those waiting longest first.

• A shift to stronger national direction and oversight, ensuring consistent delivery across all health boards.

• Ringfencing elective care capacity and making better use of resources across Wales, alongside targeted additional provision where gaps exist.

• Progressing plans for dedicated surgical and diagnostic capacity, including establishing up to 10 new elective care hubs across Wales,which will strengthening local capacity (and therefore reduce reliance on external capacity), and provide vital training opportunities for medical graduates.

• Improving patient flow through earlier clinical decision-making, fewer unnecessary follow-ups, and expanded community and one-stop care.

• Strengthening grip on waiting lists through improved validation, active management and clearer prioritisation based on clinical need.

• Enhanced national coordination in high-volume specialties and better data to track progress.

Alongside immediate actions, the approach is focused on longer-term system change - addressing bottlenecks, improving pathways and ensuring long waits do not return. Through these measures, we will eliminate two year waits within a matter of months, and reduce the total backlog to pre-pandemic levels by the end of the Senedd term.