Written question WQ99962
- Asked by
- Natasha AsgharConservative
- To be answered by
- Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
- Tabled
- Due
- Answered
- Time to answer
- 5 days
Question
Does the Welsh Government intend to publish a timetable for returning elective orthopaedic waiting times to the pre-pandemic 26-week planned care target, and if so, when?
Answer
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care (Mabon ap Gwynfor)
Eliminating two-year waits inherited from the previous administration is a top priority for this government.
The Welsh Government is taking specific measures to eliminate all two-year waits within a matter of months, with a clinically led focus on treating those waiting the longest first. We need to develop sustainable, transformative solutions that solves long waits.
This approach will be clinically led across the whole pathway and those experts will advise on the delivery.
Alongside the immediate actions, the approach is focused on strengthening long-term elective care capacity. Our elective care plans, that will be backed by an independent review of NHS performance, and the recently announced £145 million of additional investment this year, will drive progress.
We have also committed to develop up to 10 new surgical and diagnostic treatment hubs to increase capacity and support the NHS in keeping waiting times down and delivering additional activity.