Search

15 September 2026, Plenary

Questions to the First Minister

… quickly as possible, obviously. That is why we've committed an additional £145 million this year to reduce waiting times, improve access and support clinically led service transformation across Wales. We're also taking forward plans for new …

27 April 2023, Health and Social Care Committee

Gynaecological cancers: video evidence

… are okay, just to remember that, actually, too many are not, and that's backed up by the waiting time targets at the moment. So, we know that it's about 50-52 per cent of people who … are currently meeting the waiting time guidance at the moment. Within gynae, that's so much later—it's down to the mid 30s, and it's even worse in some health boards than others. So, that just …

29 June 2022, Plenary

Topical Questions

Thank you, Minister, for that response. The waiting times are horrendous for eye treatments anywhere in Wales. And there are difficulties across the United Kingdom; I accept that, Minister. Dr Williams highlights three points that he believes need … Wales and that in 12 months' time we will not be here still debating, still discussing, large waiting times for eye care treatment in Wales, and, regrettably, many people having the lights going off in their eyesight and …

28 June 2023, Plenary

Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services

Thanks very much. Waiting times for both elective and emergency care have shown improvements over the last year. There's obviously still work to be done, and, as part of the special measures escalation, I've set clear … targets for the next 90 days to improve waiting times. I expect to see continued improvements …

22 September 2026, Plenary

Statement by the First Minister: 'New Ambition for Wales: Programme for Government 2026-2030'

… many ways, is the expensive end of the health service. And getting those waiting lists down, the higher waiting times in particular, takes then the pressure, hopefully, off secondary care, which helps then that transition to primary care …

22 September 2026, Plenary

Questions to the First Minister

… What is the Welsh Government doing to address NHS waiting times in Blaenau Gwent Caerfilli Rhymni? OQ64559

21 March 2023, Plenary

Business Statement and Announcement

… think that's a matter for the Deputy Minister for Social Services. And in relation to cancer waiting times, which I think is what you were alluding to, you'll be very well aware the NHS is working … very hard to reduce waiting times, especially for people with suspected cancer, and we are investing heavily in cancer services to improve that early detection and provide rapid access to investigation, treatment and high-quality care. The Minister …

8 July 2026, Plenary

Member Debate under Standing Order 11.21(iv): Ophthalmology services

… Cataract surgery is one of the most successful operations the NHS performs, but timing matters. In Wales, the waiting time in many areas stretches to around two years. Just 10 miles from my home, across the border … that is why today's debate matters. This motion is not simply about organisational structures, consultant numbers or waiting list statistics. It's about preserving people's independence, protecting livelihoods, preventing avoidable blindness. Giving people back one …

17 September 2026, Health and Social Care Committee

General scrutiny session with the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, the Deputy Minister for Public and Preventative Health and the Deputy Minister for Social Care, Mental Health and Women’s Health

… question on mental health waiting lists. I've had a lot of people contact me saying that the waiting times are two years to see someone about mental health issues. Obviously, that's too long when people have … people like Mind who I met with recently. How are you utilising their services to help bring down waiting lists …

26 April 2022, Plenary

Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Planned Care Recovery Plan

… people, especially those waiting for treatment. I've also set some very clear and ambitious targets to reduce waiting times. By the end of 2022, this year, no-one will wait longer than a year for their first … for their appointments and as they recover from surgery. There are no quick-fix solutions to reducing long waiting times. This will take hard work, it will take the support of people throughout Wales and the NHS, and …

24 March 2022, Health and Social Care Committee

Hospital discharge and its impact on patient flow through hospitals: evidence session with the Minister and Deputy Minister for Health and Social Services

… data on the number of needs assessments completed, the number who are waiting in hospital, and the average waiting time between initial contact and an assessment. And from 14 February, we've been gathering data on the number … assessments completed, the number of individuals who are waiting in hospital for an assessment, and the average waiting time between initial contact and assessment. And the first report with the new data was issued on 17 February …

13 January 2022, Health and Social Care Committee

Welsh Government Draft Budget 2022-23: evidence session with the Minister for Health and Social Services, the Deputy Minister for Social Services and the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being

Thank you, Chair. Minister, if we could look at the issue of addressing waiting times, if we may, obviously, the pre-pandemic level of waiting times was in a situation that was already struggling. Clearly, because of the …

15 September 2026, Plenary

Questions to the First Minister

… tell you what, Llywydd, if the Member thinks you can only do one thing at a time in Government, she should give up her aspirations right now, because it is all about dealing with a host of issues … over the summer to pump money into health and to change our attitude on how we bring those waiting times down. It is about the numeracy and literacy strategy that is being published today by my Minister for …

26 April 2022, Plenary

Statement by the Minister for Health and Social Services: Planned Care Recovery Plan

… and a quarter of those are waiting for more than a year for treatment. We've got average waiting times that are 10 times higher than those in England. We've got the worst A&E waiting time …

24 January 2023, Plenary

Questions to the First Minister

… pathway to improvement, and we look forward to their final report in September of this year. Waiting times are too long in the Swansea Bay area, and they can be better. In Bridgend, which was until quite recently … part of the Swansea Bay health board, waiting times are now 10 days for treatment. If you can do it in Bridgend, it can be done in Swansea as well, and it's important that lessons are learnt …

24 January 2023, Plenary

Business Statement and Announcement

Good afternoon, Minister. I'm going to continue the theme of ambulances and waiting times. It was reported in our local paper, the County Times, that Welsh patients arriving at English hospitals, given that most of the patients … mine access emergency medical care, this, of course, is a concern, on top of the issues around ambulance waiting times anyway. For that reason, may I ask for a statement from the Minister for Health and Social Services …

21 June 2022, Plenary

Statement by the Deputy Minister for Social Partnership: Pride, and Progress on the LGBTQ+ Action Plan

… our commitments to support Pride organisations in Wales. Our support for Pride Cymru continues and, for the first time, we have provided funding to grass-roots Pride events across Wales. We have already given support to Swansea Pride … must do better than this. So, we continue to develop our gender service in Wales, which reports shorter waiting times for first assessment than comparable NHS gender services in England and is committed to reducing waiting times further …

17 May 2023, Plenary

Plaid Cymru Debate: Respiratory disease

… less than 10 per cent in terms of what is thought of as basic treatment for COPD. Waiting times for treatment are generally too long and are longer than ever as a result of the pandemic. This often … more healthily. There are broader problems too, of course, that we need to consider here that go beyond waiting times and treatments for individual patients. There are huge environmental problems that have a truly negative impact on our …

2 March 2022, Plenary

Plaid Cymru Debate: Eating disorders

… said is so important. There are significant gaps in the data that health boards currently provide on waiting times. There doesn't appear to be a standardised system in place across Wales to consistently measure and report the … full waiting time from initial referral, if that referral takes place at all early enough, to the start of specialist treatment. We need to prioritise prevention too. There needs to be a focus on investing in the workforce …

18 May 2022, Plenary

Welsh Conservatives Debate: Child and adolescent mental health

… compounded by the pandemic, which has been widely referred to during today's debate, both in terms of waiting times, but also in terms of increasing the numbers needing support. Barnardo's Cymru staff are reporting there has … was able to take evidence from witnesses on the state of mental health services during our inquiry into waiting times. We heard from the Royal College of Psychiatrists, amongst others, who highlighted how mental health services were struggling …