Welsh NHS Targets Missed Again, Government Criticized for Inaction

The Welsh Government faces mounting criticism for failing to meet any targets set in the Planned Care Recovery Plan, according to Mabon ap Gwynfor, health spokesperson for Plaid Cymru. The most recent data reveals that waiting list targets, established to improve NHS services, have once again been missed, prompting questions about the government’s commitment to healthcare reform.

The Planned Care Recovery Plan, initiated in 2022, aimed to address critical waiting list issues within NHS Wales. The five key targets included eliminating waits of over one year for first outpatient appointments by the end of 2022, reducing the number of patients waiting longer than two years by March 2023, and ensuring that 80% of cancer patients receive diagnosis and treatment within 62 days by 2026. Unfortunately, none of these targets have been achieved.

Mr. ap Gwynfor highlighted the latest statistics, which show a decline in the percentage of cancer patients meeting the 62-day target, dropping from 61.3% to 60.2%. This figure is significantly below the mandated 80% threshold. He described the fluctuating data as “completely unsustainable” and criticized the Welsh Government for “normalising low expectations” by celebrating missed targets.

The Plaid Cymru official attributed the government’s shortcomings to a lack of decisive action, stating that the failure to tackle waiting lists has resulted in escalating financial costs. In this Senedd term alone, the government has invested over £1.5 billion attempting to address these issues without success.

In response to the recent waiting list announcements, Mr. ap Gwynfor stated: “Any progress is welcomed, but this see-sawing of data is completely unsustainable. The government’s response is to put an extremely expensive sticking plaster on a very deep wound.” He underscored that the waiting lists are symptomatic of broader systemic issues within the health service, including governance and social care.

Mr. ap Gwynfor emphasized the need for a comprehensive cancer strategy for Wales to ensure timely treatment. He asserted, “The failure to meet the cancer targets again is especially concerning as we know that early treatment saves lives.” He expressed that Plaid Cymru has developed detailed plans, co-designed by clinicians and NHS managers, to address waiting lists in the short term while laying the groundwork for long-term improvements.

Criticism of the Labour-led government has intensified, with Mr. ap Gwynfor stating: “Labour have never hit any of the targets for our NHS. Even worse, if you were to backdate the statistics to before the targets were set, they haven’t been hit for over a decade.” He pointed out that despite numerous opportunities to address waiting lists, the government has continued to fall short, leaving many patients in prolonged physical and mental distress.

The Plaid Cymru health spokesperson concluded by asserting that the people of Wales deserve better from their NHS and called for new leadership capable of tackling these challenges effectively. “2026 offers the people of Wales the chance for new leadership under Plaid Cymru, that will take seriously the challenges faced by our NHS, for a healthier Wales,” he stated.

As the Welsh Government grapples with these ongoing challenges, the pressure mounts to deliver on healthcare commitments that have far-reaching implications for the citizens of Wales.