Additional £145m Investment to Tackle NHS Waiting Lists
The Welsh Government has announced an additional £145 million investment in NHS Wales for the current financial year.
Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor stated his intention to end the Labour approach of "putting a plaster on the problem" by addressing long-term waiting lists and ensuring faster diagnosis for patients.
Of the total, £100 million will be allocated to reducing waiting times, with £25 million invested in new surgical and diagnostic centres.
Nearly half of the Welsh Government's £27 billion budget for 2026/27 is dedicated to the NHS and social care, with Plaid Cymru inheriting the spending plan from Welsh Labour.
'The Latest Equipment'
This additional funding commitment forms part of the Welsh Government's supplementary budget for the upcoming financial year.
The government also announced £20 million in capital funding will be spent on "essential maintenance" across the NHS estate.
Although Mabon ap Gwynfor admitted on BBC Breakfast on Thursday morning that the £145 million sum is "relatively small in appearance," he emphasized it would be spent on equipment and services rather than employment, which accounts for half of NHS expenditure overall.
"This £145 million goes directly to the service itself. We are looking at diagnostic equipment, for example, mobile CT scanners – that kind of thing.
We want to ensure we have the latest equipment so that people can be seen more quickly," he said.
Spending £120m on Waiting Lists More Sustainably
The minister explained that £100 million will be used to reduce 24-month waiting times in the short term, thereby increasing system capacity to prevent reaching such levels again.
He criticized the previous Welsh Labour government, stating:
"The previous administration looked at the problem and put a plaster on it. They focused on short-term solutions without addressing long-term issues.
What we are doing is investing money in early intervention so that we do not reach that situation again, ensuring we improve diagnostics, identify and validate patient pathways correctly so that people are placed on the appropriate waiting lists and receive the right treatment rather than waiting on a long list for several years."
Identifying Underused Areas
The Welsh Government's plans include developing up to 10 surgical and diagnostic centres over the next four years. The minister said investing in equipment such as mobile CT scanners would help address backlogs.
Mabon ap Gwynfor told BBC Breakfast the plan would be clinician-led.
"We will identify locations across Wales and reach out to health boards to see if they can identify underused units or vacant areas."
He explained the centres would be specialised, and although patients might have to travel further for treatment, feedback from patients indicates they are willing to travel if they are in pain or concerned about losing their sight, for example.
Urgent Leadership Action Required at Glan Clwyd Hospital
The health minister also stated that NHS leaders must "take immediate control" of the emergency department at Glan Clwyd Hospital in North Wales following serious patient safety concerns.
The unit in Denbighshire has been identified as requiring significant improvements in leadership, governance, culture, and overcrowding after an inspection last month.
Mabon ap Gwynfor told the BBC he was disappointed and expects Betsi Cadwaladr health board leaders to take action.
He added he wants to assure the public that the emergency unit is safe to attend and that government officials are monitoring the situation "regularly."
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