I really do reject the assertion that this Government is abusing people who are waiting for orthopaedic surgery. I think there is an entirely proper scrutiny process to undertake with questions to be asked about the challenges that do exist for your constituents and others, but I do not think that that sort of offensive statement helps anyone, and I don't think it helps a reasonable case that should be made about the improvement that is still required. 

The reason why orthopaedics were not included within the 36-week target for improvement is that we know that they will simply not be able to achieve it within the timescale offered. We know that the extent of waits that are there to be resolved won't be achieved in that fashion, and I do not want to have an improvement target that is plainly unachievable. That does not mean that the health board should not improve. That does not mean that there is a lack of focus on the issue or a lack of awareness, and it is absolutely a matter that I've raised directly with the chair and the chief executive. It is absolutely something that I expect to see progress on, and it's part of my exasperation that I've expressed previously that, despite the clear and obvious challenges that have been raised, the health board do not have a signed-off orthopaedic plan, not just to deal with the shorter term challenges of getting on top of their waiting list, but also to have that more sustainable solution for the future. 

And for all the entirely reasonable explanations about why they didn't do more over the last few months, the challenge is that actually the waiting list went out when it should not have done over the last year. That's where I expect to see further progress made and I know that I will face questions from Members in this Chamber and in committee until the length of waits that people are able to accurately recount are resolved and there are fewer and fewer people, until we do reach again a position where we don't have people waiting over 36 weeks and we certainly don't have people waiting more than 52 weeks for their treatment.