Elective Surgery

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 1:58 pm on 11 May 2022.

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Photo of Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Baroness Mair Eluned Morgan Labour 1:58, 11 May 2022

Thanks very much. We developed the planned care recovery plan with clinicians and with the health boards. They are stretching but realistic targets, and we'll be making sure that they keep to those. I would like to correct you on one thing, and that is this constant refrain that 20 per cent of the population of Wales is waiting for treatment. Well, that is the number of people on pathways, and there are sometimes people who are on multiple pathways at the same time. I think the other thing, when you're comparing England and Wales, is it's really important to understand that we're not comparing apples and pears. We try and be transparent in Wales in the way that we count, so we count, for example, waits for diagnostic treatments, and there are a huge number of people waiting for diagnostic treatments—in fact, 60 per cent of the people waiting are waiting for their first out-patient appointment. Now, we've got a target on that. We're hoping that nobody will have to wait longer than a year for their first out-patient appointment by the end of this year. So, that is the assurance you can give. And the other assurance, of course, is that we're doing everything we can to increase capacity, to prioritise diagnostics and treatment, and we are transforming the way that we provide planned care and also helping to make sure that the patient is going to be informed and supported while they wait.