Welsh Government Announces £145m NHS Investment
An additional £145 million will be invested in NHS Wales during this financial year, the Welsh government has confirmed.
Health Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor emphasized the need to move beyond Labour's previous "sticking plaster" approach by addressing long-term waiting lists and accelerating diagnosis processes.
A total of £100 million is allocated to reducing waiting times, with £25 million dedicated to establishing new surgical and diagnostic hubs.
Ken Skates, Welsh Labour interim leader and health spokesperson, noted that NHS waiting lists in Wales have decreased over the past 10 months, attributing this improvement to "investment from the last Welsh Labour government".
Almost half of the Welsh government's £27 billion budget for 2026/27 is designated for the NHS and social care sectors, continuing the spending plan inherited by Plaid Cymru from Welsh Labour.
This funding increase is part of the Welsh government's supplementary budget for the upcoming financial year.
The government also announced that £20 million of capital funding will be allocated to "essential maintenance" across the NHS estate.
Focus on Reducing Long-Term Waiting Times
Ap Gwynfor stated that £100 million will be used to reduce 24-month waiting times in the short term and to expand system capacity to prevent such delays in the future.
He highlighted that investing in equipment like mobile CT scanners will assist in addressing backlogs.
Criticism of Previous Welsh Labour Government's Approach
The health minister criticized the former Welsh Labour administration, stating it "looked at the problem and put a sticking plaster on it."
"They were just dealing concentrating on short term solutions without dealing with long term problems."
He added:
"What we're doing is putting money into that early intervention so that we don't reach that position again, making sure that we improve the diagnostics, that we identify those pathways and validate them properly so that people get put on the right lists, getting the right treatment instead of languishing on a long list for several years."
Plans for Surgical and Diagnostic Hubs
The Welsh government intends to develop up to 10 surgical and diagnostic hubs over the next four years. The minister reiterated that investment in equipment such as mobile CT scanners will help reduce backlogs.
Concerns Over North Wales Hospital Emergency Department
Ap Gwynfor also urged NHS leaders to "take control immediately" of the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire following serious patient safety concerns.
The unit was recently designated as requiring significant improvements in leadership, governance, culture, and overcrowding after an inspection last month.
The health minister expressed disappointment and expected the Betsi Cadwaladr health board to take action.
He assured the public that the emergency unit remains safe to attend and that government officials are monitoring the situation "regularly."
Welsh Labour's Response
Ken Skates commented:
"NHS waiting lists have fallen in Wales for the past 10 months, people are being seen faster because of the hard work of NHS staff and investment from the last Welsh Labour government.
"The Plaid Cymru government said they had a costed plan but they can't even get their story straight about how long it'll take for waiting lists to fall.
"Reviews and consultations won't cut it, people want to see action."
