Living with Multiple NHS Waiting Lists
Amy-Jane Davies is currently on six NHS waiting lists and reports that the ongoing need to seek updates is dominating her daily life.
She has been waiting 21 months for gynaecological surgery, which she anticipates will lead to a referral for a more specialised procedure, resulting in yet another waiting list.
Amy-Jane, who suffers from endometriosis, is among 46,289 individuals on a gynaecology waiting list in Wales and one of 713,048 awaiting any form of treatment.
She explained that her condition has impacted her life in ways she "didn't imagine," including reducing her working hours and deciding against motherhood.
With the Senedd election in Wales scheduled for 7 May, NHS waiting times remain a significant challenge for the incoming Welsh government.
Amy-Jane's Medical Journey
Amy-Jane, 30, from south Wales, was diagnosed with endometriosis in 2018. This condition involves the growth of tissue similar to the womb lining in other parts of the body.
Her symptoms include abdominal cramping, severe bloating, migraines, fatigue, and bladder and bowel issues.
"During Covid, the gynaecology waiting lists grew to eight to 10 years and at that point I knew there was just no way I could wait that long to get something done,"she said.
In 2021, Amy-Jane paid £4,000 for private surgery with financial support from her mother and grandmother.
The surgery removed endometriosis from her uterus, womb, and bladder but also revealed the condition on her bowel, necessitating the involvement of additional specialist surgeons.
Amy-Jane's health board informed her that she would need to be referred to one of the two accredited endometriosis surgical centres in Wales for further surgery, but a laparoscopy was required before the referral could be accepted.
She has been waiting 21 months for this procedure and has also been referred to specialists for her bowel, bladder, and migraines, as well as for an ultrasound and MRI.
"You're constantly chasing them,"she said.
"It's taking over a bit, if I'm honest, and it's really no good for my mental health."
Private Healthcare and Financial Considerations
Independent data indicates a rise in the use of private healthcare providers in Wales in recent years, with more people self-funding treatment rather than relying on health insurance.
Amy-Jane has considered private treatment again but feels optimistic about nearing the top of the waiting list within her health board.
"It is really unrealistic for me to go privately,"she said.
"I've spoken to my gynaecologist about this and because my next surgery needs an endometriosis specialist but also a colorectal (surgeon) and a gynaecologist at the same time I was quoted that it would be no less than £15,000.
"I've already had to reduce my hours at work because of my symptoms. I'm a single homeowner, there's no way I could afford something at that price.
"It just feels really cruel that I could be putting myself into debt, when in a year or two all my symptoms could just come straight back.
"Because endometriosis has no cure - it is a condition that is not life-threatening but is aggressively life-altering."
Gynaecology Waiting Times in Wales
The Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists has developed a dashboard analysing waiting times across the UK.
When adjusted for population, gynaecology and trauma and orthopaedics have the longest waiting lists in Wales.
Compared to other UK nations, Wales has one of the highest proportions of patients waiting for gynaecology treatment, second only to Northern Ireland.
Waiting numbers in Wales peaked in August 2025 at 56,069 for gynaecological treatment. By January, numbers had decreased to 46,289 but have remained at this level for five years, significantly higher than pre-Covid figures.
Challenges Behind Long Gynaecological Waits
Alison Wright, president of the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists, identified workforce burnout and limited theatre time as key issues.
"We are still on a regular basis, unfortunately, having to have battles to have gynaecological theatres across the UK.
"We would really like to see women's health prioritised. That means not only to make pathways clearer, but also to make sure that we have equitable theatre space and gynaecological capacity."
She noted that patients often end up in A&E as a consequence of delays.
"For women it affects their work, their lives - looking after children or dependents and it means that their condition potentially gets worse.
"They may have blood transfusions or other treatments while they're waiting. So their conditions are not standing still while they're waiting and this is something that really, really concerns me."
Wright welcomed the launch of the NHS Wales women's health plan in 2024 but emphasised the need for "proper investment" and "tangible plans that can be tracked."
Government and Political Party Responses
The Welsh government declined to comment ahead of the Senedd election but previously stated that waiting lists in Wales had decreased for eight consecutive months.
Green Party
The Green Party described waiting times as "appalling" and pledged to implement a "coherent package" of reforms.
"We will make additional investments in primary care, making it easier for people to see a GP or other health worker so their physical and mental health issues can be addressed earlier before they develop into crisis requiring hospital care."
Welsh Liberal Democrats
The Welsh Liberal Democrats criticised long waiting times and proposed reducing them by expanding the health workforce and diagnostic capacity, as well as addressing the social care crisis.
"We would cut waiting lists by boosting the health workforce and expanding diagnostic capacity, but also by fixing the social care crisis, investing in thousands of new care placements to end corridor care and free up hospital beds."
Reform Wales
Reform Wales highlighted that waiting lists remain longer than in England and advocated for reducing bureaucracy and better funding for primary care.
"Only Reform UK has a plan to bear down on the bloated bureaucracy of the Welsh NHS to properly fund primary care and implement a workforce plan that makes use of our talented nurses and paramedics here in Wales as opposed to telling them they have to seek work abroad."
Plaid Cymru
Plaid Cymru emphasised the suffering of those on waiting lists and outlined plans to reduce wait times through surgical hubs.
"Plaid Cymru's NHS waiting lists plan - designed with health experts - will cut waiting times and get people treated quicker, and reduce pressure on our NHS. We'll create 10 surgical hubs across Wales, specialising in treatments with the highest waits."
Welsh Conservatives
The Welsh Conservatives acknowledged ongoing delays and promised to declare a health emergency with measures to increase capacity and improve access.
"The Welsh Conservatives will declare a health emergency, increase bed capacity, deliver a workforce plan to recruit and retain staff, and strengthen primary care to improve access to GPs, reduce pressure on hospitals and ensure patients can access timely care."
Welsh Labour
Welsh Labour has not yet responded but their manifesto includes commitments to surgical and diagnostic hubs, as well as funding for new hospitals and repairs.
