Response to recent comments by the First Minister on the NHS on Politics Wales

Responding to the comments made by the First Minister, Eluned Morgan MS, on Politics Wales, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation Darren Hughes said:

“Everyday Chief Executives and managers across the NHS lead large complex organisations with thousands of staff who are working harder and delivering more care than ever before.  There is nobody wanting to provide the best quality of care and treatment to the Welsh population and to quickly and effectively treat the people on waiting lists than NHS leaders and staff."

“The First Minister knows all too well from her time as Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care that the NHS is treating more people than ever before and that there are a range of factors impacting on the rate of elective recovery.  Waiting lists cannot and must not be considered in a silo but as part of the whole health and care system, across primary care, community care, mental health services and social care."

“The ability to discharge medically fit patients from hospital remains a huge challenge for all health boards due to the immense pressures in social care, despite best efforts in joint working with local authority partners. In some hospitals 20% of beds are unavailable as patients wait to leave hospital. This is like trying to run the NHS with one hand tied behind your back – we’re doing all we can to work with local authority leaders and care providers but the First Minister must be open about the scale of the challenge and what’s needed to put it right."

“NHS leaders will continue to lead their organisations with compassion and are committed to working with the government and partners across public, private and third sector to collectively to tackle the challenges facing health and care in Wales.”