Rising cases have compounded existing pressures

Responding to the latest NHS activity and performance statistics, Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation said:

“The NHS in Wales is working relentlessly to cope with current levels of demand and to ensure everyone waiting for treatment is seen as soon as possible. Although average waiting times for treatment remain above pre-pandemic levels, we are seeing a downward trend.

“The announcement from Welsh Government to invest nearly £25m in state-of-the-art diagnostic equipment is welcomed and is a step in the right direction when it comes to cutting waiting times and meeting service demand.

“However, there’s no doubt that Coronavirus continues to have a significant impact on the delivery of health and care services across Wales. Rising cases have compounded existing pressures on services, meaning some difficult decisions have had to be made as many services are under more pressure now than they were at the height of the pandemic.

“Staff are doing all they can to continue delivering care for those who need it most and are exhausted after a challenging 18 months. We thank them and the public for doing all they can to support the fight against this virus.”