An extra 15,000 outpatient appointments are being provided across
Wales this month as part of plans to cut long waiting times.
The additional appointments – over and above normal core NHS
activity – are part of the £120m Welsh Government year-long
ambitious plan to tackle long waiting times and reduce the
waiting list.
More than 20,000 extra cataract operations will be provided by
the end of March 2026 as part of the plan. Health Secretary
will today visit Llandough
Hospital to meet some of the patients benefitting from the
increase in cataract activity.
Cardiff and Vale University Health Board has reduced the number
of ophthalmology pathways waiting more than 52 weeks by 34% in
July 2025 compared to July 2024.
The latest NHS performance figures show just over 8,000 people
were waiting more than two years for treatment in July across
Wales – the second lowest figure since April 2021 and more than
88% lower than the peak in March 2022. The NHS remains on track
to see significant reduction on long waits by the end of the
second quarter of the year.
No one is waiting more than two years for treatment or more than
a year for a first outpatient appointment in Swansea Bay and
Powys health boards. In Hywel Dda, Aneurin Bevan, Cwm Taf
Morgannwg, and Cardiff and Vale university health boards, less
than 1% of people are waiting longer than two years for
treatment.
The time ambulances spent waiting to transfer people to staff at
a hospital emergency department in August 2025 was the second
lowest since July 2021. And the average time people spent waiting
for triage in emergency departments was the joint best recorded
since February 2021, at 16 minutes.
For people in cardiac arrest where resuscitation was attempted,
27.4% had a return of spontaneous circulation (ROSC) at the time
of arrival to hospital. This was an improvement of six percentage
points compared to July 2025. Higher ROSC rates can lead to
increased chances of survival following a cardiac arrest.
The latest figures also show performance against the 62-day
cancer target was above 60% for the sixth month in a row. In
July, 2,301 people started cancer treatment, the highest figure
on record. And more than 15,780 people received the good news
they did not have cancer – the second highest figure on record.
Health Secretary, said: “The extra
£120m I announced in June aims to deliver what people want –
faster treatment.
“This month, 15,000 extra outpatient appointments are being
provided across Wales which shows how we are increasing activity
all over the country to ensure people are being seen quicker.
“In July, there were an average of just over 5,000 referrals for
a first outpatient appointment a day, which is the highest figure
on record and demonstrates the scale of demand for NHS care.
“We are expecting to see fluctuations in the month-on-month
statistics. I remain confident we will see a significant
reduction in long waits by the end of the second quarter.
“I want to thank the NHS workforce for their commitment and
ongoing efforts to reduce long waiting times.”
