The NHS Wales waiting list has fallen and fewer people are facing
the longest waits for treatment, new figures show.
The latest monthly fall in the waiting list, a 23,400 drop from
October to November, is the biggest monthly reduction on record.
It is also the sixth consecutive month the waiting list has been
cut.
People waiting over two years fell to just under 6,900 - down
more than 90% from the peak. Provisional December data suggest
further reductions in the overall waiting list, with two-year
waits dropping to around 5,300.
The number of people waiting over a year for their first
outpatient appointment is at its lowest since October 2020.
Those waiting more than 36 weeks for treatment is the lowest
figure since April 2021.
Meanwhile, November saw just over 136,600 pathways closed, the
second highest figure on record.
All health boards except Betsi Cadwaladr have either no pathways
waiting longer than two years or less than 1%. Powys currently
has less than 1% of pathways waiting longer than one year while
Swansea Bay and Powys have no one-year waits for a first
outpatient appointment.
The Welsh Government announced £120m investment in June 2025 to
help people be seen quicker. This has already provided 127,000
additional appointments. It also aimed to see an extra 20,000
cataract operations delivered by March 2026 and this goal is on
track to be reached.
December saw the total time it takes for ambulances crews to
transfer patients to emergency departments nearly halved compared
to the previous year, and hour‑plus delays dropped by 43% for the
same period.
Health Secretary will visit Princess of Wales
Hospital in Bridgend today to see how substantial investment has
upgraded theatres at the hospital.
On the latest statistics, the Health Secretary said: “I am
pleased the waiting list has fallen and the longest waits are
coming down – this is what people want to see.
“November saw the largest monthly drop in the waiting list ever
recorded – down 23,400 from October. This marks six consecutive
months of reductions.
“Provisional data for December indicate further significant cuts
in the waiting list and longest waits and it's important we
continue to see improvements over the coming months.
“The Welsh Government has provided substantial funding to help
people be seen faster with 127,000 extra appointments already
delivered, including on weekends.
“There were also important reductions in ambulance handover
delays in December compared to the same month in 2024, meaning
people are spending less time in an ambulance before being
transferred to a hospital's emergency department.
“I want to thank NHS staff for all they continue to do to
ensure people are seen as quickly as possible and receive the
best possible care.”
