NHS staff have delivered the biggest monthly reduction in the
waiting list, as the time people wait for treatment falls to its
lowest level in almost six years.
The latest waiting time figures, published today, show the
average waiting time for treatment is now around 18 weeks – down
from 23 weeks in August 2024 and the lowest since the pandemic
started.
They also reveal:
- The biggest monthly fall in the waiting list in January 2026
– down 27,900.
- This is the eighth month in a row the waiting list has fallen
– the most sustained period of reduction on record.
- The waiting list is now at its lowest level since April 2022.
Long waits of more than two-years continue to fall – a reduction
of 19,000 pathways between August 2024 and January 2026.
Health boards have also delivered an extra 187,000 outpatient
appointments and a record-breaking 37,000 cataract operations to
date, as a result of changes to make the NHS more productive,
backed up with £120m additional funding this year from the Welsh
Government.
Health Secretary will today visit the day
surgery unit at Prince Philip Hospital, in Llanelli, to see how
Welsh Government funding is helping Hywel Dda University Health
Board tackle waiting times. Fewer than 1% of pathways are waiting
more than a year for a first outpatient appointment or two years
for treatment.
He said: “This set of record-breaking figures show just how hard
the NHS is working. Health boards are delivering more outpatient
appointments, especially in the evenings and at weekends, and
more operations, including cataract surgery - new ways of working
to make sure people are seen and treated faster.
“The waiting list has fallen for the eighth month in a row, a new
record reduction, and the longest waits are down yet again. This
is real, tangible progress for people in Wales.
“We are determined to keep driving down waiting times and I
expect to see significant further improvements in the weeks ahead
to ensure that everyone gets the care they need, when they need
it.”
The ambulance service recorded its best response time in February
for people experiencing a cardiac or respiratory arrest since the
new model was introduced in July, at 6 minutes and 50 seconds.
Ambulance patient handover times are also improving with fewer
delays at hospital emergency departments in February. The figures
show the time spent handing over patients safely at emergency
departments fell by 21% compared to February last year. This
helped see a 38-minute improvement on average in response to
patients in the orange category, including those with strokes or
heart attacks.
Winter pressures continue to be experienced by the NHS with
ongoing high demand for emergency care – emergency department
attendances in February were the second highest on record for
that month.
The Welsh Government has been clear with health boards and
partners of the need for a sustained focus on flow, discharge and
community capacity to help improve experience and quality of
emergency care.
