Mid and West Wales Senedd Member talks about Welsh health concerns

We know that that the NHS in Wales currently faces tremendous pressures. Waiting lists are at historic and eye-watering highs, with around 800,000 patient pathways (in a population of just over 3 million) waiting for treatment at the end of 2024.

Last week, Audit Wales published a report into cancer care in Wales, which revealed that no health board has met the target that 75% of cancer patients should start their treatment with 62 days since August 2020. 

The target has never been met on an all-Wales level and waiting times for some cancer types can be up to 100 days. The net result is that Wales has the second highest mortality rates from cancer of any UK region or nation, and these mortality rates are significantly worse for people living in deprived areas.

Locally, we have had the worrying news that a downgrading of vital stroke services is being considered at both Bronglais and Glangwili hospitals, with proposals that might see these turned into ‘Treat and Transfer’ units. 

A public meeting is being held on January 24, to discuss the plan for Bronglais in particular.

Given the size of Bronglais’ catchment, these proposals are a matter of concern for people right across Mid and West Wales, with people in parts of Powys and Gwynedd, for example, potentially facing journey times of two hours or more to receive fully-fledged treatment for strokes.

And these proposals also come on the back of previous downgrades at Bronglais, including recently to paediatric services.

The above are all concerns I and Plaid Cymru colleagues have raised, and will continue to raise with the current Labour Welsh Government.

But none of this should be taken as criticism of our frontline NHS staff, who I know – true to the founding principles of our National Health Service – are going above and beyond in intolerably difficult circumstances to deliver the highest standard of care possible.

Both they, and we, deserve better. I am proud, therefore, that Plaid Cymru has recently launched our plans on tackling waiting lists – including through the creation of regional elective care hubs, emergency legislation to embed better collaboration between health boards, and better use of technology – and reforming governance of our health services to restore accountability and put our health and care services on a more sustainable footing for the future.

After 25 years of Labour mismanagement, it’s time for a fresh start with Plaid Cymru, and I am confident we have the plans to put our money where our mouth is when it comes to fixing our NHS.

Mid and West Wales Senedd Member Cefin Campbell