MS says statement about Powys patients "simply not true"

Montgomeryshire MS Russell George has accused the Welsh Government of making false claims about NHS waiting times for Powys patients.

The criticism follows a Welsh Government statement on May 22, in which Cabinet Secretary for Health Jeremy Miles MS praised Powys Teaching Health Board for having "no patients waiting more than a year for a first outpatient appointment or two years for treatment."

However, Mr George argues this claim demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of how healthcare is delivered to Powys residents, who often receive treatment at hospitals in neighbouring counties due to the lack of a district general hospital within Powys itself.

The Welsh Government's statement came after the First Minister missed targets to reduce NHS waiting lists. The revised target to bring two-year waits down to 8,000 by spring 2025 was only set after the original goal of eliminating two-year waits entirely by March 2023 was missed.

Mr George maintains that many Powys residents are still waiting more than two years for treatment in hospitals across the border. He warned that waiting times could worsen further due to upcoming changes in cross-border commissioning arrangements.

"The Welsh Government are claiming success in reducing waiting times and also make the claim that no Powys patients are waiting more than two years for treatment. This is simply not true," said Mr George.

"Of course, the rate for people waiting for treatment within Powys is zero, because they can't be treated within the county. Powys does not have a district general hospital, and Powys Health Board is a commissioning organisation that relies on neighbouring hospitals to deliver care for Powys patients."

The MS added that from July, Powys patients may face even longer waits because the Welsh Government will not fund Powys Teaching Health Board to meet English waiting time targets for residents referred across the border.

Mr George said he would raise the matter with the First Minister in the Senedd, calling for better transparency in Welsh NHS data and improved accountability for Powys patients who "often fall between the cracks of cross-border commissioning arrangements."