Written question WQ100428

Welsh Government engages regularly with Hywel Dda University Health Board on planned care performance, including orthopaedic waiting times. Health boards are responsible for planning and delivering services for their populations and for treating patients in order of clinical priority.

Discussions with the Health Board have covered performance against planned care targets, progress in reducing the longest waits, and actions to increase orthopaedic capacity and productivity. Detailed referral-to-treatment performance by health board is available on StatsWales.

We are working with NHS organisations to reduce elective waiting times. In June 2026, Welsh Government announced an additional £145 million investment in NHS Wales, including support to reduce waiting times and develop surgical and diagnostic hub infrastructure. An expert clinically led group has also been established to develop plans for up to 10 elective care hubs across Wales.

Targeted oversight and support arrangements are in place to monitor progress and support improvement. We will continue to work closely with the Health Board to improve access to planned care and reduce waits for patients.