More money to help cut the longest waiting times on Welsh NHS

The announcement was made at the Welsh Labour Party conference in Llandudno.

An additional £22m is being invested taking the total to £50m.
Author: Lauren JonesPublished 18th Nov 2024

A total of £50m is to be invested in the Welsh NHS to try and cut the longest waiting times.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles made the announcement at the Welsh Labour conference in Llandudno - committing an additional £22m.

We're hearing it'll pay for more operations, more evening and weekend working - as well as more tests and outpatient appointments.

Sarah Murphy, Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, also announced that within that money, £3 million is ringfenced to speed up the rate that children can be assessed for neurodiversity, like dyslexia, dyspraxia and ADHD, by the end of March 2025.

Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles said: "We are rightly proud of our National Health Service, and of all those working in it, here in Wales.

"But I can’t pretend to you that the last 14 years have been easy. Fourteen years of the Tories has stripped the resilience from our health and care system.

"A few weeks ago, I announced an extra £28m to cut waiting long waiting times. Today, I am increasing that to £50m.

"We are at our best when we work together – and stand together – to support our NHS."

Minister for Mental Health and Wellbeing, Sarah Murphy, said: “I am very pleased to announce today £3m to target the longest waits for children’s neurodevelopmental assessments. This money will be immediately available, across all parts of Wales.

“We have withstood fourteen years of Conservative governments who have underinvested in Wales, and underinvested in public services.

"Your Welsh Labour Government will always stand up for our NHS – it’s part of who we are.”