NHS Wales achieves record waiting list reduction

NHS Wales has achieved its biggest single monthly reduction in waiting lists ever recorded, with remarkable improvements across the board showing the impact of major government investment. 📊💙

The latest figures reveal a staggering 23,400 people were removed from waiting lists between October and November – the largest monthly drop on record and the sixth consecutive month of reductions. Provisional December data suggests the positive trend is continuing, with further significant cuts expected.

The transformation in longest waits has been particularly dramatic. People waiting over two years for treatment has plummeted by more than 90% from its peak, falling to just under 6,900 in November. December’s provisional figures show this has dropped even further to around 5,300.

Those facing waits of more than a year for their first outpatient appointment is now at its lowest level since October 2020, whilst the number waiting over 36 weeks for treatment hasn’t been this low since April 2021.

November also saw just over 136,600 pathways closed – the second highest figure ever recorded – demonstrating the NHS’s increased capacity to see patients.

The improvements are being felt across Wales, with all health boards except Betsi Cadwaladr either having no pathways waiting longer than two years or keeping them below 1%. Powys currently has less than 1% of pathways waiting longer than one year, whilst both Swansea Bay and Powys have completely eliminated one-year waits for first outpatient appointments.

The Welsh Government’s £120m investment announced in June 2025 has already delivered 127,000 additional appointments to help people be seen quicker. The initiative is also on track to deliver an extra 20,000 cataract operations by March 2026.

Ambulance services have seen equally impressive improvements, with the total time for crews to transfer patients to emergency departments nearly halving in December compared to the previous year. Hour-plus delays dropped by 43% over the same period.

Health Secretary Jeremy Miles will visit Princess of Wales Hospital in Bridgend today to see how substantial investment has upgraded theatres at the hospital.

Commenting on the latest statistics, the Health Secretary said: “I am pleased the waiting list has fallen and the longest waits are coming down – this is what people want to see. November saw the largest monthly drop in the waiting list ever recorded – down 23,400 from October. This marks six consecutive months of reductions. Provisional data for December indicate further significant cuts in the waiting list and longest waits and it’s important we continue to see improvements over the coming months. The Welsh Government has provided substantial funding to help people be seen faster with 127,000 extra appointments already delivered, including on weekends. There were also important reductions in ambulance handover delays in December compared to the same month in 2024, meaning people are spending less time in an ambulance before being transferred to a hospital’s emergency department. I want to thank NHS staff for all they continue to do to ensure people are seen as quickly as possible and receive the best possible care.”