Welsh NHS likely to miss waiting lists target ahead of crucial election

The head of NHS Wales admitted that problems 'in the north of the country' meant that the target to eliminate two-year waits for planned treatment was unlikely to be met in all parts of Wales.

Election day for the Welsh Senedd, with NHS performance a central issue of the campaign and post-election expectations for health policy and funding.

The article notes provisional NHS Wales statistics for March were published ahead of the official figures, which have a seven-week lag. The provisional data are used to assess whether targets could be met before the election.

About 69% of the latest number of two-year-plus waits were in the Betsi Cadwaladr health board area, with Swansea Bay reporting no patients waiting that long. The data highlighted regional disparities in long waits.

Latest figures from February showed that 63.7% of patients spent less than four hours in emergency departments, indicating ongoing underperformance in urgent care.

At the start of 2026, more than 48,000 people were waiting more than eight weeks for a diagnostic test. In January, the total number of patient pathways fell by 28,000 to 713,048. Cancer statistics for January showed 57% started their first definitive treatment within 62 days of first being suspected, well below the 75% target.

In a speech to health leaders, Miles said tackling waiting would be his 'number one priority,' promising to reduce the overall waiting list by March 2026 and bring it back toward pre-pandemic levels. The plan was backed by £120m in extra funding for outpatient appointments, diagnostic tests and treatments, including more than 20,000 cataract operations.