COLUMN: Health Secretary misleading us on Powys waiting times
"It is deeply troubling that the Welsh Health Secretary continues to insist that no one in Powys is waiting longer than a year for an outpatient appointment, or more than two years for treatment.
This assertion is not only misleading but undermines the lived experiences of many residents.
Recent information presented at a Powys Health Board meeting directly contradicts the Minister’s claim; in reality, there are hundreds of people enduring waits far longer than what the Government sets out, as evidenced by the numerous constituents who have also contacted me.
Patients deserve openness, not headline-friendly statistics that crumble under scrutiny. The consequences of prolonged waits are severe and human, behind every statistic is a patient who is often left suffering in pain and uncertainty. The Welsh Government must cease repeating inaccurate claims and begin to take responsibility for the reality confronting Powys residents.
Last week, I wrote to the First Minister urging the government to acknowledge that such statements are both false and misleading. Unfortunately, the First Minister has responded by insisting that the claim is neither false nor misleading.
It seems, when the Welsh Government asserts that no one in Powys is waiting more than two years for treatment, or more than a year for an outpatient appointment, what they truly mean is that nobody is waiting for treatment in a District General Hospital within Powys itself, a misleading distinction, given that Powys does not have such a facility!
This response only highlights the Government’s lack of understanding about Powys and their limited appreciation of the county’s unique healthcare situation. It is hardly surprising, therefore, that no one is waiting for treatment within Powys, as the necessary facilities simply do not exist.
It is especially disappointing that the First Minister’s response fails to recognise the reliance of Powys residents on hospitals located in England. This oversight is evident not just in her correspondence with me, but also in Government statements, performance data, and the methodology used for allocating funding to address waiting times.
Regrettably, there remains no recognition of the need to review how data is reported. The Welsh Government continues to make these misleading statements without offering any broader context or transparency about the true situation faced by Powys residents.
Let’s hope the next Welsh Government after May, understands Powys and rural Wales.
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|
|