Welsh Centre for Public Policy - Reducing waiting times in Wales (20 October 2022)

Summary

The number of people on NHS Wales waiting lists for treatment has reached record levels. This problem has worsened since the Covid-19 pandemic, with the average wait time for treatment more than doubling since December 2019. This report by the Welsh Centre for Public Policy identifies five key areas in which policy could be developed to improve outcomes and reduce waiting times. These areas target the underlying factors causing increased waiting times, and are likely to both improve the overall performance of the health system, and to impact outcomes which matter to patients, resulting in a more patient-centred approach:

1. Workforce capacity
2. Digital technology
3. Reimagining primary care
4. Systems collaboration
5. Follow-up care