NHS Wales: Record waiting times for 20th successive month

The numbers on waiting lists for non-urgent hospital treatment in Wales have hit record levels again for the 20th month in a row.

There were 683,331 on December's list although the latest monthly rise was the smallest since the pandemic began.

But people waiting the longest - more than nine months - rose by 2,664 to a record 244,331.

The Royal College of Surgeons said those waiting would be "disheartened and distressed" by the figures.

Meanwhile, A&E waiting times - for the four-hour target - and ambulance response times have both improved.

Extreme levels of demand on the Welsh NHS and the impact of Covid-19 are hindering the quality of care given to those most in need, it is claimed.

Latest monthly Welsh Government data shows that the performance of A&E departments and the Welsh Ambulance Service have deteriorated, and the number of people on an NHS Wales waiting list has increased to record levels once again.

In November 2021 there were 682,279 people waiting for non-urgent NHS care – a rise from the 679,626 recorded in October and way up on the 456,809 seen just before the pandemic hit.