Commons Sense

House of Commons · Ministers' Questions

NHS Waiting Lists

Wednesday 11 December 2024 · 7 questions

Summarised by AI from the official record, so it can contain mistakes.

Read the full transcript on Parliament.uk

At a glance

Answered 2 Partly answered 3 Not answered 0

Key points

  • The percentage of patients in Wales waiting more than a year for treatment is 22.5%, compared to 4% in England.
  • The Welsh Government received an additional 1.7 billion for next year to invest in public services, including the NHS.
  • Yesterday, the Welsh Government announced an additional 610 million to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity in the NHS and social care.

Topics (select to filter)

Questions & Answers

Q1 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
NHS Wales
Context

The question stems from the context of rising NHS waiting list percentages in Wales compared to England, particularly noting that Labour has been in charge for 25 years.

Question

What assessment she has made with the Welsh Government of trends in levels of NHS waiting lists in Wales in the last 12 months? The percentage of patients in Wales waiting more than a year for treatment is 22.5%, compared to 4% in England, and Labour has been in charge in Wales for 25 years.

Answer from Jo Stevens

Both the UK and Welsh Governments are seized of the need to drive down waiting lists. The spending review provided the Welsh Government with an additional £1.7 billion for next year to invest in public services such as the NHS. The Welsh Government recently announced an additional £50 million in this year to reduce the longest waiting times by increasing capacity for more people to be seen and treated.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q2 Gagan Mohindra Con South West Hertfordshire
NHS Wales
Context

The question arises from concern over the Labour party's healthcare record in Wales and its implications for health service delivery improvements.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that the key to reducing waiting lists in Wales and South West Hertfordshire is investing in our healthcare infrastructure, particularly new hospitals?

Answer from Jo Stevens

If I were the hon. Gentleman, I would be a bit embarrassed about raising the subject of new hospitals given his Government's record. The Welsh Government have just had a £21 billion record settlement, £1.7 billion of Barnett consequentials and, with the Welsh Government's Budget yesterday, £610 million for the NHS and social care to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked if the Secretary agrees on investing in infrastructure; the answerer did not directly agree but provided funding details instead.

How: Hedging

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q3 Lincoln Jopp Con Spelthorne
NHS Wales
Context

The question is about the impact of Labour's healthcare policies over 25 years, specifically focusing on high waiting list percentages in Wales compared to England.

Question

Why, in 25 years of being in charge, have you not reformed the NHS in Wales and brought down waiting lists?

Answer from Jo Stevens

I am not sure Mr Speaker is in charge of reforming the NHS in Wales. I say to the hon. Gentleman that under the previous Conservative Government, waiting lists increased by a larger percentage in England than they did in Wales.

Not addressed: The questioner asked about reforms not made; the answerer redirected criticism back at the Conservative government's record on waiting lists.

How: Redirecting

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q4 Anna Dixon Lab Shipley
NHS Wales
Context

The question is in response to the Secretary of State's remarks, noting that under the previous Prime Minister waiting lists increased faster in England than Wales.

Question

Does the Secretary of State agree that recent Budget announcements by both the UK and Welsh Governments demonstrate that both Governments understand the importance of fixing our NHS and delivering for the people of the whole United Kingdom?

Answer from Jo Stevens

I could not agree more with my hon. Friend. As I say, there was a record settlement from Welsh Government yesterday, with £610 million announced to bring down waiting lists and increase capacity in the NHS and social care.

Answered
Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q5 Torsten Bell Lab Swansea West
Wales
Context

The question arises from confusion regarding parties opposing the Welsh Government's budget despite its funding for NHS improvements.

Question

I am surprised: why are the parties on the Opposition Benches voting against it?

Answer from Jo Stevens

I think their stance on the Welsh Government Budget says it all. They are more bothered about scoring cheap political points than they are about delivering services and investment for Wales.

How: Criticising

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q6 Mims Davies Con East Grinstead and Uckfield
NHS Wales
Context

The question is based on the increasing NHS waiting lists and its effect on healthcare delivery, particularly focusing on rural areas.

Question

In September, 801,000 people were in need of treatment. If someone has lost their winter fuel allowance, along with any hope of seeing a GP or consultant and getting social care, what does the Secretary of State really have to say and do to reassure older people that the Labour Government here and in the Senedd have the ability to tackle that disgrace of a backlog?

Answer from Jo Stevens

I say to the hon. Lady that both the Welsh and the UK Governments are looking after pensioners in Wales. We made the tough, but right, decision on winter fuel payments, given our economic inheritance from the previous Conservative Government. We are focused on delivering funding and support to the people who need it most.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for reassurance about access to services; the answerer provided context but did not directly address the concerns raised.

How: Hedging

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)

Q7 David Chadwick Lib Dem Brecon, Radnor and Cwm Tawe
NHS
Context

The question is based on a constituent's experience of delayed or unavailable emergency ambulance service.

Question

Residents in rural Powys are suffering as a consequence of delays to ambulances turning up, or, in some cases, of those ambulances not turning up at all. Will the Secretary of State tell me what action she is taking to reassure my constituents that an ambulance will turn up in their hour of need?

Answer from Jo Stevens

I am very sorry to hear about the experience of the hon. Gentleman's constituent. Yesterday, the Welsh Government announced £610 million additional funding for the Welsh NHS and for social care.

Partly answered

Not addressed: The questioner asked for specific actions; the answerer provided funding details but did not mention specific measures to improve ambulance services.

How: Hedging

Was this summary accurate? Tell us

How accurate was this summary? (1 = poor, 5 = spot on)