Vaughan Gething welcomes improving NHS performance

Health Secretary Vaughan Gething has welcomed new statistics that show improved NHS performance across a range of measures, despite increasing demand for services across Wales.  

The latest statistics show: 

• over 80% of immediately life-threatening ambulance calls received a response within eight minutes, a record high since the introduction of the new clinical model
• the number of people experiencing delayed transfers of care from hospital remains close to record lows, despite the increasing demand for health and social care services
• the number of people waiting over eight weeks for a diagnostic test is the lowest for six years
• A higher percentage of patients spent less than four hours in all emergency care facilities from arrival until admission, transfer or discharge and 922 fewer patients waited more than 12 hours compared to the previous month
• the end of March saw the best performance against the 26 week and 36 week referral to treatment targets for three years
• performance against the Urgent Suspected Cancer target is the best since November 2014 
• demand for NHS services is increasing across every single activity and performance measure monitored by Statistics for Wales

Vaughan Gething said: 

“We are seeing improvements across a range of performance measures in the NHS in Wales.  This is happening as more and more people are seeking access to NHS treatment covered by these measures. 

“Investment in the NHS is the highest it has ever been.  This year we have invested an additional £240m in the Welsh NHS to meet the ongoing growth in demand and costs of services.  

“I want to thank NHS staff for their efforts.  We will continue to work to improve performance for patients but these statistics paint a very positive picture for Wales.”