Health Minister unveils plan to reduce last-minute cancellations in Welsh NHS

In a bid to tackle the pressing issue of last-minute cancellations, Health Minister Eluned Morgan has rolled out the 3Ps Waiting Well Policy for NHS patients in Wales.

Aimed at supporting and preparing individuals for their medical procedures, the policy stands for: Promoting healthy behaviours, Preventing deconditioning during waiting periods, and Preparing patients for both treatment and recovery.

Within the last financial year, NHS Wales has reported over 6,350 last-minute cancellations of procedures.

A significant 4,860 of these were due to patients feeling physically unfit, while the remainder cited acute illnesses, pre-existing conditions, and other concerns as the reason behind the postponement.

The Minister shared her views, stating, “Last-minute cancellations mean wasted resources. The 3Ps policy empowers people to take charge of their health, offering them support through various resources, and advice on managing conditions.”

People waiting for treatment will get one single point of contact at the health board, who will listen to their concerns, advise on healthy behaviours to better manage their symptoms and signpost them to a wide variety of resources and services.

They will also help people prepare for treatment to ensure they get the best results, this will include access to services like exercise classes, in-person or remote.

Several health boards, including the notable Hywel Dda, have already initiated the service.

However, with the introduction of this policy, all of Wales is expected to adopt it by next summer.

Eluned Morgan added, “Hywel Dda’s service will be the gold standard model for all health boards in the coming year, leading to enhanced patient care across Wales.”

Mandy Rayani from Hywel Dda University Health Board praised the Waiting List Support Service, stating, “The service ensures patients are fit and ready, offers continuous support, and significantly reduces procedure cancellations due to deteriorating health conditions.”