Senedd hears mixed picture on NHS winter performance
Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care Jeremy Miles has told the Senedd that NHS Wales and social care services “broadly remained resilient” through one of the most challenging periods of the year.
In a detailed statement to Members, Mr Miles said early planning and close coordination across the NHS and local authorities had helped maintain essential services during the festive season.
He said: “This time of year consistently brings pressures caused by the weather and an increase in common winter viruses, which can make existing and underlying health conditions worse.”
Mr Miles said hospitals and the ambulance service experienced sharp increases in demand due to flu and respiratory illnesses, with 284 in-patient cases of confirmed influenza in the week to 21 December, and 261 the following week.
He thanked staff across health and social care for their work during what he described as a “demanding period”, adding: “Their dedication, professionalism and compassion has been extraordinary.”
The Cabinet Secretary said that despite pressures, essential services had been maintained, and new operational approaches were showing results.
He cited improvements in ambulance handover times and a reduction in corridor care compared to last winter.
A national “winter sprint fortnight” before Christmas had focused on speeding up hospital discharges, with 981 people transported home from hospital in the three days leading up to Christmas Day.
NHS Wales data showed 6,050 non-emergency patient transport journeys were completed in December, 5 per cent more than last year.
Mr Miles confirmed a second winter sprint would take place later this month “to build on the improvements seen in December”.
Opposition Members questioned the government’s assessment of resilience.
Welsh Conservative MS James Evans said: “For patients across Wales, the lived experience this winter has been one of overcrowded emergency departments, ambulances outside hospitals, and waiting lists that are continuing to grow.”
He said almost 30 per cent of patients waited more than four hours in A&E in December and asked whether “resilience” reflected reality or “simply the absence of a complete system failure”.
Mr Miles replied that waiting lists were falling, not rising, and said: “It’s really important that, when we have these exchanges, they are premised on the facts and the data.”
Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor MS questioned why progress made under last year’s 50-day challenge on hospital discharges had not been sustained and asked whether best practice was being consistently shared between health boards.
He also raised concerns about ambulance performance and vaccination coverage.
Mr Miles said uptake had improved, with 70,000 more vaccinations delivered than at the same point last year, and staff vaccination rates up by 4.5 per cent.
Other Members highlighted social care pressures, ambulance response times and corridor care.
Jane Dodds MS called for more support for rural areas such as Powys, where delayed discharge rates remain high, while Alun Davies MS pressed for further backing for ambulance services in Gwent.
Peredur Owen Griffiths MS shared his personal experience of long waits at the Grange Hospital, warning against “unsafe discharges driven by a scramble to create capacity”.
Mr Miles said: “It’s absolutely unacceptable if someone is discharged home in that way. There are clear protocols in place that should prevent that.”
Labour MS Julie Morgan praised NHS staff and shared a constituent’s letter commending the “world-class” care received at the University Hospital of Wales.
In response to questions from Andrew RT Davies MS, Mr Miles said work was under way to develop and publish corridor care data as part of ongoing “winter sprint” monitoring.
Heledd Fychan MS described distressing scenes of patients waiting for hours on the floor without water or bedding, saying: “It was heartbreaking to see the impact on staff and patients.”
Mr Miles acknowledged such incidents were “unacceptable” and said improving discharge processes was key to reducing them.
He added: “Our expectation as a Government is that corridor care should be exceptional. It’s happening more than we want to see, but we are focused on creating more capacity and improving patient flow.”
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