The latest eye care measures data, which shows that only 60.6 per cent of patients are being seen within the target date at Hywel Dda University Health Board, has been raised in the Chamber by local Assembly Member Paul Davies. Mr Davies highlighted that the figure has dropped by nearly 7 per cent since April last year, when 67.5 per cent of patients were seen within the target time and that Hywel Dda University Health Board was the worst performing health board in Wales.

Mr Davies said, “I was pleased to raise this extremely important issue with the Health Minister and I hope that the Welsh Government will now take immediate action to address this issue. I’m particularly concerned that these patients waiting for treatment are at risk of irreversible harm or significant patient adverse outcomes if their target date is missed and that is simply unacceptable. The Minister himself has said that the Welsh Government needs to address the whole workforce to deliver the sort of outcomes we want – and whilst I agree with that, it’s vital that this matter is urgently prioritised to minimise the risks to those patients waiting for treatment. I will continue to monitor the local health board’s performance in this area and keep raising this matter with the Welsh Government until we see some improvement in the figures.”

A copy of the transcript can be accessed here - https://record.assembly.wales/Plenary/6082#A56235