Local Assembly Member Paul Davies has criticised the Welsh Government over a steep rise in the number of patients waiting to start treatment in the Hywel Dda local heath board area. According to the latest Welsh Government figures, 7023 people living in the health board area are waiting to start NHS treatment, that’s a staggering increase of 223% or 4848 people since last August.

Preseli Pembrokeshire Assembly Member Paul Davies said “I’m alarmed to see such an increase in the number of people desperately waiting to start treatment in our local communities. Figures have shown an increase of 223% which is wholly unacceptable.”

He added, “It’s quite clear that local health services are under serious strain and the Welsh Government’s drive to centralise services away from local communities will do nothing to stop these figures. Urgent action is now needed from Labour Ministers to turn this poor performance around.”