Local Assembly Member Paul Davies is calling for immediate action to deal with a huge rise in delays for orthopaedic treatment throughout the Hywel Dda health board area.

Figures from the Welsh Government show that 1,343 patients had waited more than nine months for trauma and orthopaedic treatment by the end of May 2015, up from just 10 three years ago.

In total, the number of patients waiting more than 36 weeks for any hospital appointment jumped more than 55000 per cent in three years – from just 12 patients in May 2012 to 5,572 this May. The Welsh Government’s target is for no-one to wait that long for treatment.

Mr Davies said: “These figures are extremely worrying. Waiting for treatment is a difficult time for any patient. Unnecessary and avoidable delays for treatment only make the situation far worse. Therefore it is essential that the health board takes measures to tackle this issue.”

He added, “Patients awaiting this treatment will often be vulnerable and an action plan to deal with the issue is urgently required – this simply cannot go on. The people of Pembrokeshire have a right to feel to be treated in an appropriate and timely fashion and it is important that the Welsh Labour Government addresses this as a matter of urgency.”