Plaid Cymru: Eluned Morgan is failing as First Minister
The leader of Plaid Cymru says the First Minister is failing in her role as he criticises her handling of the NHS.
The leader of Plaid Cymru says the First Minister is failing in her role as he criticises her handling of the NHS.
Waiting times hit a high late last year with over 800,000 hospital patient pathways.
Plaid Cymru Leader Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said,
“A quarter of patients are currently waiting over eight hours in A&E, hospital waiting lists have topped 800,000, ambulance services are in crisis, and GP surgeries are closing. This is unacceptable.
“As Health minister, Eluned Morgan promised no patient would wait over 12 months for treatment by spring—a promise already broken by virtue of the fact she’s set a new target of bringing two year waits down to 8,000 by April – and based on December’s numbers even those figures are going in the wrong direction.
“No matter how many times this Labour government tries to reincarnate itself as being a government of delivery, it continues to fail the NHS workforce and its patients.
“This is a failure of delivery by a failing First Minister.
“2025 will be a crucial year for Wales. This year can be the beginning of the fresh start that Wales needs – with Plaid Cymru at the helm.
Healthcare in Wales is to be offered hundreds of millions more pounds next year to tackle record-high waiting times.
An extra £1.5 billion is being put into public service, as part of the Welsh Government's proposed £26 billion budget for 2025-26.
The funding includes more than £600 million in extra revenue and capital funding for health and social care, which is intended to help the NHS continue to cut waiting times, improve mental health services, and strengthen women's health services.
First Minister, Eluned Morgan said:
"We have an ambitious plan for delivery in 2025 and beyond, working across each of our priority areas and in collaboration with our partners around the country.
"It's important to me that we are a government that listens and a government that responds to what it hears and works with our partners to deliver real results for people.
"This is by no means the end of our conversation with the people of Wales - it is more like a fresh beginning - the beginning of a new year, the beginning of a new term and the beginning of our journey to build a brighter future for Wales."