News

• Gareth Evans, a podiatrist and experienced health and care leader, has taken up the role of Wales's Chief Allied Health Professions Officer.
• Allied health professionals (AHPs) are central to the Welsh Government's preventative health agenda and in delivering care closer to home.
• The appointment strengthens national professional leadership and advice for  AHPs as Wales shifts to community-based models of care.

Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, Mabon ap Gwynfor, responds to the latest NHS Wales activity and performance data.

• Ten-year National Cancer Strategy being developed to transform how the disease is prevented, diagnosed and treated in Wales.
• Strategy will be shaped by a formal call for evidence from patients, carers, clinicians, charities and the public as well as working with international partners.
• Strategy to be published to coincide with World Cancer Day on 4 February 2027.

• Welsh Government is taking early action to prepare NHS and social care for winter focussing on five key areas.
• NHS Wales is being asked to plan for winter earlier this year and move to a year-round planning approach considering all seasonal demands.
• Expansion of RSV vaccine to those over 65 who are at clinical risk will begin in September.

• Welsh Government is taking direct action to drive improvement at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, rather than the health board leading own recovery.
• Independent panel will review patient safety, leadership and culture, reporting back by end of October.
• Health Minister says this is clear statement of commitment to supporting improvement and ensuring the people of north Wales receive the safe, high-quality and timely care they deserve.

• New group of NHS surgeons, nurses and managers will plan up to ten elective care hubs across Wales

• Hubs will increase surgical and diagnostic capacity and protect planned care from emergency pressures

• Delivery plan to be published by end of 2026

• £100m to help reduce NHS waiting list and waiting times. £25m for new surgical and diagnostic hubs. £20m for essential maintenance across the NHS estate.
• New figures show waiting list and waiting times went up in April, before the new Welsh Government was in place. Health Minister says plan to achieve lasting reductions.
• Change in the way the NHS works is needed - making sure patients move through the system more smoothly, from their first referral all the way to treatment

The Welsh Government has today announced an extra £145m will be invested in NHS Wales this financial year.

• Up to ten new surgical and diagnostic hubs to be developed across Wales over four years
• Two-year waits to be eliminated within months
• New GPs, expanded out-of-hours care and stronger community services to ease hospital pressure

The new Welsh Government will pick up the pace to ensure people across Wales are seen faster for NHS treatment.

• Free support and advice scheme extended to 60,000 NHS Wales staff tackling coronavirus pandemic.
• More than 2,000 former health and social care professionals return to the frontline to help deal with COVID-19.