Media Centre

The Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), which represents surgeons across Wales, has welcomed the Welsh Government’s announcement of the membership of the Elective Care Expert Group, a key step towards delivering surgical hub expansion across Wales to increase protected operating capacity and help reduce NHS waiting times.

Surgeons have welcomed the Welsh Government’s prioritisation of surgical hub expansion, as the latest NHS Wales waiting times figures underline that maintaining sustained reductions will depend on expanding surgical capacity. The number of patient pathways waiting two years or more for consultant-led hospital treatment rose from 2,589 in March to 3,694 in April.

With data published today showing that NHS waiting lists have risen again, the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England) has said the latest figures make clear just how fragile recent progress is, and that there is still a significant journey ahead before patients see the timely care they deserve.