Surgeons call for urgent action from new Welsh Government as waiting times remain high

Surgeons have urged the new Welsh Government to act quickly to deliver long-term NHS reform as the first NHS Wales waiting times figures published since the Senedd election show that despite continuing progress, significant challenges remain. 
 
The number of patient pathways waiting two years or more for consultant-led hospital treatment fell from 4,517 in February to 2,589 in March. 
 
A further 95,946 patient pathways were still waiting over a year in March, compared with 105,559 in February. In total, there were 666,694 referral-to-treatment patient pathways waiting for treatment, decreasing from 687,958 the previous month. 
 
Ahead of the election, the Royal College of Surgeons of England called for an expansion of surgical hubs across Wales to protect planned operations from emergency pressures. This approach received support from a range of political parties during the campaign. 
 
Plaid Cymru set out plans to convene an Elective Care Task and Finish Group within the first 100 days to develop proposals for expanding elective capacity, including new surgical hubs. 
 
Expanding capacity for planned treatment will help ensure more patients are treated on time and reduce the number facing long delays. More than 60% of Welsh surgeons cited access to operating theatres as a major challenge in the RCS England 2025 Workforce Census, underlining the need for more surgical hubs across Wales. 
 
Professor Jon Barry, Director in Wales at the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS England), said: 
 
“The new Welsh Government inherits a significant challenge, and these figures reflect the reality across Wales – long waits, repeated delays, and too many people left in pain. 
 
“There were commitments during the election campaign to develop a clear plan for expanding elective capacity, including early work to establish new surgical hubs across Wales. The priority now is to start delivering on those plans without delay. 
 
“More surgical hubs will help bring down long waits and ensure fewer patients are left dealing with uncertainty and disruption to their daily lives while they wait for treatment.” 
 
ENDS 
 
Notes to editors  

1. The Royal College of Surgeons of England’s Senedd Election Manifesto is available here: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/about-the-rcs/about-our-mission/senedd-manifesto-2026/  

2. Plaid Cymru committed to convening an Elective Care Task and Finish Group in its first 100 days. The group, comprised of relevant experts, will be responsible for developing a delivery plan, to be published by the end of 2026, on establishing up to ten new elective care hubs across Wales. See more here: https://www.partyof.wales/100_rhestrau_aros  

3. A summary of the latest waiting times data for Wales is available here: https://www.gov.wales/nhs-activity-and-performance-summary-february-and-march-2026  

4. Read the RCS England 2025 UK Surgical Workforce Census: https://www.rcseng.ac.uk/standards-and-research/surgical-workforce-census/  

5. The Royal College of Surgeons of England provides world-class education, assessment, and development to 30,000 surgeons, dental professionals, and members of the wider surgical and dental care teams at all stages of their careers. Our vision is to see excellent surgical care for everyone. We do this by setting professional standards, facilitating research, and championing the best outcomes for patients.  

6. For more information, please contact the RCS England press office: telephone: 020 7869 6053/6054/6047; email: pressoffice@rcseng.ac.uk; out-of-hours media enquiries: 0207 869 6056.