Former First Minister Mark Drakeford has shockingly admitted that Wales has “too many hospitals” and that the NHS is “over-hospitalised.” This statement will undoubtedly infuriate patients facing agonising waiting lists and struggling A&E departments. This revelation, made on the “For Wales, See Wales” podcast, further exposes the Labour government’s callous disregard for the needs of the Welsh people and their complete failure to deliver a functioning healthcare system. At face value, Wales has too many politicians, not hospitals.
Longest hospital waiting lists are continuing to rise in Wales
The Welsh Labour government has presided over a healthcare system on the brink of collapse. While politicians in Cardiff Bay enjoy generous salaries and expenses, ordinary people struggle to access vital medical care.
Waiting lists are soaring, with patients facing agonising delays for essential treatments, including cancer care and life-saving surgery. A&E departments are overwhelmed, and emergency care waits are risking lives. There were 24,361 patient pathways at the end of November with waits of more than two years, which is up from the previous month’s figure. The Welsh government has set a target to cut that figure to 8,000 by March. In England, two-year waits have been virtually eradicated.
BBC Wales has reported 1,566 waits of more than three years in November, with figures suggesting 16 patients waiting more than four years and four patients waiting more than five years. A lack of beds in hospitals also results in ambulances being backed up outside, putting other lives at risk through delays in ambulance calls.
Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru vote through more politicians
The Senedd, the Welsh Parliament, is undergoing a significant expansion. Its membership will increase from 60 to 96 Members of the Senedd (MSs) at the next election. This expansion is a result of recent legislation pushed through by Welsh Labour and Plaid Cymru.
The expansion of the Senedd will undoubtedly come at a considerable cost to taxpayers. In addition to more salaries and expenses for the additional 36 MSs, there will be increased staffing requirements within the Senedd itself and potential renovations to accommodate the larger membership. Remember, Wales also has 32 MPs in Westminster as well as many local councillors. At a time when we are constantly told we need to cut services, is spending more on politicians the right thing? I think not.
Welsh Government failure on reform
Mr Drakeford said, “If you’re asking me, if I had a blank sheet of paper and could just do the things I think needed to be done, we would have fewer hospitals in Wales. We have too many hospitals and too many beds.” In 2013, he was the Minister for Health and Social Services and became First Minister of Wales in 2018, overseeing all of Welsh Government policy.
It’s time for a change of course in how we manage healthcare. We need to prioritise patient care over political self-interest. The people of Wales deserve a healthcare system that delivers. Mark Drakeford and Welsh Labour have had ample opportunity to reform and do things better. But things continue to get worse so it’s time to stop rewarding politicians and start prioritising the people of Wales. Wales has too many politicians, not hospitals
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