Early signs of winter pressures mounting on NHS in Wales

Responding to the NHS Wales activity and performance statistics for October and November, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, Darren Hughes, said:

“NHS activity and performance figures for October and November show clear signs of winter pressures mounting in Wales.

“NHS staff have been working incredibly hard to deliver tens of thousands of extra appointments, including on weekends, which has resulted in several areas of improvement, including the overall waiting list going in the right direction.

“Significant improvements in ambulance handover delays over the course of the year have been testament to the NHS’s commitment to find new ways to improve care for patients.

“But we are only in the early stages of what NHS leaders know is going to be a long and difficult winter, with an average daily figure of 1,500 people in October who were clinically ready for discharge but could not leave hospital because the necessary ongoing care and support was not available. 

“We do not yet know when or at what level flu will peak. Public Health Wales’ latest report shows cases of flu are still increasing and that RSV season is underway, with current activity for the latter at very high intensity levels. These additional pressures come alongside increasing staff absence in the winter months.

“It’s therefore important we all do whatever we can to protect ourselves and our vulnerable loved ones from getting seriously ill, wherever possible. This includes everyone eligible getting vaccinated against flu, Covid and RSV. We’d also urge people to use services appropriately this winter, including using NHS 111 online as a first port of call, visiting your local pharmacy for common ailments such as sore throat and looking out for vulnerable people in our communities.”