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More details on plans to only add people who are “fit and well” to surgery waiting lists and crack down on missed appointments are expected to be revealed on Monday. Health Secretary Jeremy Miles will give a speech to health leaders on the Welsh government’s bid to cut waiting lists by around one quarter by March 2026.
Hospital volunteer John Timmons, 70, said he saw “a ridiculous number” of patients not turning up for appointments and would support the plans.
But health equality charity, Fair Treatment for the Women of Wales (FTWW), said “fear of weight stigma” could delay some people from seeking help.
The proposed changes are part of a number of Welsh government ideas being discussed to improve the NHS, which has recently seen small reductions in record waiting lists.
These include: patients who miss hospital appointments twice or more being referred back to their GP, in effect placing them at the back of the queue; an improved Welsh NHS app, allowing patients to track their progress through the system and make or amend appointments; and increased levels of intervention to get patients fit for surgery, such as people being asked to lose weight or exercise more before they are placed on a waiting list.
Miles said 700,000 hospital outpatient appointments were missed or cancelled last year. On average this equates to about 2,700 every working day.
Annie Hillman, community sport and health manager for the eight Better Leisure Centres across Cardiff, said her centres have co-delivered sessions with the NHS for several years, where patients with hip, knee and back pain can self-refer, or be referred by hospital physiotherapy teams.
NHS staff then deliver classes at the leisure centre instead of the hospital setting.
Paul O’Sullivan, 70, retired 10 months ago and has filled his days with sessions at the leisure centre, after also being referred by his physiotherapist following a second knee replacement six months ago.
“He didn’t know what to do with his first knee two years ago, with the second I was back here after six weeks, because I’d done a lot of classes pre-op and I knew what to expect. It made a massive difference.”
Pat Mackie, 68, said she would support initiatives to reduce waiting lists, as her husband is currently on one.
He has been waiting for a heart scan for a year and has still got another three months to go.
“He’s lost two brothers with a heart fault and unless he’s scanned it won’t be detected.”
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