South Wales Central Senedd Member, Joel James MS, has today questioned the First Minister on the Royal College of Emergency Medicine's latest shocking findings.
The NHS in Wales has a 12-hour waiting target for A&E; however, findings show that last year, over 122,000 people waited 12 hours or more - the second-highest figure on record.
As Joel highlighted, this equates to about one in seven people waiting at least 12 hours; in 2015, it was closer to one in 32.
Speaking to the First Minister, Joel stated:
We know there's a clear link between long waits, overcrowding and harm to patients in emergency departments.
The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has estimated that last year, in Wales, an average of 18 deaths every week were associated with waits of 12 hours or more.
That is an absolutely devastating figure for all those families involved.
Closing his contribution, the Member asked the First Minister whether these latest findings constituted a Welsh Government failure and whether she would accept responsibility for these appalling outcomes, or continue to deny the reality facing patients across Wales.
Speaking outside the Chamber, Joel said:
The Labour Welsh Government is failing families across Wales.
Devastating figures from last year indicate that 18 deaths each week were linked to waits of 12 hours or more in A&E departments.
Over 122,000 people in Wales waited 12 or more hours to be seen in A&E last year.
How many more families need to suffer before the Welsh Government takes responsibility for their failures over the past 25 years and acts before it’s too late?
To watch Joel's full Senedd contribution, please click here.
