Thank you very much for contacting me about Cymru Versus Arthritis’ campaign on joint replacement surgery backlogs.
I recognise that living with a long-term condition, such as arthritis, has a significant impact upon a person’s wellbeing and I would like to thank Cymru Versus Arthritis for raising awareness of the difficulties people with arthritis face.
More broadly, Welsh Conservatives believe that COVID-19 has exposed many of the difficulties the Welsh NHS already faced under Labour, and we’re deeply concerned by the slow resumption of NHS services during COVID-19 pandemic in a safe and orderly manner. We were also appalled when Labour’s former Health Minister, Vaughan Gething MS, said it was “foolish” to have a recovery plan in place for the NHS until the pandemic was over. A recovery framework was published in March, however, in the meantime, waiting times for key treatments such as orthopaedics have spiralled.
This backlog cannot continue, with an astonishing 1 in 4 of those on the list waiting over a year for treatment in Wales, compared to 1 in 19 in England and 1 in 11 in Scotland. In particular, we are also concerned by latest trauma and orthopaedics waiting times, which suggest that nearly 1 in 2 of those on that list were waiting over a year for treatment in July 2021.
Therefore, Welsh Conservatives are pushing for a proper recovery plan for arthritis backlogs, which is underpinned by sufficient and targeted workforce planning and funding. We are worried that the Welsh Labour Government has been vague about the 12,000 health professionals it has promised, and that the £1bn it has announced to help clear the waiting lists is being delivered ad hoc. Rest assured, my colleague, Russell George MS, the Shadow Health Minister, is continuing to press the Health Minister on these vital areas, so that we can alleviate many of the inequalities people living with arthritis are facing in accessing adequate healthcare.
My colleagues and I in the Welsh Conservatives are also keen to ensure that Wales boosts pre-emptive and rehabilitation services, so we will continue to ask for the role of Occupational Therapists to be increased, especially with regard to housing adaptations, as well as promoting independent living for people with arthritis.
I hope this reassures you and thank you again for taking the time to write to me.