Hart hits back over Welsh NHS record

Mar 9 2008 by Matt Withers, Wales On Sunday

HEALTH Minister Edwina Hart has hit back at an unprecedented attack from her English equivalent, insisting the NHS in Wales IS improving.

Westminster Health Minister Ben Bradshaw rubbished the Welsh Assembly Government’s policy of scrapping hospital car park charges last week, claiming Welsh patients were waiting “much longer” for operations and at A&E units.

Ms Hart accused the Department of Health of “sour grapes”.

And in a letter circulated to all AMs, seen by Wales on Sunday, Ms Hart claims waiting times in Wales were dropping across the board, in direct contrast to Mr Bradshaw’s criticism.

But Liberal Democrat health spokeswoman Jenny Randerson said although things may be improving, the NHS in Wales was still lagging behind England.

Ms Hart claimed:

nThe number of patients waiting to see a hospital specialist was at its lowest since figures were recorded;

nthe outpatient list was at its lowest in seven years, with more than seven out of 10 being seen within 13 weeks;

n99 per cent of cancer patients were being treated within the 31-day target;

nA&E waiting times were being cut; and

n999 waiting times were improving and had hit their target in eight of the past 10 months. They aim to attend 60 per cent of calls within eight minutes.

Ms Hart wrote to AMs: “I remain determined to pursue an approach which focuses on the patient experience, from ward cleanliness and car parking charges to extending the range of primary care services.

“Some recent media attention, however, has suggested that this has to be at the expense of the performance of the Welsh Health Service. As you will have seen, exactly the opposite is the case. In each and every area... significant improvement in performance has been achieved, with more to follow.”

The letter was sent to all AMs on Thursday – two days after Counsel General Carwyn Jones said figures would be issued to “correct” Mr Bradshaw’s waiting-time claims.

Mr Bradshaw made the comments following the Assembly Government’s announcement it was scrapping car parking charges at hospitals.

He said: “In Wales, you have to wait much longer for your operation, you have to wait much longer in A&E.”

Ms Randerson, however, has dismissed Ms Hart’s letter as “missing the point”.

She said: “I think, first of all, there has been a big improvement in all of the areas she cites.

“But it was from a woefully low base and also remember that some of our targets are very low in comparison with England.

“If you look at the ambulance targets, the targets are much tighter in England. We’re meeting some of the targets, but the targets are a lot more generous.

“Things are moving in the right way in Wales in relation to waiting times because it’s no longer the big story that it once was. But I think it’s rather missing the point, unless she just wants to send a copy to Ben Bradshaw and say: ‘We’re not as bad as you paint us’.

“We’re still lagging behind in all aspects and that’s the point Ben Bradshaw was making.”

matt.withers@mediawales.co.uk