NHS activity and performance summary

The Chief Statistician has decided to temporarily suspend reporting of referral to treatment time (RTT) statistics for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. This follows serious concerns about the accuracy and integrity of the RTT data submitted by the health board for recent months.    

These concerns include anomalies in reported waiting list sizes and inconsistencies with operational activity levels, which have raised questions about the reliability of the data submitted. This suspension will remain in place until an external investigation into the quality and governance of the data is completed. 

In the interim, referral to treatment time statistics will be published excluding data from Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Advice and guidance will be provided in the statistical publication on the appropriate interpretation of these statistics, given that the data will not cover the whole of Wales. 

Official statistics must be produced to the highest standards of trustworthiness, quality and value, in line with the Code of Practice for Statistics. The activities being undertaken aim to restore accurate and trustworthy reporting as quickly as possible, so that these statistics can continue to meet user need.  

The Office for Statistics Regulation has been informed of this decision.