Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government’s first 100-day plan included a commitment to commission an independent review of NHS performance in Wales, with a particular focus on the impact of waiting lists on population health, and to commission a review of health-based inequalities in Wales. I am today confirming that, following advice from officials, the review of NHS performance in Wales will be undertaken by the Health Foundation.
I have been clear from the outset that inherited waits for treatment are unacceptable, which is why we have made addressing this issue our key priority in Government. I also firmly believe that health inequalities remain too prevalent in Wales. Ensuring that access to services and outcomes of treatment are equitable across Wales, regardless of individual circumstances or geographic location, is a driving mission of this Government.
It is vital in this respect that we build a strong body of evidence on how the legacy of long waits and healthcare inequalities have detrimentally affected our population health in recent years – which in turn will be invaluable in informing our approach to addressing them.
The review will provide an objective assessment of current NHS performance, the main factors driving performance challenges, and the priorities for action to improve performance and outcomes, reduce unwarranted variation and strengthen public confidence.
It will also aim to examine the relationship between waiting times, population health, inequalities and outcomes, including the extent to which delays may impact on people’s health conditions or unequal access to timely care. It will also identify opportunities to improve productivity, value and delivery across the system, and consider whether current approaches are sufficiently focused on meaningful improvement and population health impact.
The Health Foundation propose to undertake a rapid, evidence-informed review, using a mix of analytical assessment, policy analysis and stakeholder engagement. The review will be structured around internationally recognised health system performance assessment frameworks, adapted to the Welsh context and aligned with the NHS Wales Performance Framework and headline policy commitments.
It will include analysis of priority indicators across population health, access, quality and outcomes, and use of resources, supported by engagement with key system leaders and partnership working with Public Health Wales on relevant areas of analysis, including the impact of waiting times on health and inequalities.
I expect the review to report its findings and recommendations to me by the end of March 2027. I will provide a further update following consideration of the final report.