Welsh Health Minister pledges £170m extra a year for planned care services delivery transformation

Welsh Health Minister pledges £170m extra a year for planned care services delivery transformation

The Welsh Health Minister, Eluned Morgan, has announced that the government will invest more than £170m extra per year in planned care across NHS Wales.

The funding will predominantly focus on endoscopy, cataract, orthopaedic and diagnostic and imaging services. The fund will open for applications from 30 November 2021.

The Minister hopes the rallying cry and additional funds will ‘build a planned care system that is bigger, better and more effective than we have seen before’.

Planned care is any treatment that doesn’t happen as an emergency and usually involves a prearranged appointment. Most patients are referred for planned care from their GP.

The funding will predominantly be focused on endoscopy, cataract, orthopaedic and diagnostic and imaging services, but will also go towards cancer and stroke services.

It is on top of the £25m extra a year for emergency departments announced in July.