THE WELSH Government has defended cardiac and orthopaedic treatment waiting times after criticism from the shadow minister for health.

The Welsh Conservatives had called for immediate action to deal with a rise in treatment waiting times, saying the Labour government had gone above its own target of no-one having to wait that longer than 36 weeks for their first cardiac appointment for treatment after referral to hospital by a GP.

Welsh Conservative Darren Millar AM had said long delays for any kind of treatment were ‘unacceptable’ and that it was "particularly troubling to see a huge increase in waiting times for cardiac appointments".

But a Welsh Government spokesman said most people did have their first appointment within the target time.

He said: “The figures show at the end of May only three people in Wales waited more than 36 weeks.

There has been significant investment in cardiac services, with capacity at University Hospital Wales in Cardiff being increased and work is currently on-going at Morriston Hospital in Swansea to increase capacity. The standard waiting time for cardiac surgery is up to nine weeks."

“Despite the record-breaking £1.3bn cut made by the UK Government to the Welsh budget since 2010, we are continuing to invest in health and social care in Wales – the total amount spent on health and social care in Wales this year is £6.7bn, which is a record high.”

He added more than 80 per cent of patients are waiting less than 26 weeks for treatment, with the standard waiting time up to 11 weeks.

The time up until treatment included diagnostic tests and follow-up appointments, not just the first specialist appointment, he added.

Over the last three years there’s been a 7,600 per cent rise in the number of patients waiting over 36 weeks for their first cardiac appointment, following referral to hospital by a GP; up from just five in May 2012 to 389 at the end of this May.

The Labour government’s own target is for no-one to wait that long for treatment.

In all, the number of patients waiting more than 36 weeks for any hospital appointment jumped more than 12 per cent from April to May (latest statistics available) – from 22,753 to 25,519.

Trauma and orthopaedic treatment saw one of the biggest increases – 1,500 per cent – over the last three years, up from 465 in May 2012 to 7,845 at the end of May 2015.

Welsh Conservative shadow minister for health, Darren Millar AM, said: “Long delays for any kind of treatment are unacceptable but it’s particularly troubling to see a huge increase in waiting times for cardiac appointments.

“That’s an extremely worrying trend and patients and their families deserve ministerial intervention and a guarantee of improvement.

“Orthopaedic delays are now as bad as ever, despite Welsh Conservatives highlighting the problem years ago.”

He added: “A 1,500 per cent increase over three years beggars belief and it’s clear that Labour’s last solution was nothing more than a sticking plaster.

“Patients awaiting this treatment will often be vulnerable and an action plan to deal with the issue is urgently required."

“Labour’s record-breaking budget cuts continue to pile untold pressure on frontline staff and the effects are being felt in communities the length and breadth of Wales.”