CONCERN has been raised over a rise in waiting times for diagnosis and therapy affecting the Gwent health board.

The Aneurin Bevan University Health Board has said the increase in waiting times is due to “ongoing recruitment issues” and staff vacancies.

The health board says patients waiting more than eight weeks for a diagnostic test increased in April and May, but since that time numbers have decreased.

Those waiting 14 to 25 weeks for a therapy clinic appointment has increased since April, the board says.

It says at the end of July, only one patient in its health board area was waiting more than 26 weeks.

A spokeswoman for the health board said: “The health board is committed to addressing long waiting times for diagnostic and therapy services in keeping with its aim to offer the highest standards of care to our patients."

She added: “The increase in patients waiting has been due to staff vacancies and ongoing recruitment issues. We are working to address these issues and want to ensure that no one will wait more than 14 weeks for an appointment by the end of March 2018.”

Welsh Conservatives have claimed the number of people waiting more than six months for diagnosis and therapy on the Welsh NHS has increased by 21 per cent since March. However the Welsh Government says the figures are "incorrect".

Welsh Conservative shadow health secretary Angela Burns AM, said: “Behind every statistic is a personal story of unacceptable delay that simply shouldn’t exist. For the elderly and vulnerable in particular, that means unnecessary suffering and misery.

“Waiting more than six months to see a health professional carries a strong likelihood that your condition will have worsened by the time it is diagnosed and treated, becoming more complicated and more expensive for the NHS to minister.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Despite increased demand on the NHS in Wales, the vast majority of patients continue to be seen within target times.”

A Welsh Government spokesperson said:

“The figures quoted by the Welsh Conservatives for Wales are incorrect.

“Despite increased demand on the NHS in Wales, the vast majority of patients continue to be seen within target times. The number of people waiting more than eight weeks for a diagnostic test has fallen by 18% in June 2017 compared to June 2016, and were the lowest June figures since 2011.

“Health boards have action plans in place to reduce long waits. Last week, the Health Secretary announced an extra £50m to help the NHS further improve waiting times. He expects to see performance improve as a result of this extra investment, so that every patient receives timely, high-quality care.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Despite increased demand on the NHS in Wales, the vast majority of patients continue to be seen within target times. The number of people waiting more than eight weeks for a diagnostic test has fallen by 18 per cent in June 2017 compared to June 2016, and were the lowest June figures since 2011.

“Health boards have action plans in place to reduce long waits. Last week, the health secretary announced an extra £50m to help the NHS further improve waiting times.

"He expects to see performance improve as a result of this extra investment, so that every patient receives timely, high-quality care.”