Wales Hospital Waiting Lists Lowest in 3 Years 2026

Key Points

• Hospital waiting lists in Wales dropped to just under 741,000 patient pathways as of December 2025, the lowest in almost three years, compared to 734,721 in March 2023.
• This represents a decrease of 17,000 from the previous month and marks the seventh consecutive month of decline, according to data from Digital Health and Care Wales.
• Long waits of one or two years or more are at their lowest since the height of Covid, with the Welsh government describing this as “real progress”.
• However, 19% of the overall waiting list in Wales involves patients waiting a year or more, compared to less than 2% in England, per comparable NHS data.
• There were 5,252 waits of two years or more in December 2025, a 27% reduction (over 1,600 fewer) from the prior month.
• Betsi Cadwaladr health board accounted for two-thirds of the two-year waits, particularly in general surgery, oral surgery, and ENT specialisms.
• The health minister set a target last year for no one to wait that long by March.
• First Minister Eluned Morgan committed to cutting waiting lists and longest waits, noting seven months of falls, longest waits down over 90% from peak, and tens of thousands more outpatient appointments delivered.
• Waiting lists peaked above 802,000 in 2024; average wait for treatment now 19 weeks, down from 24 weeks last year but higher than England’s 13 weeks.
• Estimated 580,289 actual patients waiting (accounting for multiple pathways), down over 11,700 from previous month.
• Emergency units in Wales had their busiest January in a decade, with 63.4% of A&E patients seen within four-hour target – a slight improvement but third lowest in 12 years.
• Wales underperformed England’s major A&E units for 23 straight months to December 2025; north Wales’ three main hospitals had worst-ever performances.
• 11,400 patients waited 12+ hours in A&E – highest in three years.
• Ambulance response to cardiac emergencies averaged seven minutes eight seconds (within six-to-eight minute target); “red” calls averaged nine minutes 33 seconds (over target).
• Patient pathways waiting over a year for first outpatient appointment fell 14% month-on-month to lowest since autumn 2020, but still over 32,700; 12-month target missed since end of 2022.
• Cancer care: 60.7% started treatment within 62 days of suspicion, improved but below 75% target.
• Plaid Cymru’s Mabon ap Gwynfor MS highlighted 741,000 on lists and record 137,300 diagnostic pathways as too long under Labour.
• Conservative Peter Fox MS called NHS “broken” after 27 years of Plaid-backed Labour, worse in some areas for emergency care.
• Reform UK’s James Evans MS criticised ambulance waits worsening amid budget for “greener” ambulances.

Wales (The Wales Times) February 19,2026 – Hospital waiting lists in Wales have reached their lowest level in almost three years, with just under 741,000 patient pathways recorded as of December 2025, according to the latest figures from Digital Health and Care Wales. This marks a drop of 17,000 from the previous month and continues a seventh consecutive month of decline, compared to 734,721 pathways in March 2023. First Minister Eluned Morgan hailed the progress, stating she had made a commitment to cutting waiting lists and the longest waits, adding: “that’s exactly what is happening”.

How Significant Is the Drop in Overall Waiting Lists?

The data reveals a substantial reduction, with patient pathways falling to 740,995 in December 2025 – just shy of 741,000 – their lowest since early 2023. As reported across multiple outlets drawing from Digital Health and Care Wales statistics, this constitutes a 17,000-patient pathway decrease from November and reverses a peak of over 802,000 in 2024. The average wait for hospital treatment now stands at 19 weeks, improved from approximately 24 weeks the previous year, though it remains elevated compared to England’s 13-week average, based on comparable NHS data.

Patient pathways represent individual journeys through the NHS system, and some patients appear on multiple lists for different treatments. Adjusting for this, an estimated 580,289 actual patients were awaiting hospital admission in December, a reduction of more than 11,700 from the prior month. First Minister Eluned Morgan emphasised the trend, noting:

“Seven months of the waiting list falling. The longest waits down by more than 90% from their peak. Tens of thousands more outpatient appointments delivered. This is real progress that’s making a massive difference to people’s lives.”

What Progress Has Been Made on Long Waits?

Long-term waits – defined as one or two years or longer – have hit their lowest levels since the Covid peak, a point the Welsh government described as demonstrating “real progress”. Specifically, 5,252 pathways involved waits exceeding two years as of December 2025, down more than 1,600 (a 27% fall) from the previous month. The health minister had set a target last year that no patient should endure such delays by March.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board bore two-thirds of these protracted waits, with general surgery, oral surgery, and ear, nose, and throat (ENT) specialisms recording the most severe backlogs. Additionally, pathways waiting over 12 months for a first outpatient appointment decreased by 14% between November and December, reaching their lowest since autumn 2020 – though they still total more than 32,700. This target, aimed to be met by the end of 2022, remains unmet.

How Does Wales Compare to England?

While improvements are evident, Wales lags behind England in key metrics. Some 19% of Wales’ overall waiting list comprises patients waiting a year or longer, starkly higher than England’s less-than-2% figure, according to comparable NHS data. The average treatment wait in Wales (19 weeks) exceeds England’s 13 weeks.

In emergency care, Wales’ performance trails further: across the last 23 months to December 2025, Welsh units underperformed England’s major emergency departments. Ambulance response times for cardiac emergencies met the six-to-eight-minute target at seven minutes eight seconds on average. However, “red” (most urgent) calls averaged nine minutes 33 seconds, exceeding the target introduced last summer.

What Challenges Persist in A&E Performance?

January 2026 marked the busiest month for Welsh emergency units in a decade, with 63.4% of A&E patients seen within the four-hour target – a marginal uptick from December but the third-worst in 12 years. The three principal hospitals in north Wales recorded their poorest performances ever against this standard. Nationally, 11,400 patients endured 12-hour-or-longer waits to be seen, the highest in three years.

The NHS Confederation in Wales attributed this to “significant demand” on urgent and emergency care, noting instances where health boards declared critical incidents. Plaid Cymru health and social care spokesperson Mabon ap Gwynfor MS critiqued the ongoing pressures, stating:

“There remains 741,000 on treatment waiting lists, and a record high figure of 137,300 diagnostic patient pathways – people in pain and waiting for treatment or answers for far too long, right under Labour’s watch.”

What About Cancer Care and Ambulance Response?

Cancer pathways showed modest gains, with 60.7% of patients commencing treatment within 62 days of suspicion – an improvement yet below the 75% Welsh target. Conservative health spokesman Peter Fox MS highlighted regional disparities, declaring: “It is clear that after 27 years of Plaid-backed Labour governments, our NHS is broken. In some areas, the situation is getting worse. It’s clear that Labour and Plaid are failing those in need of emergency care.”

Reform UK MS James Evans raised fiscal concerns:

“Ambulance waiting times are getting worse as Plaid and Labour’s budget deal sees cash splashed on making ambulances ‘greener'”.

These statements, drawn from cross-party responses to the Digital Health and Care Wales release, underscore persistent divides in interpreting the data.

Broader Context and Political Reactions

The Welsh government’s optimism contrasts with opposition critiques amid a national health service under strain. First Minister Morgan reiterated her pledge’s fulfilment, positioning the figures as tangible gains post-Covid. Yet diagnostics hit a record 137,300 pathways, amplifying calls for accelerated reform.

Health boards like Betsi Cadwaladr face scrutiny for disproportionate long waits, while A&E metrics reveal systemic pressures exacerbated by January’s demand surge. As Wales navigates these trends into 2026, the March target for eliminating two-year waits looms critical, with all eyes on sustained delivery.