Home / Health / Cross-Border Health Talks Aim to Cut Welsh Patient Delays
Cross-Border Health Talks Aim to Cut Welsh Patient Delays
7 Jul
Summary
- Hundreds of Welsh patients face over two-year waits at an English hospital.
- A new contract worth £12m is being negotiated between health boards.
- The goal is to eliminate waits exceeding 104 weeks by late 2027.
Cross-border negotiations are actively underway to alleviate lengthy treatment delays affecting hundreds of Welsh patients. These patients have been waiting more than two years for care at the Robert Jones and Agnes Hunt Orthopaedic Hospital, located near Gobowen in Shropshire. In May, nearly 400 Welsh patients were documented on these extended waiting lists, with many suffering from spinal disorders or awaiting joint surgery.
The Powys Teaching Health Board and the Shropshire-based hospital are working towards a crucial £12m contract. This agreement aims to establish clear service levels for the upcoming financial year. A primary objective is to eliminate waiting times exceeding 104 weeks for Welsh patients by the conclusion of the 2026/27 period.
Officials confirm that ongoing contract discussions will not disrupt current treatment arrangements. Patients registered with Welsh GPs often experience twice the waiting times compared to those registered with English GPs. The hospital board has noted specific figures, including 203 patients with spinal disorders and 43 awaiting joint surgery.
