Latest figures have shown that the Welsh Government is still failing to meet its targets for treatment of urgent cancer cases. The statistics show that across Wales, 84.3% of patients started treatment within 62 days in June, a fall of 5% on the previous month’s figures.

Hywel Dda Health Board figures are the best in Wales at 91.4%, but this is still short of the Welsh Government’s target of 95%, a figure that has not been met since 2008.

Elin Jones, local AM for Ceredigion, said:

“Last year, the First Minister made several promises that the target times for cancer patients would be met by October 2013, and that health boards had plans to do so.

“Earlier this year he claimed that the Welsh Government was making ‘good progress’ in delivering the action plan. The latest figures show that not only has the promise made by the First Minister last year been broken, but that performance is getting worse. This is not ‘good progress’ and it is not acceptable. Delayed diagnosis and treatment results in worse outcomes for patients.

“A Plaid Cymru government has set out plans to recruit 1000 extra doctors over the term of the next Assembly, as the best way of reducing waiting times for patients. We would also adopt the strong performance management seen in Scotland to reduce waiting times for diagnostic tests and treatment.”