June 18, 2026 - 184 views
Patients in North Wales waiting for treatment could benefit from a share of an extra £145 million being invested in NHS Wales, with the Welsh Government promising to cut waiting times and improve access to care.
The funding package, announced ahead of the Welsh Government’s Supplementary Budget next week, includes £100 million in additional day-to-day funding to help health boards reduce NHS waiting lists.
The announcement is likely to be closely watched in North Wales, where the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board continues to face significant challenges in bringing down waiting times and filling workforce vacancies.
Just this week, new figures from the Royal College of Radiologists warned that North Wales is expected to experience some of the UK’s worst shortages of consultant radiologists and oncologists over the coming years, raising concerns about delays to cancer diagnosis and treatment.
As part of the latest investment, the Welsh Government will also provide £25 million in capital funding to develop up to 10 new surgical and diagnostic hubs across Wales over the next four years. The dedicated centres are designed to carry out high volumes of planned operations and diagnostic tests, helping patients receive treatment more quickly while easing pressure on hospitals.
A further £20 million will be spent on essential maintenance work across the NHS estate.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said tackling waiting lists was an immediate priority.
“We are determined to ensure the NHS works for both patients and staff – and we are acting now,” he said.
“This additional funding sends a clear signal that tackling waiting lists is an urgent and immediate priority for this new Welsh Government.
“But we are not content to just bring down waiting times in the short term – we want to keep them down, so that patients don’t have to wait in pain or discomfort.”
He said investing in new surgical and diagnostic hubs would help transform specialist treatment and ensure the NHS could treat more patients both now and in the future.
The announcement comes as the Welsh Government hosts two healthcare summits aimed at improving services.
One will focus on increasing investment in primary care, bringing more healthcare closer to where people live, while another will look at employment opportunities for this summer’s newly-qualified nurses, midwives and paramedics.
Cabinet Minister for Health and Care Mabon ap Gwynfor said the Government wanted to create a more sustainable NHS by strengthening community-based healthcare alongside reducing hospital waiting lists.
For patients across North Wales, where long waits for treatment have remained a major concern, the challenge will be whether the additional investment translates into faster access to appointments, diagnostic tests and operations in the months ahead.
