Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on when cataract recovery funding for 2026-27 will be released to health boards?
Funding to support cataract and wider planned care recovery forms part of the additional £145 million investment recently announced for NHS Wales. This includes £100 million to reduce waiting times and £25 million to strengthen surgical and diagnostic capacity, including activity that will support improvements in ophthalmology services.
The first phase of planned care funding has now been released to Health Boards following assessment of their delivery plans. Allocations are linked to clear expectations regarding reductions in long waiting times, increased activity, improvements in productivity and delivery against agreed trajectories.
Further funding releases will be considered as part of ongoing discussions between Health Boards, NHS Wales Performance and Improvement and Welsh Government officials. This will ensure that investment is directed towards schemes which can demonstrate additional capacity, sustainable improvements and measurable benefits for patients.
Improving access to cataract services remains a priority. Ophthalmology has been identified as a key specialty within the wider planned care recovery programme, and Health Boards are expected to use the additional investment to increase activity, reduce waiting times and support regional approaches to delivering eye care services.
The Welsh Government and NHS Wales will continue to monitor delivery closely to ensure the funding achieves the intended improvements in access to cataract treatment and other planned care services.