Will the Minister provide a timeline for the implementation of surgical hubs across Wales as announced in the Welsh Government's Winter Plan, along with the progress of each health board in submitting and applying their plans for the creation of surgical hubs?
I have been clear in my expectations with health boards that they should explore all options to increase protected elective capacity, both locally and regionally with other health boards. This was prioritised in the national planning guidance, and will be reinforced in the planned care recovery plan to be published in April.
Details and timelines for these plans will form part of the NHS Integrated Medium Term Plans due at the end of March 2022. Progress has been made in 2021-22 at some health boards. At Neath Port Talbot hospital in Swansea Bay UHB, the health board is looking to increase and centralise elective orthopaedic capacity with additional theatres and wards being made available. Swansea Bay and Hywel Dda UHBs are working regionally to deliver additional cataract capacity, as are the health boards in south-east Wales. In North Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB is developing proposals for regional treatment centres to treat orthopaedic and ophthalmology patients.