What is the Welsh Government’s target wait time for colonoscopy investigations?
The Welsh Government target waiting time for routine colonoscopy is eight weeks. Unfortunately, due to the pandemic, many patients are currently waiting longer than this target time, with the end of September data showing 4,574 open pathways over eight weeks, the lowest it has been since November 2021.
There are separate standards for bowel screening with an aim to be invited within 2 weeks after a positive bowel screening if clinically required. Colonoscopy requirements for suspected cancer will form part of the 62-day target and as such be escalated to achieve the target.
When I published the Planned Care Recovery Plan in April, I included within the plan an ambition to return the maximum wait for all diagnostic tests to eight weeks by March 2024.