What is the Welsh Government doing to increase the number of available beds in the Welsh NHS?
Answered by Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care | Answered on 10/01/2025
The planning and delivery of services, including the number of beds, is a decision for the health board to make based on the needs of the local population. Health boards are expected to flex their bed numbers based on demand at different points in the year.
Advances in healthcare provision, including more surgery being carried out on a day case basis, may reduce the need for overnight hospital beds. Improvements in the way urgent and emergency care is delivered, so people can be seen and treated at home through the use of virtual wards will also help to prevent hospital admissions.