Our Welsh NHS is on the brink of a disastrous 2024, according to Shadow Health Minister Russell George MS, following the Welsh Government’s announcement that emergency departments and minor injury units will receive a small funding pot to ‘boost capacity.

“The Labour Welsh Government is playing catchup thanks to their historic underfunding of our Welsh NHS,” said the Welsh Conservative Senedd Member. “Emergency departments needed this increased capacity ahead of the winter months, but the sum allocated is hardly going to scratch the surface.”

“Labour should have prioritised these infection prevention and enhanced safety measures over their expensive plans for blanket 20mph and more politicians,” he added.

The head of the Royal College of Nursing (RCN) in Wales, Helen Whyley told BBC Radio Wales Breakfast on Wednesday that the current situation in Wales is “completely unacceptable”, which prompted the following response from Russell George MS:

“Our Welsh NHS is on the brink of a disastrous 2024, with excessive waiting lists, strikes and staffing pressures. The Labour Welsh Government is still underfunding our Welsh NHS by not providing it the full uplift for health from the Conservative UK Government.

“The Welsh Conservatives would reverse the Labour Government’s political decision to prioritise costly vanity projects like creating more politicians over fully resourcing our Welsh NHS.”

Responding to comments made by Welsh NHS Head Judith Paget that there will be significant disruption when junior doctors strike later in January, he said:

“The Welsh NHS and Welsh patients cannot afford another round of strikes.

“The Conservative UK Government has put forward a more generous offer to junior doctors in England than Labour has in Wales.”

Junior doctors in Wales were offered a 5 per cent pay rise, the worst offer in the UK and lower than recommended by the review body for Doctors’ and Dentists’ Remuneration.

“Labour should scrap their expensive vanity projects and pay doctors properly instead,” added the Shadow Minister for Health.