14 January 2005
People in Wales are still facing long waits for non-emergency health treatment, the auditor general for Wales has reported.
In June 2004, some 7,000 outpatients had been waiting more than 18 months to see a consultant for a first outpatient appointment, while 1,500 people had been waiting a similar time for inpatient treatment, according to a report published this week.
Auditor general Sir John Bourn said: 'The Welsh Assembly and the NHS must tackle the inefficiencies in the system and… regional variations in waiting times.'
However, Bourn's report points out that most patients in Wales are treated within the NHS's targets.
PFjan2005
