FM casts doubt on Welsh patients going to England

The first minister has cast doubt on whether a cross-border NHS plan announced at Labour conference would see more Welsh patients treated in England.

Eluned Morgan accused the media and opposition of misrepresenting the policy, which she said was about the two systems learning from each other, adding that England did not have "much" capacity.

Her comments came despite the Labour Welsh secretary saying in an interview in September that "mutual aid partnerships" would see English trusts and Welsh NHS boards identify capacity so "we can get people into theatre".

Plaid Cymru leader Rhun ap Iorwerth accused Labour of giving patients "false hope".

It follows BBC interviews over the weekend with Welsh health secretary Jeremy Miles in which he also denied the policy would see patients treated in England.

Plaid Cymru has obtained Freedom of Information responses from three NHS health bodies - two in England and one in Wales - which say they have had no correspondence from the UK or Welsh governments about the idea.

In the Senedd on Tuesday, Plaid leader Rhun ap Iorwerth read a news article which said patients would be allowed to travel to England for outpatient or elective treatment, under plans announced by Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens.

Asked what Stevens meant, Eluned Morgan replied: "I think people have been putting words into our mouths in terms of the relationship and what it was we announced.

"We did say that we want to see where we can learn from other parts of the United Kingdom that are working successfully, as they are keen... to learn from us."

Pressed further by ap Iorwerth, she added: "I honestly think that you have all, as well as the media, been projecting things on to what this relationship is all about.

"We've brought in these experts who are telling us what works well in the NHS in England, and they'll be working with the experts from Wales on how that will work best."

She said the two NHS services already support each other. People with cleft palates in Bristol go to Wales for support, the first minister said.

"Frankly there's not that much capacity in England either, at the moment.

"I'll tell you what it's about - it's about learning best practice," the first minister emphasised.

She told the Plaid leader: "Why don't you actually read what we've actually said, rather than make things up?"

'Word-soup'

Rhun ap Iorwerth told the Senedd that Welsh and UK Labour "have come up with a word-soup, which is just a distraction from their failure".

He said that Labour had given patients "false hope".

Welsh and UK media outlets, including the BBC, reported a cross-border plan to cut waiting lists during September's UK Labour conference.

The coverage followed a Labour news release which said the two governments would "collaborate on health care for the first time to help drive down waiting lists on both sides of the border".

In an interview with BBC Wales Today that month, Jo Stevens said: "What we’re doing is creating mutual aid partnerships across England and Wales.

"So, English NHS trusts and Welsh health boards will work together to bring down those surgery waiting lists through identifying capacity in the systems in different specialties, and making sure we can get people into theatre."

Asked how many patients would benefit, she added: "As many as there is capacity to deliver on".

Plaid Cymru used the freedom of information act to request from three health bodies on the border what correspondence had been received from the UK and Welsh governments on a new partnership to reduce waiting times.

Neither NHS Gloucestershire Integrated Care Board (ICB), Powys Teaching Health Board or the NHS Herefordshire and Worcestershire ICB said they had received anything.

Health secretary

The Welsh government's cabinet secretary for health denied in interviews with BBC Wales on Sunday that a cross-border working plan would see more patients be treated in England.

Jeremy Miles was asked on Sunday Supplement if patients would be forced to go across the border.

“That actually isn’t what was announced by the first minister and by the secretary of state.

“What was announced was a new way of working, where both the NHS in Wales and the NHS in England can learn from what’s working well in the other.”

Later, on Politics Wales, Miles was asked if England had the capacity to take on more Welsh NHS work.

“That isn’t what we’re talking about,” he said.

Andrew RT Davies, leader of the Welsh Conservatives in the Senedd, said it was "clear that Labour have no plan to solve the horrific Welsh NHS waiting lists and are just playing politics with people's lives".

"Let's not forget the first minister was the health minister who refused previous help from the UK government. How many people could have been saved living in pain if she'd taken up that offer right away?"

The Wales Office has been asked for a comment.

Analysis by BBC Wales political editor Gareth Lewis

If you had been under the impression that the cross-border plan might lead to an immediate surge in patients going over to England for operations then that does not now appear to be the case.

We gather that no numbers have been agreed yet, but that discussions are taking place between English Health Secretary Wes Streeting and the FM, and that both health services learning from each other will be an integral part of trying to bring lists down.

The first minister has taken issue with the way the story has been reported and interpreted; opposition parties suspect that Labour might have overblown the cross-border surgery element of the plan when it was first announced.

With lists in Wales at a record high, and bringing them down the FM’s top priority, this is important for patients and politicians.

There are no quick fixes, but time is ticking with the Senedd election approaching in spring 2026.