Health Minister admits the “system does fail people”

The Minister for Health and Social Services Edwina Hart AM, today admitted that the Health “system does fail people” that it does not meet cancer treatment times and that she would urge those people who are affected to ask for help.

The Minister was responding to a question from South Wales West Liberal Democrat Assembly Member Peter Black, who was alerted to a constituent having to wait 26 weeks to see a clinical specialist despite being told he was on the urgent cancer treatment list.

“I was shocked at Mrs Hart’s admission,” said Mr Black. “It is unacceptable that patients, who have received a cancer diagnosis are then made to wait 6 months to see a specialist and then made to wait even longer for the treatment they desperately need.

“I’m sure my constituent would have felt that going to the doctor and becoming a cancer patient would be the appropriate course of action to get the treatment they require. This is a very distressing time for the patient and his family and they need to reassured that the health service is doing everything it can to help them."