The health minister of Wales has been urged to discontinue the policy at the center of a dispute concerning A&E waiting times.
Earlier this week, the Royal College of Emergency Medicine alleged that the published figures do not accurately represent the true duration of patients’ waiting times.
The Welsh government vehemently refuted this claim, stating that the college had misconstrued the data provided to them. Plaid Cymru is now advocating for the elimination of the policy responsible for the ensuing confusion.
Health Minister Eluned Morgan has expressed her intention to engage in discussions with healthcare professionals regarding this matter. The issue brought up by emergency physicians pertains to “breach exemptions,” wherein the clock for a patient’s A&E wait can be halted if the department is considered the safest place for their care.
The Royal College contends that the official figures fail to encompass the patient’s entire waiting time in A&E before they are discharged.
Plaid’s health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor, contended that the minister had attempted to reframe the debate as a matter of presentation and language, but the breach exemptions policy is “not fit for purpose.” He highlighted that as the only UK nation persisting with this policy, it was high time for it to be abolished.
Ms. Morgan noted that consultants had requested the introduction of this mechanism in 2011, but she also emphasized that the Welsh government is currently in active discussions with clinical leaders and service users to enhance the quality of care in emergency departments.
In response, Russell George of the Welsh Conservatives stated: “You are not counting accurately, so the health service can properly plan.
“You need to have accurate data in terms of how long people are waiting in A&E departments, especially as we plan for the winter, and that is absolutely crucial.”
In response, the minister said: “I am more than happy for an independent person to come in to analyse our data, because I stand by our data.”
Later, a Welsh government spokesperson added: “There is no confusion, health boards have been following these guidelines and provided assurances that they are reporting data correctly.
“It is not true to say Wales is the only UK nation to use this approach – our guidance, developed with clinicians at the time, is similar to approaches used in other parts of the UK and is in place to stop health boards feeling pressured to move people out of emergency departments simply to hit targets.”
