Jane Dodds has called on the Welsh Government to set clear targets as part of their cross-border care plans to cut down on NHS waiting lists.

Speaking in the Senedd yesterday, the Welsh Liberal Democrat leader and Mid and West Wales MS welcomed the cross-border care plans but pressed the First Minister on delivering a clear set of targets.

The plans, which would see Welsh patients cross the border into England to receive treatment, were first announced at the Labour party conference last September.

Ms Dodds told the First Minister: “You've appointed a group of experts to help with bringing down waiting lists here in Wales.”

She then asked: “Could I ask you specifically, please, how will that work in terms of the cross-border arrangements that were announced, and what targets do you have, and what timescales do you have, in order to reduce the waiting lists, particularly for people living on the border, as in Brecon and Radnorshire?”

There is currently some confusion about the cross-border plans as both Labour governments have so far failed to set out any targets for cutting down waiting lists.

In April 2024 there were 13,300 Welsh residents registered with GPs in England and 21,100 English residents registered with GPs in Wales.

First Minister Eluned Morgan said “genuine experts” have been appointed to the group.

She told Ms Dodds: “And in fact, one of the people on that group is the person who's presented and introduced the GIRFT approach to best practice - that is, 'get it right first time'. That really looks at how you optimise work within our hospitals. They go into hospitals and they tell them what they can do to tweak things, and that's precisely what we're talking about.”

The First Minister said there are hospitals in England where this has been introduced and is working really well, and hospitals in Wales that have introduced part of it.

“So, what we're hoping is that this group will come in and specialise, look at how you can do that, how you can bring best practice and introduce it to Wales,” she said.

“And, of course, on the cross-border work, with 60,000 Welsh residents already going to England, I'm sure that that will continue as well.”

Speaking after the Senedd session, Ms Dodds said: “Many people living in areas such as Powys are already well aware of the benefits that can come from cross-border care, and we would welcome more of this type of thing if it meant that our residents are being cared for in the best possible way.

“However, a plan without an end-goal is doomed from the start, which is why we urgently need to see from the Welsh Government a clear set of targets as part of this cross-border care plan.

“We cannot afford anymore recklessness when it comes to our NHS, let’s knuckle down and get started on a plan that could change the way our NHS is run for the better.”