James Evans is calling for cancer treatments in Wales to be delivered more quickly.

The Brecon and Radnorshire MS and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care described a recent Audit Wales report on cancer services as “nothing short of alarming”.

He said at the Senedd it shows that since August, 2020, not one Welsh health board has met the target of 75 per cent of patients starting treatment within 62 days of a suspected cancer diagnosis.

Mr Evans said: “Between August, 2023, and August, 2024, only 53 per cent to 61 per cent of patients were treated within this critical time frame.

“The report goes into a lot more detail about the shortcomings of cancer treatment right the way across Wales.”

He told the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt: “I'm calling for an urgent statement on what immediate action you will be taking to rectify these appalling shortcomings and ensure that cancer patients across Wales receive the timely and effective care they deserve.”

Ms Hutt said the Government welcomed the findings of the Audit Wales report and also the acknowledgement by the auditor general of its clear commitment to high quality cancer care.

She said: “That came through very strongly from the report. The key challenge the auditor general has identified is in terms of the need to increase NHS capacity to meet the rising demand for cancer investigation and treatment.

“We’re absolutely focused on working with the NHS to improve access to diagnosis and treatment as part of our target for 75 per cent of those diagnosed to begin treatment within 62 days of when their cancer is first suspected.”

Ms Hutt said that to respond to the scale of the challenge, the Government is putting in place a more co-ordinated national leadership arrangement for the different actions that are required to improve cancer services.