MID AND WEST WALES MS Paul Davies has called on the Welsh Government to take urgent action to tackle what he described as “staggering” orthopaedic waiting times across south-west Wales.

Speaking in the Senedd yesterday (Tuesday, Nov 11), the Preseli Pembrokeshire Member said that 10% of people in the Hywel Dda University Health Board area are waiting 79 weeks or more to begin treatment following referral.

“Many of these patients are living in pain and discomfort,” Mr Davies told the chamber. “Delays in receiving treatment can cause more complex health issues and have a serious impact on people’s quality of life. We need a clear update on what action is being taken to bring these waiting times down.”

Mr Davies said the figures were “deeply worrying” and called for a detailed plan from ministers to reduce backlogs, warning that patients across Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion are suffering the consequences of long waits.

Welsh Government response

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We continue to invest in reducing the longest waits and are working with health boards to develop additional surgical capacity, including a regional orthopaedic model for south-west Wales.”

The regional model, jointly approved by Hywel Dda and Swansea Bay health boards in August 2024, is designed to increase surgical throughput by coordinating high-volume, low-complexity procedures at selected hospitals across the region. Audit Wales has reported early signs of increased capacity, though full implementation is still under way.

Orthopaedic waiting times remain among the highest in Wales, despite ongoing efforts to expand surgical capacity at Withybush, Glangwili and Prince Philip hospitals.

Health secretary condemns ‘self-defeating’ briefings as markets watch nervously ahead of the Budget

HEALTH SECRETARY Wes Streeting has angrily denied claims that he is plotting to replace Prime Minister Keir Starmer, describing anonymous attacks from inside Downing Street as “self-defeating” and “toxic”.

Speaking on Wednesday morning (Nov 12), Streeting said he was the target of a smear campaign from within No 10, after reports suggested Starmer’s aides had launched a “Stop Wes” operation to head off a possible leadership challenge after the forthcoming Budget or next May’s local elections.

He told BBC Radio 4: “There are people around the prime minister who do not follow his model or style of leadership. Whoever briefed this has been watching too much Celebrity Traitors. It’s self-defeating nonsense.”

Streeting, who represents Ilford North, insisted he was loyal to Starmer, adding: “I didn’t vote for him in the leadership election, but I’ve supported him ever since. He’s fighting for the country, not his job.”

The row erupted after Downing Street figures were reported to have privately warned that a challenge to Starmer could destabilise the markets. Government bond prices dipped slightly in early trading as rumours swirled of tensions at the top of government.

Streeting said the briefings had distracted from Labour’s work in office: “These Westminster bubble stories – boys getting carried away – are damaging our ability to focus on delivering change.”

He also echoed recent criticism from deputy leader Lucy Powell, who called for a culture change inside No 10 and said she had herself been targeted by hostile briefings.

Asked if the prime minister should sack the people responsible, Streeting replied: “Yes, but he’s got to find them first – and I wouldn’t expect him to spend loads of time on it.”

Downing Street sources later told Sky News that Starmer “hates briefings” and had not authorised any attack on his health secretary, with one aide insisting: “Wes is doing a good job and is an asset.”

However, Labour MPs privately told reporters that the incident had deepened concerns about leadership and discipline at the top. One MP said: “Everyone is fed up with Keir, but no one knows who could replace him.”

Markets, meanwhile, remain steady for now, with the pound trading at $1.31. Financial analysts have warned, however, that any sign of renewed political instability could quickly weaken sterling and push up UK borrowing costs ahead of the November 26 Budget.

How a Labour leadership challenge works

Under Labour Party rules, a leadership contest can only be triggered if at least 20% of Labour MPs nominate an alternative candidate. With the current parliamentary numbers, that means around 80 nominations are needed to start a contest.

If the threshold is reached, party members, affiliated trade unions, and registered supporters vote in a nationwide ballot.

Potential rivals mentioned by Westminster insiders include Angela Rayner, Shabana Mahmood, and Ed Miliband, though none are expected to move against Starmer before the local elections in May 2026.

Warning that UK prisons ‘could collapse’ if thousands of foreign officers are forced to leave

THE UK prison system could face “collapse” under new visa rules that risk forcing thousands of officers out of work – a warning that could have serious implications for HMP Parc in Bridgend, already struggling with chronic staff shortages and mounting criticism over safety.

Confidential data obtained by ITV News shows more than 2,600 prison staff across England and Wales are foreign nationals working on right-to-work visas.

Under Home Office rules introduced in July, anyone earning below the new £41,700 salary threshold may be unable to renew their visa and could face deportation when it expires.

A source within His Majesty’s Prison and Probation Service said around 2,200 of those affected are frontline officers, with the rest in administrative and support roles.

Starting salaries for prison officers range from £33,750 to £44,500, meaning many will fall below the new threshold – particularly those based outside London.

The Prison Officers’ Association has warned that the loss of so many experienced officers could “totally destabilise” the prison estate.
National chair Mark Fairhurst said: “We simply cannot afford to lose that many frontline staff. If the government does not exempt the prison service from the new salary thresholds, many prisons will not be able to function.”

The Prison Governors’ Association added that the loss of these workers would “leave a gap that cannot easily be filled,” calling the change “short-sighted and damaging”.

Potential impact on Parc

Although the Home Office has not released prison-by-prison figures, G4S run HMP Parc – Wales’s largest jail housing many prisoners from Pembrokeshire – is believed to recruit beyond the local labour market to fill vacancies.

Inspection reports have repeatedly highlighted problems with staff turnover, reliance on agency officers, and pressures caused by overcrowding and record numbers of deaths in custody.

If even a small number of Parc’s officers were affected by the new visa threshold, insiders warn it could “make a bad situation worse” at a prison already under strain.