Health

Senedd election 100 days away as NHS leaders warn health must be top priority

Published

3 months ago

January 27, 2026

Concerns over workforce pressures, social care and long waits resonate strongly in Pembrokeshire

The health of the nation must be placed at the heart of the next Welsh Government’s agenda, NHS leaders have warned, as the countdown to the Senedd election reaches 100 days.

With health and the NHS consistently ranked among the public’s top priorities, NHS leaders across Wales are urging all political parties to commit to five major changes aimed at improving population health and securing the long-term sustainability of health and social care services.

The call comes from the Welsh NHS Confederation, which represents senior NHS leaders across the country. It is urging parties to set out clear and credible plans in their election manifestos, warning that without decisive action, existing pressures will continue to intensify.

The issues highlighted are already familiar to many communities in Pembrokeshire, where residents regularly raise concerns about access to GP appointments, pressure on hospital services at Withybush, delayed discharges linked to social care shortages, and workforce recruitment challenges across health and care settings.

At the top of NHS leaders’ priorities is the creation of a cross-government strategy on prevention, aimed at tackling health inequalities and reducing avoidable ill health. They argue that without joined-up action across areas such as housing, education, transport and social services, the NHS will remain locked into responding to crisis rather than preventing it.

Other priorities include strengthening the health and social care workforce, creating joint financial and performance frameworks to support better integration between services, stabilising the social care sector, and developing a long-term strategy for NHS estates and infrastructure — including digital transformation.

The recommendations follow a survey of 95 NHS leaders from across Wales, reflecting both the immediate pressures facing frontline services and the longer-term challenges expected to worsen over the coming years.

Darren Hughes, director of the Welsh NHS Confederation, said the organisation was urging all political parties to take the five priorities seriously as polling day approaches.

He said the proposals were grounded in the lived experience of those working at the heart of the health and care system.

“Unless there is a cross-government plan to reduce inequalities and preventable ill health, the NHS and care sectors will merely be working harder to stand still, consuming an ever-increasing slice of the new Welsh Government’s money,” he said.

Mr Hughes warned that demographic change was already driving demand sharply upwards, with Wales’ population becoming older, frailer and living with more complex long-term conditions — trends that are particularly evident in rural and coastal counties such as Pembrokeshire.

“Our population is getting older, frailer and sicker with ever increasing demand for services, including more people with multiple long-term conditions needing more complex care,” he said.

He added that data showed worsening population health and demographic change would continue to push demand higher, even as NHS organisations are required to deliver significant efficiencies simply to maintain current service levels.

The Confederation also cautioned against viewing NHS pressures in isolation, such as long waits for appointments or treatment, noting that these are symptoms of wider, whole-system challenges spanning health and social care.

“So often issues are looked at in isolation,” Mr Hughes said. “But these pressures are symptoms of wider, whole-system challenges. Without bold, long-term action across government, the NHS and social care will struggle to keep pace with the needs of the people of Wales.”

With just over three months until voters go to the polls, NHS leaders say the decisions taken by the next Welsh Government will be critical — not only for the future of the NHS, but for communities like Pembrokeshire where health, social care and local services are deeply interconnected.

Health

Turkish dental clinic to hold Haverfordwest meet-up

Published

2 days ago

April 29, 2026

Staff Writer

DENTISTS FROM ANTALYA TO VISIT COUNTY TOWN

A TURKISH dental clinic is running a dental meet-up in Haverfordwest this weekend as part of a promotional visit to Wales.

Unique Smile Turkey, which has a permanent office in Wales in Swansea, says its top dentists will be coming to Haverfordwest on Sunday (May 3).

The event is being advertised as a “Dental Meet-Up” and is scheduled to run from 10:00am to 6:00pm at the Mariners Hotel.

The visit features three clinicians: Assoc Prof Dr Ummuhan Tozoglu, described as a specialist in oral diagnosis, radiology and dental planning; Professor Dr Sinan Tozoglu, described as an oral and maxillofacial surgeon and implantologist; and Professor Dr Ismet Duran, described as a periodontologist and implantologist.

The team have between twenty and 35 years of experience in their respective fields.

A contact number has also been provided for enquiries: +90 505 678 90 90.

The visit comes amid continuing interest in dental tourism, with many people in the UK looking overseas for cosmetic dentistry, implants and other private dental treatment.

Turkey has become one of the most popular destinations for such treatment, although patients are generally urged to make careful checks before committing to any procedure abroad, including aftercare arrangements, qualifications, insurance, treatment plans and what support would be available if complications arise after returning home.

Health

Welsh public backs urgent action on dementia ahead of Senedd elections

Published

3 days ago

April 28, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Calls grow for diagnosis, care and support to become national priority

NEW figures reveal overwhelming public demand for dementia to be placed at the top of Wales’ political agenda, with voters urging action on diagnosis, treatment and support ahead of the Senedd elections.

Research by Alzheimer’s Society Cymru shows that 83% of people in Wales want dementia made a healthcare priority, while 69% believe it is currently overlooked and underfunded.

More than a thousand adults were surveyed, with the findings highlighting growing concern over diagnosis rates and access to care. Wales continues to record some of the lowest dementia diagnosis rates in the UK, leaving thousands of families without clarity or support.

Around 51,000 people are currently living with dementia in Wales, a figure expected to rise to 70,000 by 2040. Despite this, only 57% of people have received a formal diagnosis, with rates falling as low as 48% in rural areas such as Powys.

Improving diagnosis remains a key concern, with 91% of those surveyed saying access to timely diagnosis must improve, and 87% backing increased investment in diagnostic services. However, respondents also stressed that diagnosis alone is not enough, with 91% saying people with dementia must receive better support, including help for unpaid carers.

Ceri Parry, from Cardiff, said she was forced to retire early from her role as a headteacher at the age of 55 due to a lack of support for her mother, who was diagnosed with Alzheimer’s disease in 2020.

She said: “I fully support improving early and accurate diagnosis, but this must also come with improved support and care for families afterwards. There’s five years between my relatives’ diagnoses and nothing changed. On both occasions we left with a leaflet and the unknown.

“The wait for improved diagnosis, treatment and support needs to end. Dementia must be a top priority for the next Welsh Government, for families living with it now and for those who will face it in the future.

“We also found there was no diagnosis assessment available in the Welsh language. That’s a fundamental issue if a diagnosis is to be accurate and safe for people who speak Welsh as their first language. Ignoring someone’s identity is ignoring the person.”

The survey also found that visible action would be key to restoring public confidence, with 72% calling for improved dementia services, 64% backing more funding for research, and 63% wanting better access to treatments.

Gemma Roberts, National Influencing Manager at Alzheimer’s Society Cymru, said: “Dementia is Wales’s biggest killer and one of the greatest health and social care challenges we face.

“Hope is on the horizon with new treatments and faster, more accurate diagnosis, but the system is not keeping pace. Without urgent transformation, people in Wales risk missing out.

“We are at a turning point. The next Welsh Government must deliver a bold new dementia strategy that transforms diagnosis and ensures access to quality care, treatments and support.”

Health

Dentists warn next Welsh Government must act to save NHS dentistry

Published

1 week ago

April 24, 2026

Tom Sinclair

DENTISTS have warned that NHS dentistry in Wales is at a “make or break” point, with access to treatment now ranking as one of the biggest local concerns for voters ahead of the Senedd election.

The British Dental Association said new polling by YouGov showed local dentistry services were now a top doorstep issue in Wales, with 30% of adults naming it as one of the most important issues in their local area.

That places dentistry ahead of crime and education, both on 14%, and above job opportunities, which were cited by 27% of respondents.

The poll also found that 79% of people in Wales believe the Welsh Government should be doing more to improve NHS dentistry, while only 11% think ministers are doing all they reasonably can.

According to the BDA, unmet need for NHS dentistry now stands at around a third of the adult population in Wales. One in five people said they had tried but failed to get an NHS dental appointment in the past two years, while a further 13% said they had not tried because they assumed they would be unable to secure one.

The professional body said the figures suggest Wales may now be the worst place in Britain to be an NHS dental patient.

The warning comes after controversial dental reforms were introduced in Wales on April 1. The BDA says the changes were forced through without proper testing and have already led some practices to return NHS contracts or reduce their NHS commitment.

It is calling for a “safety net” for struggling practices, including a pause on implementation until 2027 while further improvements are worked up.

The association is also calling for a break from what it describes as chronic underfunding, better protection for vulnerable patients, and a change of tone from the next Welsh Government.

Russell Gidney, Chair of the BDA’s Welsh General Dental Practice Committee, said: “NHS dentistry in Wales was already in crisis, and without decisive action things are set to go from bad to worse.

“Untested reforms have already seen many dentists walk away from the NHS. Whoever forms the next government will need a plan to guarantee the future of this service.

“For voters facing access and cost of living crises dentistry matters. Political choices mean it is now a real concern on the doorstep – polling ahead of crime, education and even jobs as a top-flight issue facing Wales.

“Our message to all candidates and all parties is very clear: dentistry is on the ballot paper in this election. And the public will measure how you choose to respond.

“This is a service millions of voters depend on. Meaningful action will be rewarded. Complacency will be punished.”

The Welsh Government has defended its reforms, saying the new contract is designed to “make NHS dentistry more accessible, fairer and sustainable,” with a stronger focus on prevention and prioritising patients based on clinical need.

The YouGov survey of 1,092 Welsh adults was carried out between February 2 and February 9, 2026.