More than 9,000 people in Wales are waiting for specialist psychological therapies, with almost half waiting longer than six months

MORE than 9,000 people with moderate to severe mental health conditions are waiting to access specialist psychological therapies in Wales, according to new figures obtained by Mind Cymru.

The charity says the number of people waiting for treatment is now at its highest level since the Covid-19 pandemic.

Freedom of Information data gathered from all seven local health boards shows that, as of December 2025, almost half of those waiting, around 47%, had been on the list for longer than 26 weeks.

Mind Cymru said more than 4,300 people had been waiting more than six and a half months for specialist psychological therapies by December 2025.

That figure has almost doubled since March 2024, when 2,305 people were waiting more than 26 weeks.

The charity is now calling on the Welsh Government to make mental health a priority during the next Senedd term, with a focus on reducing waiting times and improving early access to support.

Aled Edwards, from Bangor, said he was told he faced a two-year wait to see a psychologist as an outpatient at a mental health hospital near his home, despite experiencing depression and suicidal thoughts.

The father-of-two was instead placed on a list to see a psychiatrist in the hope he could access support more quickly, but said it still took another 18 months before he finally received the help he needed.

Aled, who was later diagnosed with a male form of post-natal depression, said: “This was at a point in my life where I had already tried to take my own life and I was considering trying again, so this time I went to ask for help instead.

“I was experiencing some really dark thoughts and I was desperate for support.

“When I did get to see a psychiatrist, they left their job after three sessions and I went back into the system to wait for a further six months before starting trauma therapy with another doctor.

“Finding the skills to cope with the kind of intrusive thoughts I was having in the meantime was really hard, and I feel fortunate that I had the means to access private counselling support to keep me going during that period, where so many others might not.”

Mind Cymru has requested the same waiting list data from local health boards three times since 2020, as part of its campaign for improved access to specialist psychological therapies in Wales.

Its original Too Long To Wait report called for more investment in specialist psychological therapies, stronger governance around how local health boards collect and submit waiting time data, and for the figures to be made publicly available.

The charity says those recommendations remain relevant, but that urgent action is now also needed to transform the mental health system so people can access support earlier.

Simon Jones, Head of Policy and Campaigns at Mind Cymru, said the findings showed that mental health must be a central priority for the Welsh Government.

He said: “There’s clearly a very real and growing need for increasing numbers of people to receive specialist psychological support for their mental health in Wales.

“These are people living with moderate, severe and enduring mental health conditions, and those most in need of support.

“That so many are waiting too long to access therapies is placing further demand on a system already under pressure, and there’s a need for significant investment to be made at all levels to help people access the support they need, when they need it.

“With plans already in place to transform Wales’ mental health system and help deliver open access care, we need now to ensure these plans are prioritised and invested in so that we can start to see that positive impact as soon as possible.

“No one should be waiting longer than six months for support with a serious mental health issue. With this in mind, Mind Cymru is calling on the new Welsh Government to make mental health a priority across the next Senedd term.”

Specialist psychological therapies are structured, evidence-based treatments delivered by trained clinicians for specific mental health conditions or complex psychological needs.

They include therapies such as Cognitive Behavioural Therapy, Eye Movement Desensitisation and Reprocessing, Cognitive Analytic Therapy and Dynamic Interpersonal Therapy.

Ministers say health boards and councils must act now to ease pressure on hospitals, ambulances and social care before winter

THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has told NHS Wales and social care partners to start planning earlier for winter, after a difficult year for emergency care and recent heatwave pressure on ambulance services.

Health and Care Minister Mabon ap Gwynfor said the aim was to make ambulance, emergency department and hospital services safer and more resilient during the colder months, while also recognising that pressure on the NHS is no longer confined to winter.

The announcement will be closely watched in west Wales, where Hywel Dda University Health Board runs Withybush, Glangwili, Bronglais and Prince Philip hospitals.

Latest published figures show Hywel Dda performing better than the Wales average on emergency department waits in May, with 66.5% of patients admitted, transferred or discharged within four hours and 9.9% waiting more than 12 hours. However, the health board remains well short of the Welsh Government’s 95% four-hour target, and therapy waiting times in Hywel Dda were worse than the Wales average.

Across Wales, 64.4% of patients attending emergency departments in May spent less than four hours there, while 11,066 patients waited 12 hours or more. Official figures also showed more than 1,300 “pathway of care” delays on the day data was collected, meaning patients were clinically ready to leave hospital but were still waiting for the right care, support or accommodation.

The Welsh Government says this year’s winter plan will focus on five key areas: preventing illness through improved vaccination uptake, keeping more people well at home, freeing up hospital beds through better infection control and earlier discharge, helping patients leave hospital safely when they are ready, and keeping services running under pressure while supporting staff.

An expansion of the RSV vaccine to people aged over 65 who are clinically at risk will begin in September. Ministers also want stronger uptake of vaccination among people at greatest risk, NHS and care staff, and children.

A new communications campaign is also being developed to help people understand where to go for care, so that emergency departments and ambulances are preserved for those with the most serious needs.

Mr ap Gwynfor said: “Our fantastic NHS and social care staff worked incredibly hard last winter, and we are being clear with health boards and partners more needs to be done.

“Last winter was tough. Too many people waited too long for the care they needed, and that’s not good enough. Early planning and action are key, and I’ve also asked officials to begin planning now so we’re better prepared for the winters ahead.

“I am also clear that this is not just a winter challenge. The recent period of extreme heat is a clear reminder that pressures and risk can arise at any time of year.

“Our ambition is simple: safe services all year round that protect ambulance and hospital capacity for those who really need them, ensuring people get the right care, in the right place, at the right time.”

The statement follows renewed concern from emergency medicine doctors about long waits and so-called corridor care. The Royal College of Emergency Medicine has warned that poor patient flow, delayed discharges and a lack of inpatient beds are leaving too many patients stuck in emergency departments for long periods.

The British Medical Association in Wales has also called for clearer recording and reporting of corridor care, arguing that without better data it is harder to understand the scale of the problem and hold decision-makers to account.

There was a further warning last week when the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical incident during the extreme heat. The service said 999 call volumes had risen by 31% compared with two weeks earlier, with around 400 additional emergency calls a day. The critical incident was later stood down, but ambulance chiefs said demand remained high.

The political test for the Plaid-led Welsh Government will be whether early planning can translate into visible improvements by winter. Health boards and councils will be expected to work together more closely, but many of the problems ministers are trying to solve depend on social care capacity, staffing, available beds and community services.

For patients and families in Pembrokeshire, Carmarthenshire and Ceredigion, the key question will be whether the plan leads to shorter ambulance waits, fewer long delays in A&E, and quicker support for people well enough to return home from hospital.

THE WELSH AMBULANCE SERVICE has announced changes to the way it assesses eligibility for its Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service (NEPTS), saying the move is needed to cope with increasing demand and ensure support is available for those who need it most.

The service, which provides transport to and from healthcare appointments for patients who are unable to travel independently because of their medical condition or mobility needs, is introducing a more consistent approach to applying Welsh Government eligibility criteria.

In a statement released on Tuesday (July 1), the trust said it was also improving the way patient journeys are planned and managed, with the aim of reducing short-notice cancellations and making the service more reliable for eligible patients.

The announcement comes just days after the Welsh Ambulance Service declared a critical incident following a significant rise in demand across its emergency services, highlighting the wider pressures facing healthcare transport across Wales.

The trust said the eligibility criteria themselves are not changing, but assessments will be carried out more consistently to ensure limited resources are directed towards patients with the greatest need.

A spokesperson said: “We’re strengthening how we assess eligibility for our non-emergency patient transport to help ensure support is available for those who need it most.

“Due to increasing demand, we are applying Welsh Government eligibility criteria more consistently and improving how journeys are planned and managed. Our aim is to reduce short-notice cancellations and provide a more reliable service for eligible patients.”

Patients who currently use the service may notice additional questions or checks when transport is booked or reviewed.

The Non-Emergency Patient Transport Service is separate from the 999 ambulance service and is primarily used by patients attending regular hospital appointments, dialysis, cancer treatment and other healthcare services where independent travel is not possible.

The Welsh Ambulance Service is encouraging anyone concerned about their eligibility or transport arrangements to contact the service for further information.

The changes are expected to be rolled out across Wales over the coming months.