Conservatives say ministers must be held to account as health chief confirms figures are not routinely available

CONSERVATIVE MS Andrew RT Davies has demanded Senedd ministers begin collecting and publishing data on “corridor care” in Welsh hospitals, after the Welsh Government confirmed it is not currently able to provide routine figures.

Mr Davies raised the issue in the Senedd during questions to Health Minister Jeremy Miles, asking whether information is being gathered on patients being cared for in corridors and, if so, how many people are affected.

Mr Miles told MSs the data is not currently available in a form that can be published routinely, but said the Welsh Government is “trialling approaches” which would put ministers in a position to provide regular publication.

The exchange comes amid ongoing concern across Wales about severe pressure in emergency departments and delays in moving patients into appropriate ward beds — a situation that can result in people waiting for treatment, assessment or admission in areas not designed for patient care.

The term “corridor care” is widely used to describe circumstances where patients receive care in inappropriate settings, often due to a lack of capacity elsewhere. Health bodies and staff representatives have warned that such conditions can affect privacy and dignity, make infection control harder, and place additional strain on staff working in already pressured environments.

Mr Davies said he had been contacted by constituents in the Vale of Glamorgan reporting what he described as unacceptable experiences in local hospitals, adding that frontline NHS staff should not be blamed.

He also linked the issue to wider spending priorities at the Senedd, claiming that services were under strain while ministers pursued other policies, including plans to expand the size of the Senedd and maintain a “Nation of Sanctuary” approach to asylum seekers.

Mr Davies said it was vital that corridor care data was collected and published so that the scale of the problem could be measured and ministers held to account.

Mr Davies said: “I’m frequently contacted by Vale constituents reporting unacceptable experiences in local hospitals.

“This is not the fault of NHS staff – but hospitals are underfunded thanks to resources instead going towards Plaid Cymru separatist and Labour plans for 36 more Senedd members and a Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers.

“We must end corridor care – and it’s vital this data is made available to hold Senedd ministers to account.”

In response, the Welsh Government position is that it is working on ways to standardise and publish information on corridor care, but that the data is not yet routinely available across the system.

Opposition parties and health campaigners have argued that without clear national reporting, it is harder for the public and Senedd members to understand how widespread the issue is, whether it is improving, and which hospitals are under the greatest pressure.

The Welsh Government has not yet set out when routine publication will begin, but ministers say the trial work is intended to enable regular reporting in future.

A COALITION representing women born in the 1950s has warned ministers it may launch a judicial review over what it claims is an unlawful and discriminatory approach to engagement on state pension age redress.

In “without prejudice save as to costs” pre-action correspondence sent to Pat McFadden MP and pensions minister Torsten Bell MP, organisers Jackie Gilderdale and Kay Clarke argue the Government has engaged exclusively with a single incorporated organisation while excluding other “materially affected and representative groups”, founders and legal advocates.

They say that limiting talks in this way is procedurally unfair, irrational and discriminatory, and that it breaches equality duties and public law principles of fairness and inclusivity. The campaigners also cite human rights obligations and international conventions relating to discrimination and access to effective remedies.

The group is demanding confirmation within 14 days that the Government will cease exclusive engagement with any single entity, open structured talks with all representative groups, disclose the criteria used to determine engagement to date, and agree to formal mediation under recent reforms to civil procedure and alternative dispute resolution.

The correspondence comes amid renewed political pressure over women’s state pension age changes and whether those affected should receive compensation for failures in how changes were communicated.

The Parliamentary and Health Service Ombudsman previously investigated complaints about the communication of changes to women’s state pension age. In a recent Commons exchange, Torsten Bell emphasised that the Ombudsman’s investigation focused on communication rather than the policy decisions themselves.

In November 2025, the Government said it would reconsider the earlier decision not to pay compensation following the Ombudsman’s findings. Campaigners say the way ministers now choose to consult and engage will be central to whether any resolution is seen as fair and credible.

The new letter also includes earlier correspondence asking for clarification about repeated references to “new evidence” in relation to the state pension age issue, and raises questions about Department for Work and Pensions expenditure connected to external engagement work. The writers say that if answers are not provided they may pursue Freedom of Information requests and seek further scrutiny through audit and parliamentary channels.

The campaigners also argue that any solution must be inclusive, claiming it is wrong for ministers to treat one organisation as the sole route for engagement when other groups say they hold significant evidence and represent materially affected women across the UK and in Wales.

The Department for Work and Pensions and the MPs named in the correspondence have been asked to comment.

Residents report low-flying aircraft and searchlight around 4:00am

RESIDENTS in Fishguard and Goodwick were woken in the early hours of Sunday (Jan 18) by the sound and sight of a search and rescue helicopter operating low over the area.

Multiple locals reported the aircraft circling from around 4:00am, with a powerful searchlight sweeping across the ground as it passed over the two towns and nearby coastline.

Witnesses said the helicopter appeared to focus on coastal locations including Marine Walk, sections of the Pembrokeshire Coast Path, Goodwick Parrog and the vicinity of Fishguard Harbour — all areas where incidents close to the sea can quickly require a specialist response.

The helicopter, widely believed to be an HM Coastguard rescue aircraft, remained active in the skies above the area for approximately an hour, with repeated circuits reported by residents.

At this stage, the reason for the deployment has not been confirmed. Such operations can be triggered by a range of concerns — from reports of missing people, potential swimmers or walkers in difficulty, vessels in distress, or precautionary searches following welfare concerns — but no official details have yet been released about the specific nature of this incident.

The Pembrokeshire Herald has contacted Dyfed-Powys Police and HM Coastguard for information and clarification. Updates will be published as soon as further details are confirmed.

(Pics: File images)