Health

Patients in Wales waiting years for autoimmune diagnosis

Published

41 seconds ago

April 19, 2026

Study led by Swansea University says long delays, limited specialist access and referral barriers are leaving some patients worse off than those elsewhere in the UK

PEOPLE in Wales with autoimmune and rheumatological conditions are facing long waits for diagnosis, poor access to specialist care and repeated obstacles when trying to secure treatment outside their local area, according to new research.

The study, led by Swansea University, examined the experiences of patients with illnesses including lupus and other autoimmune disorders. It drew on interviews, survey findings and Freedom of Information responses from health boards across Wales.

Researchers found that specialist provision remains limited in some parts of the country. Some patients reported having no access to a lupus specialist in their area, while FOI responses indicated there is only one NHS neuro-ophthalmologist in Wales for patients with neurological or visual problems linked to autoimmune disease.

The report also highlighted a lack of diagnostic services. None of the Welsh health boards that responded said they currently provide nailfold capillaroscopy, a test used to help identify conditions such as scleroderma.

Diagnosis in rheumatology can also be difficult because many of the conditions involved are complex and may develop gradually over time. Illnesses such as ankylosing spondylitis can be mistaken in the early stages for more common causes of pain, while autoimmune disorders often present with symptoms that overlap with other conditions.

Patients may require a combination of investigations before a diagnosis can be confirmed, including HLA-B27 testing, routine blood work, MRI scans, X-rays and detailed clinical assessment. Doctors also rely heavily on patient interviews to build up a picture of pain, stiffness, mobility and the wider pattern of symptoms.

There have also been local pressures on services in west Wales. At Withybush Hospital, delays were caused after the departure of a specialist consultant, and it took some time for that post to be filled. That consultant has now been replaced. However, it is understood the workload remained heavy, with the specialist working through a backlog of cases.

In some cases, patients may also feel rheumatology is treated as a lower-profile service. At Withybush Hospital, for example, the department has been based in a portacabin in the hospital car park, which it shares with the lymphoedema service — a setting that can give the impression that two important but often overlooked specialties are being accommodated on the margins of the wider hospital system.

Rheumatology also places a significant burden on the NHS because of the cost of long-term treatment and follow-up care, although that is not the main focus of the study. Biological drugs used to treat conditions such as rheumatoid arthritis and ankylosing spondylitis can cost around £500 for a pack of four injections, according to local hospital sources. Patients on those medications often also require regular blood monitoring, consultant reviews, specialist nurse support and physiotherapy. The Herald understands that more than 1,000 patients in Pembrokeshire are currently being managed through this treatment pathway.

Researchers said patients were also being held back by the referral system. Under current NHS Wales rules, doctors must apply to their local health board for permission to send patients for treatment outside the area or across the border into England. The study said decision-making around those requests was often inconsistent and unfair.

One patient with systemic lupus erythematosus told researchers he waited two years for approval to be referred to England, despite believing the process should only have taken weeks.

The study found that patients in Wales often face longer journeys to diagnosis than elsewhere in the UK. In the sample reviewed by researchers, the average time from first symptoms to diagnosis was around 11 years, compared with around seven years across the UK.

Patients described the effect those delays had on their health. One woman in her 30s said requests to see a specialist in a neighbouring health board had been turned down, and that her lupus had worsened as a result. Another patient said access to care became more difficult after moving from England to Wales.

The research was led by Rupert Harwood of Swansea University Medical School, who himself lives with several autoimmune conditions.

His own experience reflects the wider concerns raised in the report. After developing visual symptoms in 2016, he was advised to see a neuro-ophthalmologist, but no such service was then available in Wales. A referral to England was not successfully made until 2025, and he is still waiting for an appointment.

Mr Harwood said the present system can leave patients at a disadvantage if they cannot afford to seek private treatment outside Wales.

The study concludes that while NHS Wales rheumatology teams provide high-quality care, patients in Wales face additional barriers compared with those in England.

Researchers are calling for a review of the out-of-area referral system, better access to specialist services and greater investment in diagnostic testing to reduce delays and improve outcomes.

Health

Lib Dems vow to keep Palantir out of Welsh public services

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Party says it would use its influence in the next Senedd to block any move to bring the firm into the NHS or government systems in Wales

THE Welsh Liberal Democrats have pledged to use their influence in the next Senedd to keep controversial technology firm Palantir out of Wales’ NHS and wider public services.

The party said it would oppose any attempt to introduce the company into Welsh Government systems, citing concerns over data security, transparency and Palantir’s wider links to military and intelligence work.

The move comes amid increasing scrutiny of Palantir’s £300m contract with NHS England and reports that UK ministers are considering whether to activate a break clause.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats said Wales must not follow what they described as a risky approach to the handling of sensitive public data.

A debate on the issue is due to be led in Westminster today by Liberal Democrat MP Martin Wrigley.

The party said it supported better data integration to improve patient care and help reduce waiting times, but argued that this should not come at the expense of public trust or national security.

Instead, the Lib Dems are calling for investment in what they describe as trusted and transparent alternatives, including British-based providers, to modernise digital infrastructure without raising concerns over foreign influence or the handling of personal data.

The party also said that, in a finely balanced Senedd, it would use its votes to block any effort to bring Palantir into Welsh public services.

It warned that once contracts involving critical digital systems are signed, they can be difficult to reverse, and said ministers in Wales should take a precautionary approach now rather than try to solve problems later.

Commenting, Welsh Liberal Democrat Westminster spokesperson David Chadwick MP said: “People across Wales will rightly be asking why a controversial foreign tech company with links to military and intelligence operations is being trusted with something as sensitive as our health data.

“The Welsh Liberal Democrats are clear: Palantir should be nowhere near our NHS or our public services. Trust in how data is handled is absolutely fundamental, and once that trust is lost, it is incredibly difficult to rebuild.

“In the next Senedd, we will use our votes to make sure this company is kept out of Wales. There can be no compromise when it comes to protecting people’s personal information and safeguarding our national security.

“We all want to see better joined-up care, shorter waiting lists and a modern NHS fit for the future. But that must be delivered in a way that puts patients first, not by handing over the keys to organisations that many people simply do not trust.

“Wales should be leading the way in building secure, transparent digital systems that the public can have confidence in, not going down a path that risks undermining that trust.”

Health

Tracy’s firewalk raises £528 for Withybush rheumatology unit

Published

3 days ago

April 16, 2026

Tom Sinclair

Long-serving staff member and patient took on 800°C embers to give back to service that has supported her family for years

A MEMBER of staff at Withybush Hospital has raised £528 for Rheumatology Services after taking part in Hywel Dda Health Charities’ firewalk challenge.

Tracy Beynon, who has worked at Withybush for 23 years and has also been a rheumatology patient for 20 years, took part in the barefoot walk across 800°C embers in October to support the department.

She said she had always wanted to try a firewalk and jumped at the chance to do one for her local health board.

Tracy said: “Over the years, I have done some wild things to raise money for various charities, including shaving my head after a Six Nations rugby match 11 years ago.

“Rheumatology have looked after many generations of my family throughout the years, and I wanted to try and give something back to help the team and the patients they serve.

“I was stunned by how much money I raised. After I put a video on TikTok, I had a number of donations from people I have never even met. I will forever be thankful to my friends and family for supporting all of my mad fundraising ideas.”

Katie Hancock, Fundraising Officer for Hywel Dda Health Charities, said: “A huge thank you to Tracy for showing her support to the service that has taken such good care of her for so long.

“The generous charitable donations we receive do not replace NHS funding. Instead, they support additional items and activities outside core NHS expenditure. These small extras make a big difference, and we are so grateful for every donation we receive.”

Hywel Dda Health Charities said donations help provide added items and activities for local NHS patients and staff beyond core NHS spending.

For more information about the charity and how to support local NHS services, visit the Hywel Dda Health Charities website.

Business

BPCA calls for stronger action to protect Welsh homes from pests

Published

1 week ago

April 10, 2026

Richard Lewis

AHEAD of the Senedd elections in May, British Pest Control Association (BPCA) is calling on the next Welsh Government to do more to protect people in Wales from preventable pest problems in their homes.

In its new manifesto for public health pest management in Wales, the national trade body says no one should have to live with rats, cockroaches, flies or other pests because of poor housing conditions, slow repairs or inadequate waste management.

Housing, public health and environmental regulation are devolved to the Senedd.

BPCA is urging Welsh policymakers to make sure protections against pest problems apply to all renters, not just those in social housing.

The Association warned that pests in homes are not just a nuisance and can pose a risk to health.

Rodents can spread diseases, including leptospirosis, salmonella and listeria, while also causing damage by gnawing pipes and wiring. Cockroaches, flies, and other insects can spread pathogens, contaminate food and damage belongings.

Rosina Robson, Chief Exec of the British Pest Control Association (BPCA), said: “Too many people are still being left to deal with pest problems that could and should have been prevented.

“Where there are building defects, poor waste management or delays to repairs, infestations can quickly take hold. That has a real impact on people’s health, well-being, and quality of life.

“It should not matter whether someone lives in social housing, private rented housing or temporary accommodation. The risks posed by pests are the same, and the protections should be too.

“We want the next Welsh Government to recognise the danger pests pose in people’s homes and make sure everyone in Wales has the right to live in a decent home that is protected from avoidable infestations.”

BPCA’s manifesto calls on the next Welsh Government to:

Recognise the danger that pests pose to the health and well-being of tenants
Ensure protections for all renters, including people living in social rented, private rented and temporary accommodation
Back a stronger public health approach to pest management in Wales.

The manifesto also highlights the wider role of professional pest management in protecting public health, food supply chains and the built environment across Wales.

BPCA says tackling pests properly means more than responding once an infestation has taken hold. Landlords and property managers also need to act on the advice of pest professionals, including improving communal waste disposal, repairing defects in buildings and addressing the conditions that allow pests to thrive.

Niall Gallagher, BPCA’s Technical Manager, added: “We wouldn’t accept pest activity in places such as factories or restaurants where food is prepared, and people should not be expected to put up with the same risks in their own homes.

“This is about prevention, public health and basic standards. Wales has an opportunity to lead the way and make sure fewer people are left living in misery because of pests.”

BPCA’s full manifesto, A manifesto for public health pest management in Wales, is available from the Association’s website.