Health board admits waiting times remain too long as figures show more than 1,600 people awaiting hip replacements

PATIENTS undergoing elective hip replacement surgery under Hywel Dda University Health Board waited an average of 450 days during the 2025/26 financial year, newly released figures suggest.

The average wait was equivalent to 64.3 weeks, more than a year after patients were referred for treatment.

The figures were obtained through a Freedom of Information request submitted to the health board by private healthcare marketplace My Medical Gateway.

Hywel Dda also confirmed that 1,608 patients were on its waiting list for hip replacement surgery as of May 28, 2026.

A further 16 patients were removed from the waiting list during the financial year after choosing to undergo treatment privately.

The health board did not dispute the figures when approached by The Herald but said the current national “delivery expectation” was for orthopaedic patients to receive treatment within a maximum of 104 weeks.

This differs from the wider Welsh NHS referral-to-treatment targets, which state that 95% of patients should be treated within 26 weeks and no patient should wait longer than 36 weeks.

Gareth Cottrell, Deputy Chief Operating Officer at Hywel Dda University Health Board, acknowledged that patients were still waiting too long.

In an emailed statement to The Herald, he said: “In recent years, waiting times for orthopaedic treatment in Hywel Dda have been among the lowest of any health board in Wales, but we recognise that waiting times remain too long and the impact these have on our patients while awaiting the treatment they need.”

Mr Cottrell said the health board continued to provide dedicated wards and operating theatre capacity for elective orthopaedic surgery at Prince Philip Hospital in Llanelli and Bronglais Hospital in Aberystwyth.

Day-case surgical units were also being used across the health board’s hospital facilities.

He added: “We remain committed to improving waiting times and are working closely with our regional health board partners to maximise the treatment capacity we can offer patients across the wider South West Wales area.

“During the past year, we have appointed two additional surgeons to support our continuing efforts to reduce waiting times.”

Mr Cottrell said proposals to improve orthopaedic services had also formed part of the health board’s Clinical Services Plan consultation.

He said plans were being developed to increase capacity and help more patients receive the care they need.

Impact of prolonged waits

Hip replacement surgery is normally offered to patients experiencing severe pain, stiffness and reduced mobility after treatments such as physiotherapy, pain-relieving medication, injections and lifestyle changes have failed to provide sufficient relief.

Sara Gezdari, Head of Investor Relations at My Medical Gateway, said many patients were already struggling by the time surgery was recommended.

She said: “The true impact of waiting is measured not in weeks but in declining quality of life.”

She said prolonged waits could result in increasing pain, sleep disruption, reduced mobility, loss of independence, worsening mental health and greater dependence on relatives.

Patients whose work depends on physical mobility could also be forced to reduce their hours or leave employment altogether.

My Medical Gateway said private hip replacement surgery in the UK typically costs between £12,549 and £14,950.

The company, which connects UK patients with private hospitals in the European Union, said treatment offered by European providers could be cheaper and available within weeks.

However, patients considering treatment overseas would also need to consider travel, insurance, rehabilitation, follow-up care and the arrangements available should complications arise.

The Freedom of Information response was returned by Hywel Dda University Health Board on June 8, 2026.

A MAYDAY call sparked a major nighttime rescue after an 84-year-old man fell from a tender and was swept towards rocks near St Catherine’s Island in Tenby.

Both Tenby RNLI lifeboats were requested to launch shortly before 10.30pm on Friday, July 17, after the Coastguard received a distress call from a yacht anchored in North Bay.

The yacht’s crew reported seeing an elderly man who appeared to be in difficulty while attempting to return to his vessel in a small tender after spending time ashore in Tenby.

The all-weather lifeboat began searching between St Catherine’s Island and the North Highcliffe buoy, while the inshore lifeboat searched the waters beneath the Esplanade.

During the operation, the inshore lifeboat crew fired a white parachute flare to illuminate the area. The improved visibility allowed them to spot the tender, but when they reached it, they discovered it was empty.

The crew could then hear cries for help coming from the water.

A member of the public, Josh Dean, had rushed to the lifeboat station after seeing the tender being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s Island.

Using the information he provided, the lifeboat crews quickly located the man clinging to rocks at the island after he had fallen overboard in the strong current.

He was immediately taken aboard the lifeboat, warmed up and assessed for any urgent medical problems before being taken into Tenby Harbour.

The casualty was handed into the care of the Tenby Coastguard Rescue Team while an ambulance was requested. Due to high demand on the Welsh Ambulance Service, he was later taken into the lifeboat station to wait in warmth and safety.

Tenby RNLI said the information provided by Josh had saved valuable time during the search and helped crews locate the casualty more quickly.

A spokesperson said: “We would like to extend our sincere thanks to Josh Dean, who came to the lifeboat station to report seeing the casualty being carried by the current into the cave beneath St Catherine’s.

“The information Josh provided was invaluable. It undoubtedly saved valuable time during the search, helping our crews locate the casualty more quickly and ultimately contributing to saving his life.”

Motorist suffered head wounds and post-traumatic stress after van repeatedly swerved across motorway

A VAN driver who had cocaine, a cocaine by-product and Valium in his system sent two vehicles airborne after crashing into the back of a car on the M4.

Joseph Williams had been driving erratically along the westbound carriageway when his van struck a Kia Picanto travelling at around 64mph.

The collision left the Kia’s driver with wounds to the back of her head, extensive bruising and suspected bruising to her lungs.

Swansea Crown Court heard that the woman has since required trauma therapy and counselling and is continuing to struggle with the psychological effects of the crash.

Williams, aged 33, of Eaton Road, Brynhyfryd, Swansea, had previously admitted dangerous driving, three drug-driving offences and failing to surrender to court bail.

The court heard that police received several calls from members of the public on the night of September 5, 2025, reporting a van being driven dangerously between junction 37 at Pyle and junction 36 at Sarn.

Prosecutor Joseph Hocquard said the van repeatedly moved across all three lanes of the motorway, while its speed fluctuated between approximately 30mph and more than 80mph.

One witness, who had been travelling steadily at between 60mph and 65mph, reported being overtaken by Williams four times as he repeatedly accelerated and slowed down.

Williams was then seen moving from lane one across to lane three before returning to lane one and crashing into the rear of the Kia.

A motorist following the van described both vehicles being thrown into the air by the force of the impact.

Williams’ van overturned and came to rest on its side, leaving him trapped inside. Firefighters were called to release him from the vehicle.

A roadside drug test produced a positive result for cocaine, and further blood tests were carried out after Williams was taken to hospital.

The results showed he was almost five times the legal driving limit for benzoylecgonine, the main substance produced when cocaine is broken down by the body.

He was also above the legal limits for cocaine and diazepam, commonly known by the brand name Valium.

The driver of the Kia suffered two significant wounds to the back of her head as well as bruising across her body.

In a victim impact statement read to the court, she said she was receiving counselling and trauma therapy and faced the challenge of rebuilding her life each day.

Williams told the court he was “very sorry” for his behaviour and the impact it had caused. He said he had a seven-year-old daughter and was now subjected to weekly drug testing through his employment.

The court also heard that Williams failed to attend an initial hearing at Cardiff Magistrates’ Court, leading to a warrant being issued for his arrest. He later missed a further hearing at Swansea Magistrates’ Court.

Judge Catherine Richards said Williams had been highly impaired by drugs while carrying out a prolonged period of dangerous driving.

She said his selfish behaviour had subjected the other motorist to a terrifying experience and had caused a significant and lasting impact on her life.

Williams received an 11-month prison term for the driving offences and a consecutive one-week term for failing to surrender.

The custodial sentence was suspended for 12 months.

He was also ordered to complete a rehabilitation programme and carry out 200 hours of unpaid work.

Williams was disqualified from driving for three years and will have to pass an extended driving test before being allowed back on the road.