NHS staff in Wales may have put their health at risk during the Covid-19 pandemic by treating patients without adequate personal protective equipment (PPE), former health minister Vaughan Gething has admitted.

Giving evidence to the Covid inquiry, Gething acknowledged significant challenges in distributing PPE despite assurances that national-level supplies were maintained. He revealed that stocks of key items ran out far quicker than anticipated, with some equipment deemed unfit for purpose and discarded.

“There were some very real challenges,” Gething said, noting that gloves, expected to last 15 weeks, were depleted within 11 days. Aprons and other essentials soon became critical concerns. He also condemned opportunistic profiteering during the crisis, calling some suppliers “shysters” who exploited global demand to sell inadequate equipment.

The Welsh Conservatives described the revelations as “completely unacceptable” for NHS staff, while Plaid Cymru accused the Labour-led Welsh Government of “significantly letting down” frontline workers.

The inquiry also heard of chaotic conditions in some hospitals. An email from a consultant at Prince Charles Hospital in March 2020 described a dire situation, with staff lacking protection, low morale, and masks unavailable.

In some instances, healthcare workers resorted to makeshift solutions, including wearing bin bags or purchasing their own safety gear. Trade unions highlighted that schools even stepped in to produce masks and hand sanitiser for local health services.

When asked whether healthcare workers treated Covid-19 patients with inadequate PPE during the first wave, Gething replied, “I’m afraid that’s possible.”

Decisions under pressure

The session also addressed difficult decisions made during the pandemic. Evidence was presented that some patients with little chance of survival were not admitted to critical care due to limited space.

“It’s very upsetting to read,” Gething said, acknowledging the heartbreaking choices faced by medical teams, though he claimed to be unaware of specific instances.

Gething, who served as health minister until May 2021, conceded that delays in tackling hospital-acquired infections could have contributed to the challenges. He admitted he might have acted earlier in forming a task group to address the issue, which worsened during the second wave.

First Minister reflects on birthing partner rules

Current First Minister Eluned Morgan also testified, reflecting on delayed decisions to allow birthing partners in hospitals during the pandemic.

Morgan, who succeeded Gething as health minister in May 2021, acknowledged that guidance was not updated until May 2022, more than a year after England implemented similar changes.

“If I had my time again, that’s one of the things I definitely would have changed,” Morgan said, calling the delay regrettable for new parents.

She also defended the decision not to launch a national investigation into hospital-acquired infections, citing extensive reviews conducted by health boards. However, Morgan acknowledged shortcomings in resuming routine surgery and criticised poor management at some facilities.

The inquiry continues to examine decisions made by Welsh ministers and NHS leaders during the pandemic, focusing on lessons learned to prevent similar issues in future crises.

SENEDD Members quizzed Wales’ health secretary about long NHS waits amid concerns about health boards getting the “green light” to commission private sector services.

Jeremy Miles, who was appointed health secretary in September, told the Senedd an extra £22m, on top of £28m announced last month, will go to tackling the longest NHS waits.

In a statement on November 19, Mr Miles said the £50m will be made available to health boards immediately and “where necessary” will be spent on private hospital capacity.

Mabon ap Gwynfor, his Plaid Cymru opposite number, raised concerns about privatisation.

He said: “We have yet another example of the government having to absorb added costs from their mismanagement of existing NHS capacity, something we’ve seen before with respect to the spiralling bills associated with agency staffing.

“From a broader perspective, this also speaks to the false economy on which the government’s funding of the health service has been based for some time, which is to throw money at the front line without dealing with the issues upstream.”

Mr ap Gwynfor pointed to a backdrop of two-year waiting time targets being dropped by the Welsh Government, with one in five people now on a waiting list.

He said: “Back in September, the solution … was to offer treatments in England. By October, the solution was to pay £28m to tackle waiting lists. Now we’re in November, the solution is to increase that £28m to £50m. I wonder what the next statement will be next month.”

Mr ap Gwynfor said the £50m will not be used to address a recruitment and retention crisis, nor boost student placements on medical training courses following an “alarming” slump.

The Dwyfor Meirionnydd Senedd member, who published a report on NHS governance earlier the same day, asked how much will go to private providers.

But Sam Rowlands, the Tories’ shadow health secretary, welcomed ministers “encouraging” health boards to commission services from the private sector.

He said: “I’m not sure if some of your colleagues will approve of that but it’s something we’ve long called for: cross-sector collaboration to tackle waiting lists here in Wales.”

The North Wales representative raised concerns about a “staggering” 619,200 patients awaiting treatment, with 24,000 people waiting two years compared with 124 in England.

Warning of systemic failure, Mr Rowlands said: “The 95% target for patients spending less than four hours in A&E in Wales has never been met. The 95% target of patients waiting fewer than 26 weeks in Wales hasn’t been met in more than 10 years.

“The 75% target for cancer patients to start treatment within 62 days of cancer being suspected has never been met in Wales.”

Mr Miles cautioned against cross-border comparisons, saying waiting time measures in England are “very much narrower” than in Wales.

He said the £50m will see 16,000 more people treated, an extra 14,000 tests carried out and up to 20,000 more outpatient appointments by March 2025.

Mr Miles told the Senedd that £3m will go towards reducing the longest waits for autism and ADHD assessments amid exponential growth in demand.

He said: “In six months alone, waiting lists for neurodevelopmental assessments have increased by more than 2,000. Assessments can be complex and reductions to the waiting lists have been quickly subsumed by new referrals.”

The health secretary recognised that short-term measures will be insufficient on their own, stressing: “I have been clear with the NHS: we need to transform the way we deliver services while we focus on clearing the backlog. Our funding is intended to support this.”

FIRST Minister Eluned Morgan is set to announce an additional £22 million to tackle NHS waiting lists, bringing the total funding commitment to £50 million in a bid to address the longest delays in NHS Wales.

The announcement will form a key part of her speech at the Welsh Labour Conference on Saturday in Llandudno, marking her first as Welsh Labour Leader. Morgan will emphasise the strength of partnership between the Welsh and UK Labour Governments, showcasing their shared commitment to delivering for the people of Wales.

The funding pledge comes two weeks after Rachel Reeves unveiled a historic £21 billion funding settlement for the Welsh Government—the largest since devolution. Drawing on her summer listening tour, where she engaged with thousands across Wales, Morgan will declare: “I’ve listened, I’ve heard, I’m making it happen.”

Focus on NHS and Green Growth

During her tour, the First Minister heard the pride people feel for the Welsh NHS and its workforce, as well as the importance of safeguarding its future. Today’s funding boost underscores Welsh Labour’s commitment to addressing key issues, distinguishing it as the only party serious about governance and delivery.

In addition to NHS investment, Morgan will highlight her administration’s ambitions for green jobs and growth. Five new renewable energy projects are set to be unveiled, alongside plans to streamline infrastructure planning by 12 weeks—a move aimed at accelerating progress in Wales. These initiatives are expected to create hundreds of skilled jobs, reinforcing Labour’s commitment to a greener, more prosperous future.

Conservative Perspective on NHS Wales

The Welsh Conservatives have expressed concerns regarding the current state of NHS Wales. They have highlighted issues such as prolonged waiting lists and underfunding, attributing these challenges to longstanding Labour governance. In a recent statement, the Welsh Conservatives emphasized the need for increased investment and support for NHS staff, proposing the establishment of an NHS Covenant to guarantee such commitments.

Additionally, the Welsh Conservatives have criticized the Labour Government for not allocating the full Barnett consequential funding to the Welsh NHS, arguing that this shortfall has exacerbated existing challenges within the health service.

Delivering for Wales

The Conference will celebrate the achievements of the Welsh Labour Government while setting out its future priorities. From tackling NHS challenges to driving renewable energy development, the event will demonstrate Morgan’s focus on the issues that matter most to the people of Wales.

Eluned Morgan’s speech is expected to reaffirm Welsh Labour’s ambition to lead with purpose, listening to the public and working closely with the UK Labour Government to deliver tangible results.