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Posted: Wed 14th Oct 2026
Updated: Wed 14th Oct
A Reform MS for Fflint Wrecsam has called on the Welsh Government to commit to publishing data on cross-border patient waiting times, after warning that thousands of patients could be falling through gaps in healthcare provision.
Nigel Williams MS told the Senedd on Tuesday that more than 13,000 Welsh patients are registered with English general practitioners, while over 20,000 English patients are registered with Welsh GPs.
He said the Health and Social Care Committee had heard evidence that patients can face different waiting time arrangements depending on which side of the border they are treated, that some are left chasing records and test results themselves, and that there are concerns Welsh patients could become invisible as the NHS in England restructures.
“With more than 13,000 Welsh patients registered with English general practitioners and over 20,000 English patients registered with Welsh GPs, what concrete assurances can you give that cross-border patients will not face longer waits, poorer co-ordination or unclear accountability when things go wrong?” Mr Williams asked First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth.
He pressed the First Minister to commit to publishing regular data on cross-border waiting times, complaints and patient outcomes.
First Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth said the Welsh Government is strengthening cross-border partnerships and working to improve information sharing between NHS Wales and NHS England.
“Patients in north-east Wales deserve timely, joined-up care, whichever side of the border provides it. We are strengthening cross-border partnerships, streamlining referrals and improving information sharing between NHS Wales and NHS England. Our aim is clear: better co-ordinated care, clear accountability and fewer avoidable delays, so patients receive the right treatment, in the right place, at the right time,” he said.
Mr ap Iorwerth outlined work on digital interoperability and improving the transfer of referrals, sharing of clinical records, test results and prescribing information.
He added: “We are working on improving the transfer of referrals, improving the sharing of clinical records, test results and prescribing information. Digital interoperability work is focused on making sure that care becomes safer, becomes more co-ordinated, reducing the need for patients to chase information and so on.
“In terms of those waiting times, the key thing is that it is the patients that we look after and make sure that we trace their journey through the NHS, wherever that treatment takes place, and for many patients, parts of their treatment will be in the north of Wales and parts of it will be in the north-west of England.”
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