Wales has too many hospitals, says Mark Drakeford

The Welsh Conservatives have highlighted a lack of hospital beds in recent exchanges in the Senedd, leading to angry clashes between Millar and Morgan.

On 7 January Millar told MSs that the number of beds in the Welsh NHS had fallen by over 20% since 2010 and accused Morgan and her Labour predecessors of promising to build new hospitals but failing to deliver.

Morgan replied that Millar did not understand the issue and that “a lot of people” were in beds who should not be there because of a lack of social care.

On Tuesday this week, the issue of NHS beds came up again after a report from the Royal College of Nursing on the treatment of patients in hospital corridors, which Millar said cited beds as a problem over 500 times.

The first minister said that Wales had more beds per head of population than England.

Welsh Conservative shadow health secretary James Evans said Drakeford’s words on the podcast highlighted “Labour’s disconnect after 26 years in power”.

“Our NHS is bogged down by excessive bureaucracy and bloated management,” said Evans.

“It’s time for fundamental reform to prioritise patient care and fix our NHS.”

Plaid Cymru health and social care spokesperson Mabon ap Gwynfor said: “On the day when waiting lists hit record highs again, a senior Labour cabinet member is making the case for less NHS resources.

“It’s a staggering reflection of Labour’s attitude towards staff and patients and how the first minister’s so-called listening exercise was a PR stunt.”