Tackling Welsh NHS waiting lists: the role of anaesthesia

Wales faces the most severe anaesthetist shortage in the UK – 17% below what is needed to meet demand – preventing around 90,000 operations and procedures from taking place each year.  

In our manifesto, Tackling Welsh NHS waiting lists: the role of anaesthesia, we urge political parties ahead of the 2026 Senedd elections to take action on waiting lists by funding more doctors to train as anaesthetists. There are over 794,000 people waiting for hospital treatment in Wales and most operations cannot take place without an anaesthetist.  

We are also calling on the next Welsh Government to prevent more anaesthetists from leaving the NHS by improving working conditions and to invest in measures to improve the care patients receive before and after surgery – an approach proven to improve NHS efficiency and patient outcomes. 

Fund more anaesthetic training posts 

• Wales has around 430 consultant and 150 SAS (specialist, associate specialist and specialty) anaesthetists – 17% below what is needed.
• Competition from doctors is high: In August 2025, 6,700 doctors competed for just 532 core anaesthetic training posts across England and Wales, with only 26 posts in Wales.
• Funding is needed to enable more doctors to train as anaesthetists as part of a comprehensive workforce plan for the NHS in Wales.   

Retain the existing workforce 

• Nearly one in five anaesthetists in Wales expect to leave the NHS within five years, with a further 20% unsure.  
• The next Welsh Government must stop anaesthetists leaving by engaging constructively on pay issues and enabling more flexible working hours and support for career progression.    

Unlock NHS productivity in Wales 

• Nearly 90,000 surgical procedures are postponed in Wales each year, often because patients have unaddressed conditions such as diabetes or anaemia or are in poor health due to smoking, inadequate nutrition or lack of appropriate exercise. These postponements are separate from the estimated 90,000 operations and procedures that could be scheduled if there were enough anaesthetists to meet demand – the numbers are similar, but they refer to different issues.   
• Anaesthetists can help by leading numerous interventions before and after surgery, such as early screening services to assess patients’ health as soon as they join the waiting list and managing support services to help them prepare for surgery.  
• The RCoA recommends establishing an ‘NHS Efficiencies Transformation Fund’ to help health boards get services off the ground and modernise digital systems across the Welsh NHS.   

Dr Claire Shannon, President of the Royal College of Anaesthetists, said:  

“The anaesthetic workforce shortage in Wales is the most severe in the UK and it is preventing tens of thousands of patients from receiving the surgery they need each year. Without urgent action, the situation will only get worse.  

“We are calling on the next Welsh Government to expand anaesthetic training posts and publish a credible workforce plan. Unless Wales invests in its anaesthetic workforce now, patients will continue to face record waiting lists and staff morale will fall even further.”  

James Williams-James, Royal College of Anaesthetists PatientsVoices Welsh Board Member, said: 

 “My journey of the past 15 years, marked by numerous hospitalisations, surgeries, and anaesthetics, has been a testament to the challenges of living with multiple health conditions. This personal struggle has deepened my understanding and appreciation of the crucial role anaesthetists play in patient care. They are not just professionals in the operating theatre, but also our guides in the pre-surgery phase, ensuring the best possible outcomes and smooth recovery. 

“Having experienced firsthand the detrimental effects of surgery delays, I can attest to the physical, mental, and emotional toll it takes. These delays not only pause our lives but also put our well-being at risk, leading to even more challenging complications. I firmly believe that investing in our anaesthetic workforce is not only a moral imperative but also a sound economic decision. Let’s ensure our healthcare system is robust, compassionate, and prepared for the future.”