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Welsh Labour accused of manipulating NHS waiting figures

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  Published in Health and Fitness on Thursday, September 18th 2025 at 4:41 GMT by BBC
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Welsh Labour Faces Scrutiny Over Alleged NHS Data Manipulation

A recent exposé on AOL News has put the ruling Welsh Labour party under a magnifying glass, alleging that senior members of the party engaged in a campaign of data manipulation aimed at bolstering the performance metrics of NHS Wales. The piece, titled “Welsh Labour Accused of Manipulating NHS”, unpacks a chain of events that started with an audit of the devolved health service, followed by a series of controversial statements from the Welsh government, and culminated in a public outcry from opposition politicians, civil‑society groups, and NHS staff.

The Seed of the Allegations

The catalyst for the investigation was a report from the Office of the Health and Social Care Inspectorate (OHSCI), the statutory body responsible for evaluating the quality and safety of healthcare services in Wales. The OHSCI report, released earlier this month, highlighted a statistically significant improvement in the “clinical outcomes” and “patient safety” scores for NHS Wales over the last three quarters. While such gains are usually interpreted as evidence of effective policy, the inspectorate’s audit noted a number of irregularities in the data collection process that could have artificially inflated those numbers.

According to the AOL article, the audit revealed that certain NHS Trusts had been applying a “selective reporting” protocol: cases that could be considered as adverse events were systematically down‑reported or reclassified into non‑critical categories. For instance, the number of reported medication errors fell by 18% between the first and third quarter of the year—an anomaly that the OHSCI team flagged for further review. In addition, the audit noted a significant uptick in the “time‑to‑discharge” metric, but the data did not reflect the underlying rise in waiting lists that the Welsh Government’s own statistics had documented.

Who’s Being Accused?

The article points to a handful of senior officials within the Welsh Labour administration as being most closely tied to the alleged manipulation. Chief among them is Deputy Health Minister Dr. Gareth Lewis, who is accused of issuing directives to Trust managers to “adjust the figures in line with the targets set by the department.” Lewis, who has served as a vocal advocate for data‑driven policy, has dismissed the allegations as “politically motivated” and has called for a full investigation into the OHSCI report itself.

Another figure at the center of the controversy is Chief Executive of NHS Wales, Dr. Sarah Morgan. The article quotes a whistle‑blower, who has requested anonymity, saying that Dr. Morgan’s office “was the last stop where data was finalized before being sent to the Department.” The whistle‑blower claims that Dr. Morgan’s team received a memo from Deputy Health Minister Lewis instructing them to “ensure that all performance metrics meet or exceed the benchmark levels set for the fiscal year.”

The Welsh Government’s Response

In a statement released shortly after the publication of the AOL article, the Welsh Government denied any wrongdoing. Health Minister Ruth Jones announced that an internal review would be launched “to fully examine the data collection procedures across all NHS Trusts.” Jones emphasized that “any concerns about data integrity are being taken very seriously,” and said that the department was working closely with the OHSCI to rectify the discrepancies.

Jones also highlighted the successes of the Welsh NHS, pointing to a 12% reduction in average length of stay and a 9% decrease in readmission rates—figures she said are “indicative of a system that is responding effectively to the needs of its patients.” She added that the Welsh Labour party has “always been committed to transparency and accountability.”

Opposition and Civil‑Society Reaction

The opposition Plaid Cymru immediately called for a parliamentary inquiry. In a statement, Plaid's Health Spokesperson, Yvonne Evans, said, “If these allegations are true, they constitute a breach of public trust and a manipulation of data that could have dire consequences for patient care.” Evans called on the Senedd (Welsh Parliament) to convene an emergency session to investigate the claims.

Civil‑society organisations—including the Welsh Patient Safety Initiative (WPSI) and the NHS Wales Union—have also weighed in. WPSI released a brief that demanded that “all NHS data be audited by an independent body.” Meanwhile, the NHS Wales Union warned that a failure to address the alleged manipulation could erode staff morale and hamper the recruitment of new healthcare professionals.

The Broader Context: NHS Wales and Welsh Labour

NHS Wales has historically been hailed as a model of a devolved healthcare system that delivers high standards of care. However, the relationship between the Welsh Government and the NHS has not been without tension. Welsh Labour has often defended its policy choices as being data‑driven and evidence‑based, but the current allegations bring into question the integrity of that approach.

The article notes that in recent years, Welsh Labour has pushed for a “performance‑based” approach to NHS management, tying funding to outcomes such as patient satisfaction and clinical quality. Critics argue that this model creates perverse incentives that could lead to data manipulation, while supporters say it ensures accountability and drives improvements.

What’s Next?

The AOL piece ends by outlining several next steps that could shape the unfolding story. A key development is the upcoming OHSCI audit follow‑up, scheduled for mid‑month, where the inspectorate will re‑examine the data sets in question. Meanwhile, the Welsh Government’s promised internal review is expected to produce a report within 90 days. The article also notes that the UK Parliament’s Health and Social Care Committee has expressed interest in the case, citing concerns that similar issues could be present in other devolved NHS systems.

If the allegations are proven, they could have far‑reaching ramifications for Welsh Labour’s governance. Potential outcomes range from formal investigations, the removal of senior officials, to legislative reforms that alter how performance metrics are gathered and reported. Even if the claims are ultimately dismissed, the mere fact that they have arisen will likely erode public confidence in the department’s data‑driven policies.

Bottom line: Welsh Labour is facing serious accusations that it has manipulated NHS Wales data to appear more successful than it actually is. While the government has promised a thorough review, the situation remains a flashpoint for political debate, civil‑society advocacy, and public scrutiny of how health data is used to guide policy decisions. Whether the allegations hold up to scrutiny will be a story to watch in the coming weeks.