Podiatry Waiting Times are Totally Unacceptable

12.00.00am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 25th Sep 2006

Research by the Welsh Liberal Democrats has revealed that in July 2006, 2,275 patients were left waiting over 36 weeks for podiatry treatment at Cardiff and Vale NHS Trust, which is the Welsh Assembly Government's target maximum wait for this therapy. 1,787 were waiting over 72 weeks.

Jenny Randerson, Health Spokesperson for the Welsh Liberal Democrats and Cardiff Central Assembly Member said "This issue was brought to my attention by a constituent who had to wait four years for her first appointment. When you have to walk every day, four years is a long time to wait for your feet to be seen to.

"I have written to the Chief Executive of the Trust asking how patients are classified, whether they are prioritised and how long the longest waiting time is.

"These waiting times are totally unacceptable when early intervention usually saves money and prevents problems from getting worse."