NATIONALISTS said today that they will change how the Welsh NHS is run to improve patient outcomes.

Plaid Cymru claimed that governance failings were leading to second-rate healthcare in Wales.

The party’s health lead Mabon ap Gwynfor commissioned a report that said governance and accountability in the NHS are “inherently confused and overly complex.”

“People shouldn’t have to wait years for treatment, struggle to get a GP appointment, and ambulances shouldn’t be queuing outside A&E departments for hours,” Mr ap Gwynfor said.

“Despite NHS funding accounting for half of the Welsh government’s £20 billion budget, it simply isn’t being used strategically and neither is the NHS being run efficiently.

“A Plaid Cymru government will offer the NHS a fresh start — no more sticking plaster solutions and short-term thinking which only punishes staff and patients.”

A Welsh government spokesperson said: “A new external ministerial advisory group on performance and productivity has been appointed.

“It will provide an independent review of the existing arrangements to support improvements in NHS Wales.”