£120m to reduce NHS waiting times in Wales announced
This comes as the latest NHS Wales performance data for April and May 2025 reveal the scale of the challenge ahead.
The data show a slight increase in the number of people waiting more than two years for treatment compared to March.
However, this figure is 86 per cent lower than its peak.
Swansea Bay and Powys health boards have no pathways waiting longer than two years and no one-year waits for a first outpatient appointment.
Hywel Dda and Aneurin Bevan university health boards each have fewer than 300 patient pathways waiting more than two years for treatment.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, however, has the most pathways waiting more than two years for treatment in Wales.
Mr Miles said: "It is disappointing to see the increase in long waits in April after all the progress health boards have made over the last few months.
"However, this is an annual trend seen in April in Wales and also the other UK nations.
"This is why we are making changes to how the NHS provides planned care and are investing £120m to bring down waiting times this year.
"This new funding will mean more and faster appointments, tests and treatments over the next 12 months."
Nearly 2,000 people started their cancer treatment in April, with just under 15,000 people informed they did not have cancer.
Urgent and emergency care services remain busy, with the Welsh Ambulance Service experiencing the busiest May on record.
Despite this, the median response time performance was exactly eight minutes, with more than 80 per cent of calls responded to within 15 minutes.
The public is urged to call NHS 111 for advice to ensure they receive the right care from the appropriate NHS service for their needs.
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