A major new report from the Institute for Fiscal Studies has revealed a serious deterioration in key Welsh public services since the pandemic, prompting renewed criticism of the Welsh Labour Government.

The independent analysis, examining public service spending and outcomes in Wales, finds that performance across both the health and education systems is now substantially worse than before Covid-19 and worse than in England.

Despite Wales receiving around 15% more funding per head than England, roughly £1.15 for every £1 spent in England, this report shows that outcomes in key public services are still falling behind.

Responding to the findings, Carmarthen West and South Pembrokeshire Senedd Member for the Welsh Conservatives, Samuel Kurtz said the report should serve as a “wake-up call” about the impact of years of mismanagement by the Welsh Labour government in Cardiff Bay.

The report highlights several alarming trends, including:

Researchers warn that failing to address declining education participation and performance could have serious long-term consequences for Wales’ economy and young people.

Commenting, Mr Kurtz said: “This independent report lays bare the staggering decline we are seeing in Welsh public services after more than a quarter of a century of Labour running Wales, propped up by Plaid Cymru.

“Families across Pembrokeshire already know things are getting worse, despite the hard work of NHS staff and teachers. Whether it’s struggling to get timely hospital treatment or seeing the impact of falling school standards, this report confirms those concerns in black and white.

“It is particularly alarming to see school absences still dramatically higher than before the pandemic and the number of young people in full-time education falling so sharply. That should concern anyone who cares about Wales’ future.”

Mr Kurtz added that the findings show the need for urgent action and greater accountability from the Welsh Government.

“Wales receives significant funding for public services, £1.15 for every £1 in England, yet outcomes are slipping behind. Labour and Plaid cannot keep blaming others while performance continues to decline,” he continued.

“Ministers must finally confront the scale of these problems and produce a clear plan to turn things around. The people of Wales deserve far better than the stagnation and decline highlighted in this report.”

The Institute for Fiscal Studies report states that policymakers in Wales should do more to understand the causes of declining performance and warns that the cost of failing to act could be significant for Wales in the years ahead.

Plaid Cymru have also had their say on IFS report, with the party’s health spokesperson, Mabon ap Gwynfor MS, stating: “This report confirms what people across Wales already know – the state of our NHS and our schools is simply not good enough. After 27 years in power, this decline is the direct result of Labour’s mismanagement, and people have every right to be angry about it.

"Long waits in A&E, patients treated in corridors, cancer patients not receiving treatment on time and waiting lists that remain stubbornly high – these failing standards have been allowed to become normal on Labour’s watch.

"In our schools, Labour has failed to get the basics right. Literacy and numeracy standards have fallen, and too many young people are being let down and denied the opportunities they deserve.

"Wales urgently needs new leadership.

"A Plaid Cymru government would act from day one to turn things around – introducing a new Foundational Literacy and Numeracy Plan to raise standards across Wales and establishing surgical hubs to cut waiting times and expand access to treatment.

"Labour have had their time. Plaid Cymru offers the new leadership Wales needs, with credible, made-in-Wales plans to improve public services and the determination to ensure Wales gets its fair share from Westminster,“ he added.

Also responding to the report from the IFS, Laura Doel, national secretary at NAHT Cymru, said: “School leaders in Wales are working hard to deliver for their pupils amid all manner of challenges – from funding shortfalls and supporting children with additional learning needs (ALN), to issues outside school which can affect attendance and attainment.

“While the PISA analysis can be useful, we should not over-interpret these results and rely on simplistic comparisons which may not capture the richness of children’s learning or the different stages of education policy development in different countries.

“School leaders will be particularly interested to understand where the increased spending on education identified by the IFS has gone – because it has not reached the frontline.

“More investment is desperately needed to support severely stretched school budgets, as well as in vital health and social care services which can be so important in supporting families and helping ensure children attend school and thrive.”