Statistics Wales said the seasonally high figure was still the second lowest figure since April 2021, and more than three quarters (86.3%) lower than the peak in March 2022. 

Health secretary, Jeremy 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.'

Emergency department attendances rose to 3,167 with four-hour and 12-hour performance both worsening.

The average time spent in emergency departments in May was similar to the previous month at 2 hours and 46 minutes.

The proportion of patient pathways waiting less than 26 weeks decreased to 54.4% in April. The number of pathways waiting longer than 36 weeks increased in April, to just under 273,200.

For cancer services, 1,956 people started their first definitive treatment in April, 76 more than the previous month. The number of pathways closed following the patient being informed they did not have cancer increased to 14,947. Performance worsened against the 62-day target in April, decreasing to 60.5%.

For diagnostic services, patient pathways waiting increased to just under 115,800 in April. The number waiting longer than eight weeks (the target maximum wait) increased to just under 38,500.