THE Welsh NHS could benefit from up to £300m in cheaper loans from Europe to help cut waiting lists, Plaid Cymru said yesterday.
A deputation from the party went to Brussels for talks at the European Investment Bank about the potential of funding for the health service.
Plaid Cymru MEP Jill Evans said money for capital investment could be drawn down from the bank, but Wales had failed to take any significant advantage of the system.
"The NHS in Wales could access up to £300m of capital investment by drawing down funds available via the European Investment Bank," she said. "There is an urgent need to increase capacity in the NHS in Wales to deal with issues such as waiting times, and EIB funding is a source of low interest capital which is available to secure the necessary investment.
"This source of funding is already being used by the health sector in England.
"The Welsh Assembly Government could access the funding without Treasury approval.
"Even NHS Trusts in Wales could draw down investment on an individual basis or collectively through NHS Confederation Wales."
Ms Evans, Adam Price, MP for Carmarthen East and Assembly member Rhodri Glyn Thomas met Tom Barrett, director of tendering operations for the EIB in the UK, Ireland and Denmark.
Mr Price, Plaid Cymru's Treasury spokesman said: "The EIB is able to offer such competitive low cost finance.
"The EIB since 1997 has had the role of investing in health and education, yet not a single penny has been drawn down for these purposes in Wales.
"EIB money has been allocated to Ford in Wales and Welsh Water, yet the NHS is missing out on millions that could transform public health care in Wales."
