Besti Cadwaladr health board is “failing miserably” to hit waiting time targets, Welsh Conservatives can reveal – this despite still being under the highest level of Welsh Government intervention.
In June 2015 the board was placed in special measures following serious concerns about its leadership, which were compounded by a report which found institutional abuse at a mental health unit.
New data sourced from a North Wales GP surgery shows that the health board is missing waiting time targets for referral to treatment at two of the region's main hospitals, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, and Wrexham Maelor.
The Welsh Labour Government target for referral to treatment is 26 weeks but data shown to the Welsh Conservatives reveals that patients for the following conditions are having to wait much longer, even for their first outpatient appointment.
Darren Millar, Welsh Conservative health spokesperson and Assembly Member candidate for Clwyd West, said:
“These figures clearly demonstrate that Betsi Cadwaladr, now under Welsh Labour’s control, is still badly letting down its patients and failing miserably to hit its waiting time targets.
“That vulnerable patients with painful conditions are having to wait so long for their first outpatient appointment, often with even longer waits for treatment, is nothing short of disgraceful.
“The Welsh Labour Government's intervention in Betsi clearly isn't working for thousands of patients who have been left languishing on these waiting lists.
"The Board must act swiftly to get to grips with these appalling waits so that those patients whose lives are on hold while they wait for a diagnosis and treatment can get the attention and support they deserve.
Sam Rowlands, Welsh Conservative Assembly Member candidate for the Vale of Clwyd said:
“With figures like these it's no wonder than one in seven people in Wales are on an NHS waiting list.
"For patients in North Wales a change of Government in Cardiff Bay can't come soon enough.
“May 5th will offer voters a clear choice between more cuts, hospital services withdrawn, beds axed, waiting times prolonged and life-saving cancer medicines denied – or a party that can secure real change and offer the NHS and its patients a brighter future.”