The number of treatment pathways waiting over 2 years for the first outpatient appointment has surpassed 10,000 in Wales, and reached 6,501 in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The number waiting over two years for gynaecology treatment has reached 342; trauma and orthopaedics 529; urology 665; Ear, Nose, and Throat (ENT) 725, and oral surgery 775.
Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, who successfully campaigned to secure an almost £30m investment to create an Orthopaedic Hub at Llandudno Hospital, is calling for further action to tackle the waiting time crisis in North Wales.
Commenting, Janet said:
“I campaigned for the creation of a dedicated Orthopaedic Hub in Llandudno specialising in high volume, low complexity care, because a dedicated hub will increase annual surgical activity. For example, by providing services away from main hospitals it will reduce the effects unscheduled care can have on elective treatment and reduce the chance of surgeries being postponed.
“Whilst the new Hub will bring down orthopaedic waiting times, the Welsh Government and Health Board need to take other urgent action to bring waiting times down in other specialisms too.
“The postcode lottery for treatment is absolutely appalling. For example, why should over 6,500 be waiting over two years in North Wales when the number is only 158 in England?
“In the short term, those willing to travel out of our region should be offered faster treatment at other Health Boards in and outside Wales”.
ENDS
