With analysis of data revealing that the number of patients waiting over 24 weeks for diagnostic endoscopy services has reached a record high since special measures, Janet Finch-Saunders, Assembly Member for Aberconwy, has spoken of her concern about the health board and Welsh Government’s failure to improve waiting times despite considerable investment in this area in 2016.
Janet said:
“Last October Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board announced that a third procedure room had opened at Ysbyty Gwynedd’s Endoscopy Unit and that this would enable the delivery of an improved service for patients.
“This followed an investment of £1million by the Welsh Government in 2016. However, the evidence shows that Health Minister’s strategy to improve endoscopy and colonoscopy services just isn’t working.
“The data for diagnostic endoscopy services’ waiting times for December have just been released, and what my analysis of them has revealed is that the health board has just seen the highest number of residents waiting over 24 weeks for a service.
“When considering that services such as colonoscopies are used to diagnose cancer, it just cannot be right that the waiting times have now reached a 4 year high.
“I have now questioned the Minister for Health and Social Services asking why the investment in 2016 has not seen any improvements in waiting times, and how he intends to tackle the diagnostic endoscopy dilemma in North Wales”.
ENDS
Written Assembly Question:
Will the Minister explain why the Welsh Government’s £1million investment in improving endoscopy and colonoscopy facilities at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has not resulted in improvement of the number of patients waiting over 24 weeks for diagnostic endoscopy services, and clarify what steps you will take to address this?
Notes:
