Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has spoken out about the fact that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have left a patient waiting over 10 months for an MRI scan result.
The patient, Mrs C Evans of Conwy town, was referred by a Consultant Orthopaedic Surgeon for an MRI scan on the right ankle and foot, which took place in a mobile unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd on 26 May 2023. Mrs Evans is still waiting to be advised of the results and called for a further consultant’s review.
Mrs Finch-Saunders has been assisting with the case, and despite 8 months of correspondence with the Health Board, is still unable to secure any clarity for Mrs Evans.
Commenting on the case, Janet said:
“As the Chairman of the Health Board, Dyfed Edwards, has stated to me in writing, the situation is unacceptable. He has apologised, but Mrs Evans still has not had her results interpreted nor treatment pathway agreed.
“This case highlights that whilst we have a kind and empathetic Chairman, the executive team seem completely unable to resolve cases effectively.
“Only a few weeks ago, I spoke out about delays in breast MRI scan results being sent to patients. It is therefore reasonable to assume that there is a widespread problem with MRI scans and casework management that the Health Board need to urgently tackle.”
Mrs Evans added:
“I have been outsourced and ostracised by this Health Board.
“The extreme delay has resulted in me paying for a private physiotherapist, but the results of the MRI scan have still not been made available.
“My attempts to chase up those results and an appointment for these to be reviewed by a specialist were met with referrals to another phone line which consistently was not answered, and the secretary to the clinic claiming that the scan results were not available because they were held by the private outsource company doing the scans at the ‘mobile unit’ at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.”
Mrs Finch-Saunders added:
“I thank Mrs Evans for speaking out about her case and having the courage to stand up for all left waiting by Betsi Cadwaladr for results and treatment”.
ENDS
