The Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, has urged the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to consider reopening the Ambulatory Care Unit at Llandudno General Hospital, following the revelation that no patients have been seen at the centre in 2021. The confirmation came via a Freedom of Information reply.
An Ambulatory Care Unit is a service which offers same day care to patients at the hospital. This means that patients are assessed, diagnosed, treated, and can go home the same day, without being admitted into hospital overnight. In August, waiting figure statistics showed that Betsi Cadwaladr was the worst performing Health Board in Wales with only 64.9% patients seen within the 4-hour target.
Underlining the need to combat waiting lists, Janet said:
“I am greatly alarmed to have received confirmation that no patients have been seen in the Ambulatory Care Unit at Llandudno General Hospital, in spite of entrenched concerns about prolonged waiting times for patients to receive diagnosis and appropriate treatment. To continue with this stance as we continue our Covid-19 recovery is plainly unfeasible.
“Whilst I fully recognise that the pandemic required the relocation of staff to essential services, as well as the closure of certain wards to ensure the health and safety of patients and staff, with the restarting of other frontline health services now underway, an urgent review of Ambulatory Care Unit must take place so that its unique offering can be restored.
“The Welsh Government’s plan to support the NHS this winter is the same as the last which has led us to the position where we are experiencing the worst A&E waits on record and the longest treatment backlog ever. Given that Betsi Cadwaladr has been besieged by problems, it should now look to build on this plan by looking to reopen a Unit which could assist in addressing the waiting list issue in the short-term.”
The Member will shortly launch a digital health survey to review what concerns local constituents and frontline workers hold so as to assist with the targeting of her future Senedd contributions.
ENDS
Notes to Editors:
- A copy of the FOI reply can be found attached.
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
