Janet Finch-Saunders, the Member of the Welsh Parliament for Bangor Conwy Môn, has written to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care and the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, calling for urgent action to address reported cancellations of operations due to delays in the Pre-Operative Assessment Clinic (POAC) process.
Clinicians have met with Janet and raised deep concerns that between four and five operations a day are being cancelled. Instead of having full operating days running from 9 am to 5 pm, surgeons are seeing their working days finish at 11 am due to surgery cancellations.
The surgeons have reported that these delays are caused by increased staff sickness and administrative staff being unable to book POAC appointments without prior consent.
Janet commented:
“I have received a series of representations from clinicians working within Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, who have raised concerns with me about the cancellation of operations due to delays in the POAC process. As a result, they have alleged that they are unable to complete a full day of operations, which only adds to the delays that the Health Board is reporting.
“Urgent clarification and action are needed to address this. I have written to the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, as well as the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, setting out the concerns raised and a series of questions that need to be promptly responded to.
“It is vital that surgeons are able to complete full operating days and that delays in the POAC process are reduced. By doing so, patients will be able to be seen sooner, and waiting times for surgery will be significantly reduced.”
ENDS
Photo: Janet Finch-Saunders MS/AS
