Arfon AM Siân Gwenllian has said that Orthopaedic patients in North Wales are waiting too long for treatments leaving them struggling in pain, while some patients are having to travel to England for treatment and others have had their operations cancelled several times.
Figures from the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have shown that waiting times have increased by 57% up to March this year.
Siân Gwenllian said: “This is something that comes up time and again with people who come to my advice surgeries.
“I have raised the matter with the health board and with Vaughan Gething, Welsh Government’s Health Secretary as the situation for many patients in this area is totally unacceptable as people struggle on in pain for far too long and have to travel to appointments at hospitals in England, which is not always a viable option.
“I am currently helping a number of constituents, for example – two who are awaiting a new hip and who have had their pre-op appointments cancelled several times, and another who is still awaiting a new knee having had the operation date moved several times.
“A constituent was seen by a specialist in Bangor and was told that she would have to wait between 12-18 months for her new hip. During that waiting time she was offered the operation in a hospital in Crewe and accepted the offer, travelling back and forth to Crewe to see the consultant there. But she never received a pre-op appointment nor a date for the operation and she says that she was told by staff that this was due to too many orthopaedic referrals being made by Bangor to Crewe, making it difficult for them to meet the demand.
“Another constituent had his knee replacement operation postponed 5 times, adding extra stress to him at a time when he was already in pain.”
The Welsh Government has been criticised over the waiting times at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. The number of orthopaedic and trauma patients waiting more than nine months for treatment has risen by 57% since the health board was put into special measures, with dozens left struggling for more than two years.
Siân Gwenllian added: “I have contacted the health board on several occasions to enquire after individual cases that have come to my attention and I have been given reassurances that the long waiting times are being tackled.
“But the patients I speak to are not reporting any signs of an improved service. It is imperative that measures are put in place immediately so that patients can move on with their treatment sooner and locally.”
