ABERCONWY MS Janet Finch-Saunders has called for greater responsibilities to be given to smaller hospitals in North Wales.

With a high waiting list backlog, and 58,988 treatment pathways waiting more than 36 weeks for treatment in North Wales in February this year, the NHS in Wales has come under scrutiny.

Mrs Finch-Saunders has now called on Minister for Health and Social Services, Eluned Morgan, to take further steps to ensure this backlog can be dealt with.

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“The Minister has admitted today that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board needs some attention. To be frank, it needs actual action, not just attention,” said the Aberconwy MS.

“The staggering worsening delays we are encountering in Betsi Cadwaladr form part of over a decade of decline and over centralisation in three major hospitals: Wrexham, Glan Clwyd, and Gwynedd.

“Look at Llandudno Hospital. Prior to the pandemic it already had empty wards, and then the management team at the board went and closed the Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) in 2021!

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“I have also placed on record my belief that Nant y Glyn Community Mental Health Team in Colwyn Bay is failing residents.

“It cannot be right that constituents are reporting being unable to get through to the centre on the phone, let alone any specific support.

“There is no easy solution to the crisis in our Welsh NHS, but I am clear that making the most of every hospital in North Wales, not just the big three, and increasing the number of medical school places, are levers that the Welsh Government should use to help the NHS.”

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