THE HEALTH BOARD has said a "broken lift" is not leading to operations being cancelled at Llandudno General Hospital, after a Senedd member claimed that was to blame.

Patients' operations have been moved from the Llandudno hospital to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor in recent months.

Janet Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy, raised the matter in the Senedd, claiming a broken lift had lead to these cancellations.

Mrs Finch-Saunders added that it was "ludicrous" a broken lift had caused the transfer of patients to other hospitals which were already "overwhelmed".

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board addressed these concerns and said the the operations had been moved due to building work, including the contruction of more operating theatres.

Llandudno hospital would be used for operations "when it is safe to do so," said Libby Ryan-Davies, central integrated health community director at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB).

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Ms Ryan-Davies said: “Earlier this year works started at Llandudno Hospital to build a new Orthopaedic hub to help reduce orthopaedic waiting times.

"This new hub will transform elective orthopaedic services within our Health Board and provide benefits for patients, staff and the wider North Wales community.

"Due to health and safety reasons while building work is ongoing, the theatre activity which would normally take place at Llandudno Hospital has been transferred to Ysbyty Gwynedd.

"This arrangement has been in place since March 2024. All patients are seen in order of clinical priority and length of wait.

"We plan to return surgical activity back to Llandudno Hospital when safe to do so and are in the process of arranging works to ensure the lift is upgraded in time for when this happens.”

Mrs Finch-Saunders responded to the health board, accusing the health board of "trying to save face" over the cancellation of operations and doubling down on the reason being the broken lift.

She said she had spoken to members of staff at the hospital, who she said were lead by "failing management" of the health board.

The Aberconwy MS said: "I praise staff at Llandudno Hospital, who work on the front line, for having the courage to speak out at what is an unacceptable and ludicrous situation.

“It seems to me that the Health Board is trying to save face over the cancellation of all operations in Llandudno by using the development on site as an excuse.

“To me, this lift saga is yet another example of the failing management at the Health Board.

"They should get on with fixing the lift, and if necessary, create the temporary corridor to overcome any issue with the fire door.

“I will continue to champion the staff at Llandudno Hospital and fight for additional investment.

"Doing so is common sense, because there is no denying that both Gwynedd and Glan Clwyd are overwhelmed.

"To add pressure on them when there is a theatre sat empty in Llandudno is unjustifiable."