Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has challenged the Welsh Government over the exceptionally high waiting times in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area and called for urgent action to address them.

Raising the matter in the Senedd, Darren expressed concern that even though only 22% of Wales’s population live in North Wales, it has 42% of people waiting over two years for NHS treatment.

He called for action from the Welsh Government to address this serious regional inequality.

He said:

“I call for a Welsh Government Statement in relation to waiting times, in particular in North Wales, from the Cabinet Secretary for Health.

“I was very surprised to see that, of the 24,000 people in Wales waiting for over two years for treatment, over 10,000 of those - 42 per cent – are patients in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area. That's 42 per cent of those waiting over two years, in spite of the fact that just 22 per cent of Wales's population lives in that region.

“Clearly, it's unacceptable to have such regional inequality in terms of access to health services, and we do need to see action taken by the Welsh Government to make sure that North Wales's capacity to deal with those waiting lists is addressed.

“So, I would appreciate it if we could have a specific statement from the Welsh Government on the issue in North Wales.

Responding, the Trefnydd, Jane Hutt MS, said:

“The Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care has noted your question in terms of waiting times in north Wales, and of course, addresses these with Betsi Cadwaladr, alongside all the other health boards. And, indeed, the First Minister also responded, but I can assure you that this is noted on the record today.”