Clwyd West AM Darren Millar has expressed concern that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has seen a 31% increase in cancelled operations over the last four years.
The Welsh Conservatives have discovered that there has a been a shocking increase in the number of operations that have been cancelled by all Welsh Health Boards. Over the last four years, nearly 170,000 operations have been cancelled - compared to 2015/16, the number of operations cancelled in 2018/19 has increased by 7%.
Following Freedom of Information (FOI) requests to the seven health boards in Wales, in 2018/19 it was revealed that 42,483 operations were cancelled across Wales. This is an increase of just under 3,000 operations from 2015/16 where 39,741 operations did not go ahead.
Welsh Labour Government-run Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which has been in special measures for more than four years, saw the biggest rise in cancelled operations since 2015/16 with an increase of 31%. Not far behind was Aneurin Bevan Health Board with a 29% increase.
The biggest increases include gastroenterology (207% - 364 cancellations in 15/16, 1,118 in 18/19) and clinical oncology (9,388% or 94 fold increase – 8 in 15/16 to 759 in 18/19). Ophthalmology cancellations also nearly doubled, increasing by 89% (744 to 1405).
Commenting on the figures, Darren said:
“These figures are shameful and yet again it is patients in North Wales who are the worst affected.
“Despite being in special measures for more than four years the health board is still failing to deliver.
“A total of 38,930 cancelled operations in 4 years is absolutely appalling.
“Preparing for an operation can be incredibly stressful – particularly for the young and elderly. Subsequent cancellations – especially with little notice - will inevitably cause great discomfort.
“While I accept some cancellations are unavoidable, the blame for many must lie at the feet of the Welsh Government and its policies which have skewed clinical priorities towards meeting targets and ministerial diktats.
“The Cabinet Secretary for Health needs to work with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to get to the bottom of this problem as a matter of urgency.”
