Betsi Cadwaladr health board is to receive more than £11million from the Welsh Government for “improvements in performance”, Welsh Conservatives can reveal.
The investment follows news last week of a 5000% increase in the number of patients waiting longer than 36 weeks for orthopaedic treatment from the health board.
Writing to the Cabinet Secretary for Health, the Welsh Conservative Assembly Member for Aberconwy Janet Finch-Saunders asked how the Government was working with the health board to reduce waiting times for orthopaedic and trauma treatment.
Vaughan Gething AM responded saying that he expected to see improvements in performance “across the health board, not just in orthopaedics” and confirmed an additional allocation of £11.04million.
In welcoming the additional funding, Ms Finch-Saunders noted that this raised additional questions in terms of how it would be spent.
“Whilst this funding is most welcome, there is some ambiguity here from the Cabinet Health Secretary,” said Janet Finch-Saunders AM.
“The First Minister made no mention of this provision when he was questioned on orthopaedic waiting times on Tuesday, so patients will rightly want assurances as to how this money is to be spent.
“Will the Welsh Government be looking to send patients over the border or to private services for treatment?
“I will be questioning the Welsh Government on how these millions will be used to improve waiting times in the area of trauma and orthopaedics, and whether we can soon expect some tangible improvements to services, which in far too many aspects are still worse than the rest of the country.”
She added: “We need a clear and targeted plan to restore patient confidence in services and improve staff morale, which is waning by the day.”
ENDS
Notes: Copy of WAQ response attached