Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is absolutely horrified to discover that waiting lists for orthopaedic first outpatient appointments in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are currently between 156-208 weeks.
Following correspondence with the Betsi Health Board, it was revealed that after reviewing a patient's MRI results, they would need to be seen in clinic by a Foot and Ankle Consultant. The letter stated that they are currently scheduling first outpatient appointments for patients who have been on the waiting list for 156 to 208 weeks. Consequently, they were unable to provide an appointment date at this time.
This comes as Betsi Health Board has been facing huge challenges with waiting lists, staff retention and communication.
Commenting on the news Janet has said:
“I am extremely saddened by the news that Betsi Health Board has a waiting list of over 4 years in orthopaedics. This is completely unacceptable and illustrates how much trouble the Health Board is in right now.
“The politicisation of special measures by the Welsh Government and 25 years of Welsh Labour at the helm has absolutely decimated the healthcare system in Wales. The Welsh NHS, especially in North Wales, is on its knees. We need immediate help.
“Even emergency measures post COVID such as contracting with external healthcare providers to provide clinical teams has failed as the inflationary pressures affecting the UK economy have meant that funding could not be identified to continue this “insourcing”. Sadly, this meant the Health Board had to halt this work with effect from April 2023.
“It is time for swift, direct and meaningful action. Patients waiting for over 4 years for a first appointment, let alone treatment, is a complete failure.
“This is why I have written to the Health Cabinet Secretary, Eluned Morgan MS, to outline this disgrace and see what emergency measures can be taken to get patient pathways heading in the right direction.”
ENDS
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi dychryn i glywed bod cleifion allanol yn gorfod aros rhwng 156 a 208 wythnos am apwyntiadau orthopedig cyntaf ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr ar hyn o bryd.
Yn dilyn gohebiaeth â Bwrdd Iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr, datgelwyd bod y broses o edrych ar ganlyniadau MRI claf wedi dangos y byddai’n rhaid iddo gael apwyntiad mewn clinig gyda Meddyg Ymgynghorol y Droed a’r Ffêr. Dywedodd y llythyr fod y bwrdd yn amserlennu apwyntiadau cyntaf i gleifion allanol sydd wedi bod ar y rhestr aros ers 156 i 208 wythnos. O ganlyniad, nid oedd yn gallu darparu dyddiad ar gyfer apwyntiad ar hyn o bryd.
Mae hyn yn digwydd ar adeg o heriau enfawr i Fwrdd Iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr oherwydd rhestrau aros, trafferth i gadw staff a chyfathrebu.
Wrth siarad am y newyddion, meddai Janet:
“Mae’n peri tristwch mawr i mi fod yna restr aros o dros 4 blynedd ym maes orthopedeg ym Mwrdd Iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr. Mae’r sefyllfa hon yn gwbl annerbyniol ac mae’n dangos bod y Bwrdd Iechyd mewn trafferth mawr ar hyn o bryd.
“Mae’r ffaith bod Llywodraeth Cymru wedi troi mesurau arbennig yn bwnc gwleidyddol, a 25 mlynedd dan reolaeth Llafur Cymru wedi dinistrio’r system gofal iechyd yng Nghymru. Mae GIG Cymru ar ei liniau, yn enwedig yn y Gogledd. Mae angen cymorth arnom ar unwaith.
“Mae hyd yn oed mesurau brys ar ôl COVID fel rhoi contractau i ddarparwyr gofal iechyd allanol i ddarparu timau clinigol wedi methu gan fod pwysau chwyddiant sy’n effeithio ar economi’r DU wedi golygu nad oedd modd canfod arian i barhau â’r “mewnoli”. Yn anffodus, bu’n rhaid i’r Bwrdd Iechyd atal y gwaith hwn ym mis Ebrill 2023.
“Mae angen camau gweithredu cyflym, uniongyrchol ac ystyrlon. Mae’r ffaith fod cleifion yn aros am dros 4 blynedd am apwyntiad cyntaf, heb sôn am driniaeth, yn dangos methiant llwyr.
“Dyna pam rwyf wedi ysgrifennu at Ysgrifennydd y Cabinet dros Iechyd, Eluned Morgan AS, i amlinellu’r sefyllfa warthus hon a gweld pa fesurau brys y mae modd eu cymryd er mwyn sicrhau bod llwybrau cleifion yn mynd i’r cyfeiriad cywir.”
DIWEDD
