The day after a health board watchdog called a report into Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s A&E department the “worst” it had ever seen, the latest figures on A&E waiting times in Wales have revealed today that the hospital is the worst performing, with 2 in 3 patients waiting over four hours to be seen.

Welsh NHS data for March has revealed that North Wales’ Betsi Cadwaladr University health board was the worst performing area in the nation against the four-hour A&E target, seeing only 56% in four hours, with the worst performing hospital being Ysbyty Glan Clwyd with just 34.7% being seen within 4 hours– followed by Wrexham Maelor at 39.7%.

Yesterday it was announced that the Emergency Department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has been designated by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) as a “Service Requiring Significant Improvement”, with patient safety at risk.

Challenging the Health Minister over the report in the Senedd Chamber, Darren said the findings were “alarming” and that the former Health Minister decision’s to take Betsi Cadwaladr University health Board last year “was the wrong one.”  

Commenting on the A&E waiting time figures published today, he said:

“With this health board it really is just one thing after another and yet all we have had from the Labour Welsh Government for years is empty promises that the situation will improve.

“As I told the Health Minister in the Senedd Chamber yesterday, people in my constituency depend on this emergency department, yet it continues to fall short. 

“The truth of the matter is that Beti Cadwaladr University Health Board should never have been taken out of special measures last year, there are simply too many problems which need to be addressed, including not enough beds a s insufficient staff.

“The Health Minister’s assurances that the issues will be addressed are not enough, we are fed up of excuses and demand the improvements we have been promised. I will continue pushing the Minister until we see them.”