PATIENTS in the Betsi Cadwaladr area that need joint replacements are being forced to wait up to two years for surgery, it has been revealed.

Welsh Conservative AM Darren Millar who had taken up concerns of a constituent after their lengthy wait for a hip replacement was told by Betsi Cadwaldr chief executive Gary Doherty that the routine waiting time for hip replacements at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is 112 weeks.

The health board has admitted that waiting times for surgery is significantly over the Welsh Government target times saying that the board was unable to meet the demand and was even sending patients out of the board area for treatment.

Mr Millar said the lengthy waits for patients could see their condition deteriorate and end up costing the health board even more in the long-term.

He said: “That patients are having to wait over two years for life-changing surgery is unacceptable; the people of north Wales deserve better.

“Such a huge delay in treatment has a huge impact on quality of life, and can be costly for the NHS given that conditions can deteriorate and require more complicated and expensive surgery further down the line.

“Already in special measures for a catalogue of serious failings, Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board must explain how it intends to bring down these waits.”

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