Written question WQ83052

Welsh Government have been very clear with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board as with all health boards on the expectations required to reduce waiting times as part of recovery and reset. This has been included in the Improving health & social care (Covid -19 looking forward) plan https://gov.wales/health-and-care-services-pandemic-recovery-plan-published and through the annual planning guidance.

Delivery of planned care is a key priority of the Welsh Government. An additional investment of £100 million provided to the NHS in May 2021 issued to target reduction in waiting lists. For North Wales, this investment was in addition to their monies to support them in targeted intervention. Welsh Government monitor deliver against plans through the specific targeted intervention process and ongoing monitoring of recovery.

The health board has established a six point recovery plan which focuses on re-starting and sustaining planned care, treating the backlog of patients and transforming services to provide a once for north Wales now and in the future. https://bcuhb.nhs.wales/covid-19/hospital-information/restarting-planned-care/

It could take as long as 3-4 years to reduce the waiting lists to pre-pandemic levels. To support patients waiting the health board are writing to patients with advice about how to keep healthy and well. They have established services to maintain patient safety. This includes programmes such as escape from pain and they are exploring how to support patients with services such as pain management and mental health.