Written question WQ85897

I published our Planned Care Recovery Plan at the end of April that sets out our approach to reducing waiting times to ensure patients receive the care and treatment they deserve in a timely manner. The plan has been designed in collaboration with clinicians and has been backed by £170 million of recurrent funding. All health boards, including Betsi Cadwaladr UHB, have received a share of the funding and I will be expecting them to use the money appropriately to address waiting times across all specialities.

Within the plan, there are a number of actions health boards should be focussing on to help reduce waiting times, including:

• improving treat-in-turn rates, which means seeing patients in chronological order based on their clinical need;

• using the technology available to them, as not all patients need to be seen face-to-face for an initial appointment; and

• improved use of See on Symptom and Patient Initiated Follow-Ups, (which is when patients who have had treatment and are normally scheduled for follow-up appointments, but these new approaches mean it will be for patients to decide if they require an appointment and for them to contact the hospital, where they will be offered support and advice to help them make those decisions). This will then increase capacity for new outpatient appointments.

The Director of Recovery has written out to all health boards with advice and support on areas to focus on to improve recovery. This advice is supported by regular meetings to understand and challenge their plans. In addition, Betsi Cadwaladr UHB has received additional support to build and develop their local recovery plans.

The health board is developing proposals to undertake additional orthopaedic activity at Abergele Hospital whilst they continue work on designing the diagnostic and treatment hubs for the region and additional day case activity is being undertaken at Llandudno Hospital.