Over 44,000 patients in North Wales left waiting more than a year for operation as health board says clearing Covid backlog could take up to five years

Over 44,000 patients in North Wales have been left waiting more than a year for an operation, the region’s health board has revealed. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

All routine surgery at the area’s three main hospitals was placed on hold last year because of the coronavirus pandemic. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board estimates that clearing the resulting backlog could take as long as five years. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Specialist surgery such as orthopaedics are said to have been worst affected with hospitals currently putting recovery plans in place. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

A report to health board members shows Wrexham Maelor Hospital has restarted all elective surgery, except orthopaedics, which is scheduled for early May. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Ysbyty Gwynedd are starting elective activity this month, with orthopaedics to follow next month at the two hospitals. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

Actions proposed to address the backlog include: ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

• Assessing the risk to patients rather than just time waiting
• Health education and promotion – keeping patients healthy and exploring non-surgical treatment options
• Expand virtual health care
• Extra capacity – modular wards/theatres
• Redeploying internal staff to support with surgical activity

The report will be presented at a health board meeting being held via Zoom on Thursday. ‌​‌‌‌​‌‌‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌‌‌​‌​

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