Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board has apologised to patients being forced to wait longer than usual for care, despite the best efforts of staff.

Recent figures have shown that Wrexham Maelor Hospital and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd had the worst performing A&E departments in Wales in August.

During August, the Maelor A&E department had 4,701 attendances, while Glan Clwyd had 5,097. 

At Wrexham and Glan Clwyd Hospitals, just 40% and 44% spent less than four hours in A&E, with around six out of every ten patients spending more than four hours in the emergency departments.

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Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales Darren Millar MS said: “These statistics are very worrying for people across North Wales who rely on their local hospitals in the event of an emergency.

“Patients and NHS staff in North Wales deserve a healthcare system at least as good as elsewhere in the UK but that clearly isn’t the case.

“Wales is suffering a cost-of-pain crisis that the Welsh Labour Government must get to grips with and North Wales is suffering more pain than anywhere else.”

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In response to the recent NHS performance data, Welsh Government said they continue to see improvements, however the performance is not where they, the health boards or the public want it to be. 

Gill Harris, deputy CEO and executive director of integrated clinical services for Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board said: “I apologise on behalf of the health board to anyone who waits longer than they should.

“Our staff are working extremely hard to see as many people as possible in a timely manner and the majority of people who visit our hospitals receive good and appropriate care.

“A significant improvement programme is underway at Glan Clwyd Hospital which includes redesigning how we categorise patients attending our emergency department.

“That improvement work is being supported by Welsh Government and our staff are fully involved in the process."

READ MORE: Maelor Hospital record worst waiting-time targets in Wales as demand continues

The Betsi chief also revealed the difficulties hospitals had in discharging patients.

She added: “Nobody in the health board wants to see people waiting a long time. We do have significant issues in trying to discharge patients who are medically fit to move to alternative provision.

“Spending as little time as possible in hospital is better for patients and means beds can be freed up for those with urgent care needs.

“While the number of people with acute issues attending our emergency departments is very high, the public can help us too.

“Attending the emergency department when your issue is not life-threatening will result in a considerable wait, as the sickest patients will be prioritised.”