Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has lambasted the Welsh Government for "failing" patients in North Wales.
The North Wales AM was responding to a statement by the Health Secretary on Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board.
Mr Isherwood (pictured) expressed concern that despite being in special measures for three years, and therefore under direct Welsh Government control, the board is still failing to meet waiting time targets and patients are not receiving the support they need.
Speaking in the chamber he said: “When will your Government accept that the consequence of stripping out those community beds has put extra pressure on hospitals, our district general hospitals, on our GP practices, and has actually led not to enhanced care in the community but to enhanced suffering in the community for too many when they can't get the support they previously called for?
“I'll conclude by asking what action you propose to take to ensure that the health board works better with third sector providers, who are delivering a wide range of services, but despite engagement, some of which I facilitated with some of those bodies, years later we're still waiting for new arrangements to go into place to ensure that proper commissioned services, which don't replicate or duplicate but enhance the experience for patients, are finally put in place."
Mr Isherwood added: “For Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to remain in special measures and under direct Welsh Government control after 3 years raises serious questions about the type of leadership and support provided by the Welsh Government to the health board. Both the patients and the hard working staff deserved better."
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