Bid to cut waiting lists

EXTRA consultants and brand new operating theatres have been approved for North Wales in a bid to cut joint replacement waiting lists.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board chief executive Gary Doherty announced the move. Six orthopaedic consultants will be engaged and new theatres built, with architects currently being consulted for the new-build schemes.

Welsh Government funding will underpin the extension of services. The plans have only just been approved, so details have not been revealed. A Betsi Cadwaladr spokeswoman confirmed capacity would increase across all three health board areas.

Mr Doherty announced the new development as he responded to a charge the Welsh Government had dragged its feet approving the project, submitted by the board around two years ago. He said the health authority could do more in the community to prevent some orthopaedic problems but it was right those holdin NHS purse strings in Cardiff should scrutinise spending plans.

With Betsi’s board having been under special measures for more than four years the pressure is on to find ways to reduce waiting lists, which have increased since the Welsh Government intervention was imposed.

Orthopaedics is one of the disciplines where overall waiting times to start treatment have decreased. However those waiting six months or more have risen 38% since special measures was imposed. Many of these are routine hip and knee joint replacements.