Mark Isherwood
North Wales Assembly Member Mark Isherwood has called for a Welsh Government Statement on waiting times to see gynaecologists in Wales after a constituent told him she is facing an 11 month wait for a routine appointment.
Mr Isherwood raised the matter in this week’s Business Statement after the Flintshire patient contacted him about her case, describing the long wait as “ridiculous”.
Speaking in the Chamber, Mr Isherwood said:
“I was contacted by a constituent who was told that she is facing an 11-month wait after being referred by her GP in February. She said that through chasing her appointment, ‘I understand that it is 11 months for routine appointments such as this…. eleven months is clearly ridiculous for any person to wait. Please advise me on how these delays are being resolved’
“Clearly, it is not for me to advise on how those are being resolved as I am an Opposition Member. I hope that you are not going to say that it is simply a matter for the Health Board. If these concerns are valid, it is clearly a matter for the Welsh Government, and I request a statement accordingly.”
The Minister for Government Business, Lesley Griffiths AM, replied:
“Well, it is actually a matter for the health board. The Government and the Minister for Health and Social Services have set down very clear guidelines as to what those waiting times should be, but it is absolutely a matter for the health board.”
Mr Isherwood added:
“This Pontius Pilate approach is simply not good enough. The Welsh Government is responsible for our devolved NHS and for health policy and strategy in Wales. It should be prioritising action in circumstances such as this.”
