Welsh Conservatives have today raised serious concerns over waiting times within Clinical Decision Units (CDUs) in West Wales.
Figures obtained under FoI show that, within Hywel Dda Local Health Board, more than a fifth of patients in CDUs (2,904, or 22.9%) are being held longer than the recommended 24 hours.
A significant number (527, or 4.2%) are being held for more than 48 hours.
Shadow Minister for Health, Nick Ramsay AM, said, “These units are in real danger of becoming holding pens for patients who are half-way between A&E and hospital.
“Labour-Plaid claims to be getting rid of long hospital waits, yet figures such as these in Hywel Dda, plainly show another side to the story. Waiting times for over a quarter of those who are admitted are unacceptable and extremely concerning.
“I am worried that these units – which can often be poorly equipped and staffed – are being used to admit patients to meet the 4 hour A&E waiting time target.
“If they are going to be used, Labour-Plaid must guarantee that Clinical Decision Units are improving patient care and not acting as ‘holding areas’ to manipulate the four hour standard.
“New units are now being set up in all three District General Hospitals in North Wales, a similar unit is used by Cardiff and Vale and Abertawe Bro Morgannwg recently invested £700,000 in a new CDU.
“At a time when the Health Service is being cut to the tune of £1billion by Labour-Plaid, we need to be sure that money is being spent wisely and that patient welfare is being put first.”
