Health board has longest waits in Wales – government report

"SIGNIFICANT and timely action" should be taken to reduce waiting times for planned, urgent and emergency care by the north Wales health board, it has been claimed.

- DALE SPRIDGEON

A Welsh Government report says that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which is still in special measures, has the largest and longest waits in Wales.

The board was placed in the highest level of intervention, following "significant concerns" over its governance, leadership and performance, in February 2023.

The eighth Welsh Government progress report, which covers July to September 2025, was published last Friday (October 24).

It stated that "expected improvements in operational delivery were not yet being realised," although a "considerable number of improvements" had been seen in some areas.

It stated: "The special measures improvement plan had set a clear expectation that the overall size of the waiting list and the number of long patient waits for planned care would be substantially reduced, bringing them back to pre-pandemic levels.

"It is also expected that the health board will tackle the large number of outstanding outpatient appointments in the most challenged specialities and take action to improve waiting times for urgent and emergency care services."