Siambr · Janet Finch-Saunders
Written questions
116 written questions on record from the Seventh Senedd on, newest first. Page 3 of 3.
WQ98927 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about increasing the number of community beds?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Local health boards are responsible for the planning and delivery of services to meet the needs of their local population. I would of course expect patients to receive the care they need, in the most appropriate place and as close to home as possible.
WQ98928 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions has the Cabinet Minister had with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about reinstating Llandudno ENT clinic?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Local health boards are responsible for making sure people get the care they need—whether that’s delivered directly by the NHS or commissioned where it makes sense.
WQ98822 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on how they are working with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to reduce dermatology waiting lists?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The long waiting lists we have inherited from the previous Government are unacceptably high, and are particularly pronounced at Betsi Cadwaladr. This Government has made it its top priority to get to grips with this issue and deliver better outcomes for the people of North Wales.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has set out in their annual plan how they are working to reduce waiting times across all elective care pathways, including dermatology, in the year 2026/27.
My officials have reviewed their plans to ensure that the planned reductions in waiting times meet my expectations of eliminating long waits. I will be seeking assurance from my officials and NHS Performance & Improvement that these plans are delivered, and progress is made. I will be discussing this with the health board in my regular meetings with the Chair of the board, as part of our revised approach to holding them robustly to account for performance.
We are also progressing our programme to more sustainably incorporate elective care demand within regular NHS activity – which will include the establishment of up to ten new surgical hubs across Wales.
Through these measures, we will eliminate the longest waits of two years or more within a matter of months, and reduce the overall backlog back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this Senedd term.
WQ98821 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions is the Cabinet Minister having with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board about reducing its waiting lists?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The long waiting lists we have inherited from the previous Government are unacceptably high, and are particularly pronounced at Betsi Cadwaladr. This Government has made it its top priority to get to grips with this issue and deliver better outcomes for the people of North Wales.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has set out in their annual plan how they are working to reduce waiting times across all elective care pathways, including dermatology, in the year 2026/27.
My officials have reviewed their plans to ensure that the planned reductions in waiting times meet my expectations of eliminating long waits. I will be seeking assurance from my officials and NHS Performance & Improvement that these plans are delivered, and progress is made. I will be discussing this with the health board in my regular meetings with the Chair of the board, as part of our revised approach to holding them robustly to account for performance.
We are also progressing our programme to more sustainably incorporate elective care demand within regular NHS activity – which will include the establishment of up to ten new surgical hubs across Wales.
Through these measures, we will eliminate the longest waits of two years or more within a matter of months, and reduce the overall backlog back to pre-pandemic levels by the end of this Senedd term.
WQ98820 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on what discussions they are having with the BEDS - Ending Corridor Care campaign?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I am committed to eradicating the routine care and treatment of individuals in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, in line with our manifesto commitment. I have been clear that addressing this issue requires a whole system approach with a particular focus on strengthening primary and social care capacity. The measures we are taking to this end – which include a number of actions within the first 100 days of this term - were laid out during my recent oral statement to the Senedd.
Under the NHS Wales Planning Framework 2026/27, all health boards are expected to deliver sustained improvements in patient flow across acute hospitals. This includes maximising same-day emergency care and acute frailty services, improving access to community and step-down capacity, and increasing earlier-in-the-day and weekend discharges from hospital.
These actions are critical to ensuring that patients are not held in emergency departments longer than necessary and, importantly, that care is not delivered in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, such as corridors, across emergency departments and hospital wards.
NHS Performance and Improvement has been instructed to robustly hold local health boards to account against these expectations. This includes regular engagement, close monitoring of performance, targeted support where needed, and escalation where progress is insufficient. The focus is on demonstrable, at-pace improvements that reduce overcrowding, improve patient experience and safety, and end care in temporary spaces across Wales.
I will be engaging with all key stakeholders - including the BEDS - Ending Corridor Care campaign - to work towards eradicating this unacceptable way of practice.
WQ98819 · Tabled · Answered
What discussions is the Cabinet Minister having with health boards to ensure that corridor care is brought to an end?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
I am committed to eradicating the routine care and treatment of individuals in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, in line with our manifesto commitment. I have been clear that addressing this issue requires a whole system approach with a particular focus on strengthening primary and social care capacity. The measures we are taking to this end – which include a number of actions within the first 100 days of this term - were laid out during my recent oral statement to the Senedd.
Under the NHS Wales Planning Framework 2026/27, all health boards are expected to deliver sustained improvements in patient flow across acute hospitals. This includes maximising same-day emergency care and acute frailty services, improving access to community and step-down capacity, and increasing earlier-in-the-day and weekend discharges from hospital.
These actions are critical to ensuring that patients are not held in emergency departments longer than necessary and, importantly, that care is not delivered in non-clinical or unsuitable environments, such as corridors, across emergency departments and hospital wards.
NHS Performance and Improvement has been instructed to robustly hold local health boards to account against these expectations. This includes regular engagement, close monitoring of performance, targeted support where needed, and escalation where progress is insufficient. The focus is on demonstrable, at-pace improvements that reduce overcrowding, improve patient experience and safety, and end care in temporary spaces across Wales.
I will be engaging with all key stakeholders - including the BEDS - Ending Corridor Care campaign - to work towards eradicating this unacceptable way of practice.
WQ98818 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Cabinet Minister provide an update on how they are raising awareness of lyme disease?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The prevalence of Lyme Disease in Wales is lower than in other parts of GB and Public Health Wales considers this to be due to differences in geography and ecology. Although Lyme disease is transmitted by tick bites, the majority of such bites will not lead to this disease.
Tick awareness forms part of Public Health Wales’ summer health campaigns, which are likely to commence at the end of June. Last year Public Health Wales also published a specific news story in the Western Mail to increase public awareness, in addition to working with relevant local authorities on signage for events in high-risk areas.
The National Institute for Heath and Care Excellence (NICE) guidance on Lyme disease was published in April 2018. Overview | Lyme disease | Guidance | NICE
This covers awareness-raising for healthcare professionals, clinical guidance on the diagnosis and management of the disease (including support for ongoing symptoms) and information for patients. The Chief Medical Officer for Wales communicated this guidance to the NHS in Wales, with a directive to ensure that GPs and those working in Emergency Departments are aware.
There is a range of publicly available information online, including on NHS 111 Wales: NHS 111 Wales - Health A-Z : Lyme disease
The Welsh Government takes an integrated One Health approach that aims to sustainably balance and optimize the health of people, animals and ecosystems. It recognizes the health of humans, domestic and wild animals, plants, and the wider environment (including ecosystems) are closely linked and interdependent. This approach helps ensure a shared awareness of key issues and a joined-up approach to surveillance, prevention, preparedness and response to emerging biological threats including vector-borne diseases such as Lyme disease.
WQ98546 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government confirm how many people in Wales have been diagnosed with ATTR Amyloidosis?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The Welsh Government does not routinely collect data on the number of people in Wales diagnosed with ATTR Amyloidosis.
WQ98545 · Tabled · Answered
How many people in Wales have contracted Hantavirus, whilst in Wales?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
There have no confirmed cases of Hantavirus in Wales. There have no confirmed cases of people in Wales contracting Hantavirus whilst in Wales.
WQ98544 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government provide an update on how many people in Wales have been diagnosed with Hantavirus?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
There have no confirmed cases of Hantavirus in Wales. There have no confirmed cases of people in Wales contracting Hantavirus whilst in Wales.
WQ98543 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government confirm the opening date of the new orthopedics unit at Llandudno hospital?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
The opening of the North Wales Surgical Centre at Llandudno hospital, scheduled for May, has been delayed. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board are working closely with the contractor around the commissioning of the facility to enable the first patients to be seen as soon as possible. A revised date will be provided by the Health Board to Welsh Government as soon as possible.
WQ98542 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Cabinet Minister for Health and Care taking to ensure that Llandudno Hospital's Minor Injuries Unit is open to 8.00pm?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Decisions on opening hours at Llandudno MIU are the responsibility of the health board and are based on an assessment of local population need and demand.
I expect all health boards to plan and deliver health and care services to meet the needs of their resident population, and to review services regularly to ensure these continue to deliver safe and timely care to the communities they serve.
WQ98541 · Tabled · Answered
Will the First Minister provide an update on the number of hospital beds that have been removed from Ysbyty Glan Clwyd over the last 3 years?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Information published by Digital Health and Care Wales indicates the average daily bed numbers have decreased over the last 3 years at Ysbyty Glan Clywd from 442.6 to 405.2. However, the percentage occupancy has broadly stayed the same at 81%. (Source QS1 dataset, DHCW)
WQ98540 · Tabled · Answered
Will the Welsh Government confirm what is the current waiting time for dermatology treatment in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area?
Answered by Cabinet Minister for Health and Care
Tackling long waits is a key priority for this Government and I am determined to improve waiting times so that patients across Wales are seen quicker.
At the end of March 2026, the median wait for dermatology was 13.7 weeks. This information is available in the public domain.
WQ98539 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to remove the roundabouts on junctions 15 and 16 of the A55?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
Good progress is being made on the A55, A494 and A483 Transport Needs and Resilience Review. The final report and recommendations are due during the summer – the roundabouts on Junction 15 and Junction 16 are included in this review.
WQ98538 · Tabled · Answered
What steps is the Welsh Government taking to proceed with the creation of a third Menai Crossing?
Answered by Deputy Minister for Transport
Good progress is being made on the A55, A494 and A483 Transport Needs and Resilience Review, which includes the Menai Crossings. A protected route remains in place for a 3rd crossing, and the final resilience review report and recommendations are due during the summer.
Official verbatim record: each question and answer as the Record prints it. Answers are signed with a job title, as published.