5. Will the First Minister make a statement on access to NHS treatment in north Wales? OAQ(5)0256(FM)

Yes. We expect the health board to continually improve access to services for the people of the north.

First Minister, like me, I’m sure you were very disappointed and horrified to read of the ombudsman’s case last week in terms of Mr Eifion Wyn Jones, who waited 132 days for prostate cancer treatment. This week, there’s been another case reported in the ‘Daily Post’ of a gentleman from Prestatyn, Mr Ian Taylor, who waited over three months for his treatment. I’m currently working on a case where a gentleman waited over six months for treatment to start. This is in spite of your Government having a very clear target that people should start their treatment, if they’re diagnosed with cancer, within 31 days. What action are you taking, given that the Welsh Government has put this organisation—the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board—into special measures, to make sure that your target is met for the people of north Wales, so that they can have access to the treatment they need?

Betsi Cadwaladr, over the last 12 months, has been one of the best performing health boards against both cancer pathways, with performance against the 62-day pathway normally around 90 per cent and 98 per cent for the 31-day pathway. So, the experience of his constituents—I’ve no reason to doubt them—are not usual, but if he wishes to write to me with the details, I will, of course, investigate.

I’ve spoken in this Chamber on a number of occasions about the importance of diagnostic tests. It’s been drawn to my attention by GPs in my constituency that waiting times for endoscopy tests have reached worrying levels over the past few months, with talk of patients having to wait a year and seven months having got to the top of the list. Would the First Minister give a commitment to look at what is happening in terms of endoscopy tests in north-west Wales, to ensure that patients do get appropriate and timely tests and care—tests that can, of course, save lives?

Of course, I will look into that and I will write back to the Member with a response.

Since Flint hospital closed, step-down care from Glan Clwyd Hospital to Holywell for Flint patients isn’t working, and there are now excessive waiting times for hospital beds. Why are you reducing local bed availability when we have a shortage of beds, for example, by closing Flint hospital? And, by the way, there was a referendum in Flint that found that the majority of people in Flint wanted their hospital back, so when are we going to get our hospital back in Flint, please?

I’m confident that the service the people of Flint will get when the new health centre is open will be far, far better than what the hospital was able to provide. We have seen this before in different parts of Wales, where people naturally feel concerned when a hospital is lost. But when they see what comes instead, and the facilities that are available, that tends to provide them with reassurance.