JANET Finch-Saunders, MS for Aberconwy, has praised efforts made to maintain and expand services at Llandudno General Hospital.

Mrs Finch-Saunders attended a meeting with the Llandudno Hospital Action Group (LHAG) to discuss a plan of action, in which Chairman Councillor Carol Marubbi committed to organising an LHAG annual general meeting.

Furthermore, it was agreed that the Health Board should look to undertake additional long term strategic planning to understand what staff they need in a year from now.

Mrs Finch-Saunders has also committed to continuing her work to enhance a North Wales Medical School to help to retain high skilled medically trained professionals in the region.

The MS for Aberconwy said: “In August, waiting figure statistics showed that Betsi Cadwaladr was the worst performing Health Board in Wales with only 64.9% patients seen within the 4-hour target."

This news is in stark contrast to Llandudno General Hospital, where it was revealed that no patients had been seen at the site’s Ambulatory Care Unit (ACU) in 2021.

Mrs Finch-Saunders added: “I have long believed that Llandudno Hospital is being underutilised.

“It is incredibly sad that many constituents feel they have little choice by to choose to drive to Glan Clwyd or Gwynedd because the emergency department has been downgraded in Llandudno.

“I was pleased, therefore, to find support among members of the LHAG today that the list of responsibilities for the Minor Injury Unit at Llandudno should be reviewed to determine whether it can offer greater assistance.

“We also agreed that the Ambulatory Care Unit must reopen to patients at the earliest possible opportunity.

“Part of the problem in expanding any provision at the site is an entrenched recruitment crisis.

“This is why I will continue to urge the Welsh Government to plant the seeds for beanstalk-sized growth in recruitment through maximising the potential of a North Wales Medical School.”

Among the facilities at Llandudno General Hospital are an Osteoporosis Unit and Rheumatology Unit.

Llandudno Hospital continues to host the only bone centre in North Wales and there are no plans to move or reduce this service.