PATIENTS at Glan Clwyd Hospital awaiting breast cancer test results may have to travel to Wrexham or Bangor for an appointment.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) said a national shortage of radiologists, who specialise in breast imaging, has impacted on their ability to recruit and ‘consistently meet all of the necessary requirements’ to deliver Rapid Access Breast Clinics at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

One patient, who asked not to be named, has been awaiting breast cancer results for more than two weeks.

She has been informed that the Bodelwyddan based hospital is waiting to appoint a radiographer and is ‘offloading’ people to Wrexham or Bangor.

A spokesperson for BCUHB said: “We are exploring all options to enable us to deliver this service [Rapid Access Breast Clinics at Glan Clwyd Hospital] with the resources we have.

“This may mean that patients are offered an appointment at Ysbyty Gwynedd or Wrexham Maelor Hospital to enable them to be seen in the shortest time possible.

“This does not affect our ability to operate or deliver other components of the service.”