MPs are calling for assurances from a health board following “poor” A&E waiting time figures.

The Leader reported last week how according to figures for December 2019, the worst-performing hospital for A&E waiting times in Wales was Wrexham Maelor, which saw a little over half (52.2 per cent) of patients within the four-hour target.

According to the data, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) – which has been in special measures since June 2015 – was the worst-performing health board, with just 66.8 per cent of patients being seen within the critical four-hour period.

Some 6,656 patients were forced to wait more than 12 hours for treatment.

The seven Conservative MPs across North Wales have now expressed concern over the “poor waiting time figures”.

A spokesman for the MPs said: “These figures are the latest in a very long sequence of under performance by the BCUHB.

“The delivery of health services in Wales is the responsibility of the Labour Welsh Government.

“The BCUHB has been in special measures for almost five years.

“Health matters are top of the list of complaints we receive in our post bags and performance in key areas such as waiting times has been below what residents expect.

“We are meeting with the chairman of the BCUHB early in February.

“We will be seeking assurances that the right leadership is in place to turn around this performance and that the funding provided by the Conservative UK government for health is finding its way to residents.”

A Welsh Government spokesman said: “Like other parts of the UK, emergency departments and ambulance services are experiencing increasing and changing demand which is affecting performance.

“We continue to increase the budget for the NHS in Wales and spend more on health than England, now six per cent more per head.

“We also provided an extra £40 million this winter to support health boards and social services.

“Under special measures we have put in place robust arrangements to hold the health board to account in making improvements.

“Progress has been made, with maternity services and GP out-of-hours services now out of special measures.

“We have also provided additional funding to address long waits for treatment, including an extra £20m this financial year.”

A BCUHB spokesman explained: “Last month we saw more seriously ill or injured people in our Emergency Departments than ever before.

“This put our staff and services under extreme pressure and we would like to apologise to anyone who waited longer than they should while we provided care and support for those with the greatest need.

“During December, Emergency Departments across the UK experienced an unprecedented increased demand and an increase in the number of patients categorised as majors.

“Our EDs across North Wales treated more than 10,000 people in this category for the first time ever.

“We continue to urge people to help us deliver the best care we can by choosing the most appropriate place to get care and support when they need it.

“For more information people can call NHS Direct Wales on 0845 46 47, visit the Choose Well website (www.choosewellwales.org.uk) or download the free Choose Well Wales app.”