4 days ago
MS for North Wales visits Wrexham dementia support group
MS for North Wales
I was pleased to visit the Wrexham Dementia Hub with Alzheimer's Society Cymru, and to meet and talk with a support group for people living with dementia and carers which was running during my visit.
With 51,000 people living with dementia in Wales, and this figure set to rise by 37% to almost 70,000 people by 2040, this type of support is essential.
The Dementia Hub is a one-stop information centre anchored in the heart of the community for all things dementia related.
Whether it be carers, individuals with a diagnosis, professional health workers, or those who want to educate themselves on the topic, the Hub can signpost to information and services to support each visitor.
Wales needs a new Dementia Action Plan with a bold commitment to meet the needs of people who are living with dementia.
Other engagements included a research study interview to understand policy makers' perceptions of certain chronic diseases, with particular focus on Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) lung conditions, how they impact the healthcare system and the best policy responses.
The latest NHS statistics for Wales revealed NHS treatment waiting lists remain at 790,020 pathways, equivalent to nearly 1-in-4 Welsh people.
Over 10,000 patients waited in A&E for over 12 hours in April. The target is zero.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has the worst performance in Wales against the Welsh Government's 4-hour and 12-hour targets for A&E.
Although two-year waits have fallen, they remain at 8,389 in Wales, compared with only 147 in England, with the majority - 5,747 - in the Health Board for North Wales, Betsi Cadwaladr. June 8th 2025 marks 10 years since the Welsh Government first placed Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in special measures.
It cannot be right that since special measures were introduced, the number of patient pathways have increased by 129%, and the number of two year-waits have increased by 287,250%.
The Labour Health Minister, now First Minister, Eluned Morgan, promised to eliminate these waits by March 2023, then March 2024, but these targets have still not been met.
Next week in the Senedd, the Welsh Conservatives will be putting forward a motion calling on the Welsh Government to initiate a public inquiry into Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
As I said in my speech at the recent Welsh Conservative Party Conference, 'Despite the dedication of frontline staff, our Welsh NHS is on urgent care'.
Lives must not be put at risk and change is urgently needed.
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