A NORTH Wales health board which has seen a 'slight' improvement in waiting times continues to face significant challenges.

New figures, on time spent waiting in accident and emergency departments in Wales, show that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) recorded the lowest four hour rate for an individual health board for the last year and the worst 12-hour rate for the last three years.

In August, Glan Clwyd Hospital, alongside Wrexham Maelor Hospital, achieved the worst accident and emergency performance for a Welsh hospital since records began. In that month, 5,150 patients attended Glan Clwyd Hospital's A&E - 2,722 patients spend less than the four hour target time (52.9 per cent) and in terms of the 12 hour target time, 5,150 attended and 4,278 (83.1 per cent) spent less than the target time in the emergency department.

Statistics, released by Welsh Government, show that when looking at performance against the four hour waiting times target, Glan Clwyd Hospital's A&E department had 4,566 visits in November. A total of 2,755 patients spent less than the target time in A&E (60.3 per cent). In October, 4,861 came through the doors - 2,842 patients spent less that the target time in A&E (58.5 per cent).

In terms of performance against the eight hour waiting time target, in November, Glan Clwyd Hospital's A&E department has 4,566 patients - 3,601 spent less than the target time (78.9 per cent).

Against the 12 hour waiting time target, In November, at A&E at Glan Clwyd Hospital, 4,566 patients came through the door and 3,947 (86.4 per cent) spent less than the target time.

In October, 4,861 patients attended the Bodelwyddan A&E - 4,042 spent less than the target time (83.2 per cent)

When asked for a response to the new figures, Gary Doherty, chief executive of BCUHB, which has been in special measures for more than three years, said: "We are pleased there has been an improvement in waiting times across all of our Emergency Departments. We have also seen a reduction in the time people have to wait when they arrive at hospital in an ambulance, a reduction in delays for ambulances at our hospitals, and fewer delays for those people who are ready to go home from hospital, and we are determined to improve further.

"As part of the 90-day improvement programme we launched in October, we are working closely with partners to coordinate action across all parts of the system including community services, hospitals, voluntary sector, social care and the ambulance service. This work is focusing on three key areas, which are managing demand, patient flow and supporting patients to leave hospital when they are ready. To support this work we have invested additional funding from Welsh Government in a strengthened senior leadership team, plus additional management capacity and capability across our hospital sites.

"While we have seen improvements in our performance in recent months we know there is still more to do and we are now entering that time of year when we expect to see an increase in demand for our services. I would also like to thank our staff for their continued hard work and dedication.”

In terms of Wales as a whole - against the four hour waiting times target - in November, there was 82,476 patients in attendance across all emergency care facilities, 66,092 spent less than four hours in A&E (80.1 per cent).

There was no real change from October which saw a total of 89,083 in this bracket - 71,277 patients spent less than the target time in A&E (80 per cent).

Wales overall, with the 12 target, in November had 82,476 patients - 78,916 spent less than the target time in A&E (95.7 per cent) and in October, once again there was largely no change, but 6,000 more people went to A&E - 89,083 patients attended and 85,122 (95.6 per cent) spent less than the 12 hour target time in A&E.