Sarah Atherton MP calls for new hospital to be built in Wrexham

Sarah Atherton believes that Wrexham needs a 'modern, fit for purpose' hospital that can treat patients when needed.

Ms Atherton has regularly discussed the need for improved healthcare services in Wrexham, following regular conversations with constituents. 

Earlier this year she highlighted some of the complaints she had received from patients including people waiting 12 hours in the back of ambulances and a family taking out a £13k loan for an operation. 

Now, following on from a meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr's acting Chief Executive, she believes the city needs a new hospital. 

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She said: "Healthcare is always one of my top priorities and when it comes to Wrexham, the Welsh Government has frankly neglected health services.

"Despite the UK Government handing the Welsh Government £18 billion a year, which is the largest annual funding settlement to Wales since devolution began, access to healthcare in Wrexham is getting worse. 

"Last Friday, I met with the acting Chief Executive of BCUHB to discuss winter bed pressures, the shocking emergency treatment wait times, and pending strikes.

Sarah Atherton

"With the Wrexham Maelor Hospital recently being ranked the worst in Wales for the number of patients seen within the four-hour waiting time target, improvements cannot wait any longer.

"This is why I am calling for a new hospital to be built in Wrexham, one that is modern, fit for purpose, and has the capacity to treat patients when needed.

"It is particularly worrying that whilst I already hear horrendous healthcare stories from constituents, the Welsh Government continues to fail to prioritise spending money where it matters most to constituents and does not address these issues."

A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “We have provided funding to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board to improve services delivered at Wrexham Maelor hospital. The new outpatients’ building, part of a larger transformation programme, will help improve patients’ experience, reduce waiting times and relieve pressures on the hospital. The health board is also due to submit a business case in early 2023 for further improvements at Wrexham Maelor.  

“We are also providing the health board with nearly £3m to improve its urgent and emergency cares services, part of £25m of Welsh Government funding each year for the transformation of these essential services across Wales. This includes increasing staffing in crucial areas to help people access services as close to home as possible and reduce pressure on emergency departments.”

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board did not want to comment.