Wrexham MP, Sarah Atherton and Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths, have commented on the ongoing issues at the Maelor Hospital. 

Last week, the leader reported on a woman with Parkinson's disease who waited more than 19 hours in Wrexham Maelor A&E after being advised to visit for a suspected blood clot. 

Joanne Ellis, age 54, was sent directly to A&E after attending a GP appointment at 4pm on Thursday, March 23.

Over 19 hours later at 11am on Friday, March 24, Joanne was still waiting to receive a CT scan.

Several Leader readers commented on this story to share their own experiences in A&E. 

Emma Jones said: "I was in on Wednesday, I sat in A&E for 26 hours before leaving as I was in more pain sitting on them solid chairs rather than a bed! I need a procedure but no way am I going back to the Maelor for it!"

Joanne Edwards, said: "My dad recently got rushed in with suspected sepsis and a stroke. He lay in the ambulance for 24 hours before even being admitted to A&E. He slept in it overnight.

"There were nine ambulances in front of us when he arrived. He then spent two days in A&E before going to the ACU due to lack of beds! In the end he had suffered a stroke. We are lucky he didn’t die in that ambulance!"

Some residents shared their positive experiences of A&E and commended NHS staff for their hard work. Emma Beech Robinson said: "My husband was sent there by the doctors just over three months ago with suspected blood clots and while A&E was so so busy he was seen and they started running tests and anticoagulants within two hours.

"The staff and doctors were brilliant. The blood clots they found and he was very lucky. The follow up care and scans he had since due to complications with the clots has been really good and can’t fault his consultant."

Natalie Roberts shared her experience visiting with her son, she said: "I had to take my son this morning and it was manic in there. I cannot complain as my son was seen and treated very quickly.

"There were lots of people in there this morning all saying how long they had been waiting and the tannoy system kept repeating over and over that the wait was 13 hours to see a doctor!"

Sarah Atherton, MP for Wrexham, said: "Sadly, I am acutely aware of the deteriorating situation at the Maelor Hospital and it is disappointing that healthcare services, treatment, and waiting times seem to be worsening.

"Having managed to secure an urgent meeting with the Interim Executive Director of BCUHB, Gill Harris at the end of April, I can assure Wrexham residents that these issues will be raised.

"Time and time again, the Welsh Government continues to let my constituents down with substandard health services and as such, I will continue the campaign for better healthcare for Wrexham.

"If individuals are having issues with healthcare services and need help, please do not hesitate to get in touch with my office via sarah.atherton.mp@parliament.uk."

Wrexham’s Member of the Senedd, Lesley Griffiths said: “These incidents highlighted by the Wrexham Leader are concerning and I sympathise with all those involved. However, it is important to remember the majority of constituents receive excellent care from the Maelor Hospital day in and day out.

“Whenever constituents contact me about health issues, I write on their behalf to the relevant bodies. I also meet regularly with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) representatives, enabling me to raise any local issues and ensure the authorities are aware of patients’ day-to-day experiences. 

"Last week I had a meeting with two Health Board Directors to discuss Primary Care provision and dental provision and I will continue to do all I can to help ensure patients in Wrexham receive the best possible services and care.

“Health services across the UK are facing unprecedented pressures and residents will be aware BCUHB was placed in special measures last month. I welcome this decision and believe the increased level of support and targeted intervention will improve consistency, safety and quality. 

"The most important thing now is for the new Chairman, Dyfed Edwards, and the three independent members of the Health Board to be allowed to get on with their job for the next 12 months and improve health care for my constituents.”

Regarding Joanne Ellis' situation in A&E, Michelle Greene, Director of BCUHB’s East Integrated Health Community, said: “The Emergency Department at Wrexham Maelor Hospital has been extremely busy in recent days, resulting in much longer waiting times than we would like for our patients, despite the best efforts of our hard working nursing and medical staff.

"I apologise to all those who have faced long waits to be treated and discharged, or to be transferred to a hospital bed.

“We are working tirelessly to ensure that patients are seen in order of clinical priority as quickly and as safely as possible.

"While we have significantly improved waiting times at the Emergency Department in recent months as a result of some of the changes put in place, we recognise that at times some patients wait longer than we aspire to.

“Patients who do not need full emergency hospital treatment may find that they can get appropriate advice and care from other NHS services, including minor injuries units and local pharmacies, details of which are available on the health board website, or by calling NHS 111 Wales."