“RAPID action” is needed to open a long-awaited new community hospital in Rhyl amid “unacceptable” pressure at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan, a MS has said.

Darren Millar, MS for Clwyd West, made these comments following an ITV Wales visit to Glan Clwyd, which found more than 50 patients waiting in its 20-bed emergency department.

Plans for a new hospital, on the former Royal Alexandra site in Rhyl, were revealed in 2013, but have yet to materialise.

Proposals included community beds, a same day minor injuries and illness service, a treatment zone, outpatient therapy services, sexual health, community dental, radiology, adult psychology and mental health services.

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Mr Millar said: “The pressure on staff and patients at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is unacceptable and must be addressed. 

“Many of these challenges are down to a lack of hospital beds due to the closure of hospitals and axing of wards in Rhyl, Prestatyn, St Asaph and Denbigh in recent years.

“With an aging population we now need rapid action to deliver the North Denbighshire Community Hospital and Minor Injuries Department that was promised to local residents over 10 years ago but has yet to be started.

“If Welsh Government has money to burn on changing speed limits and more politicians then it can afford to invest in our NHS.”

Gareth Davies, MS for Vale of Clwyd, added: “Waiting times reported by patients back in June were obscene, and the continued improvements promised by Welsh Government have not materialised and have in fact worsened as we enter the winter months.

“As usual, the promises made by Welsh Government, such as the construction of the North Denbighshire Community Hospital, have not been kept, and continued inaction have led to this current situation.

“Welsh Government must work with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to urgently ease pressures at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd which is now at breaking point.

“The people of Vale of Clwyd and across North Wales deserve better than this utter shambles under Labour.”

In response, A Welsh Government spokesperson said: “The NHS across the UK is experiencing unprecedented demand for its services.

“We ask a lot of our NHS and every day; NHS staff are there for all of us when we need them most.

“We are facing the toughest financial situation since devolution, as a result of 13 years of this UK Government.

“We will continue to support the NHS by providing much-needed funding to help it respond to these pressures.

“We are investing in same-day emergency care and extra community beds and continuing to integrate health and social care services to help improve patient flow through hospitals and tackle ambulance handover delays.

“This includes an additional £6million for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for its local urgent and emergency care improvement programme and £400,000 to improve the environment in emergency departments in North Wales.

“There has been improvement against key ambulance patient handover and 12-hour performance measures at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, but there is still more to do.”

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was also approached for comment.