Concerns have been raised about operations being cancelled because of delays in the pre-operative assessment process at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Bangor Conwy Môn, says clinicians have told her that between four and five operations a day are being cancelled because patients are not completing the necessary pre-operative assessment in time.

The pre-operative assessment, commonly known as POAC, is an important part of preparing a patient for surgery. It allows clinical teams to check a patient's health, medications and other factors before an operation, helping to identify any potential risks and make sure they are fit for the planned procedure.

According to the concerns raised with Ms Finch-Saunders, some surgeons have been unable to complete planned operating lists, with working days reportedly finishing as early as 11am rather than continuing through to the afternoon.

The clinicians have attributed the reported delays to increased staff sickness and administrative difficulties in arranging POAC appointments, including a requirement for prior consent before some appointments can be booked.

Ms Finch-Saunders has written to the Welsh Government's Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care and the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr asking for clarification about the situation and what action is being taken.

She said that ensuring surgeons can complete their planned operating lists and reducing delays in pre-operative assessment would help patients receive treatment sooner.

The concerns come against a wider backdrop of pressure on planned surgery in North Wales, where the health board is dealing with significant waiting lists. Any cancelled operation can mean a patient having to wait longer for treatment, while an unused operating theatre slot also represents surgical capacity that cannot be used for another patient.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has not, at this stage, publicly confirmed the reported figure of four to five cancelled operations a day or the reasons given by the clinicians. The health board will have an opportunity to respond to the concerns raised.