Over the past two years, over 8,500 patients died while on treatment waiting lists in North Wales. The fate of these patients if they had received treatment is currently unknown.

Janet Finch-Saunders, Welsh Parliament Member for Aberconwy, expressed concern over these figures gained through a Freedom of Information request.

She called out the Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board and Welsh Government for claimed failures in improving waiting times, and demanded the resignation of the First Minister Eluned Morgan.

Mrs. Finch-Saunders said: "These figures are deeply concerning and highlight the significant failings of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Welsh Government, and decade long special measures.

“When considering that over 80,000 pathways are waiting longer than 36 weeks here in the North, and that around 6,106 are waiting two years for treatment, it is clear that the waiting time crisis is completely out of control.

“Along with the number of patients dying on the waiting list, 965 patients were dropped off as a result of going privately over the last two years.

“The First Minister has made it a personal mission to improve waiting times. She has failed. She should resign.

“The Health Board is failing to improve waiting times. The management has failed. Executives should be cleared out and a new, fresh team put in place.

“Those still waiting horrendously long times, should they be willing to travel, should be offered treatment in hospitals elsewhere in the United Kingdom”.