First Minister visits new surgical centre ahead of opening

The First Minister has visited a new £29m surgical centre in north Wales ahead of its opening next month, with ministers saying it will help cut waiting times for planned operations.

Eluned Morgan was given a tour of the new North Wales Surgical Centre at Llandudno Hospital, a purpose-built orthopaedic facility funded by the Welsh Government.

The centre has been designed to carry out high-volume, low-complexity procedures, and is expected to deliver around 1,900 operations a year – treating an additional 730 patients annually.

Facilities include two new operating theatres, 19 extra beds and an eight-bed enhanced recovery and post-anaesthetic care unit.

Health leaders say the hub will help reduce cancellations and improve efficiency by separating planned surgery from urgent and emergency care pressures.

The first patients are expected to be treated in May.

Speaking during the visit, the First Minister said the new facility would play a key role in improving access to treatment.

“I’m delighted to have a behind-the-scenes look at this new, dedicated orthopaedic surgical hub, which is great news for people who need surgery in north Wales,” she said.

“We know that emergency care can have a real impact on waiting lists for surgery. Creating a dedicated site like this will help protect surgery and make sure more people get their operations on time.”

She added that recent investment and NHS efforts had already led to improvements.

“Following the additional investment we’ve provided and the hard work of NHS staff, we’ve seen a record fall in NHS waiting lists – they are now at their lowest level in almost six years.

“The North Wales Surgical Centre, together with other investments in our NHS, will help improve access to care and bring waiting times down even further.”

The centre will be run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which is responsible for healthcare services across north Wales.

‘Step forward’

Its chair, Dyfed Edwards, described the development as a “significant step forward” for planned care in the region.

“The development of the North Wales Surgical Centre at Llandudno Hospital will help us to protect planned care from the pressures of urgent and emergency demand,” he said.

“It will also make a real difference to our patients who have been waiting for treatment and want to get back to living their lives without pain or limitation.”

He added that the health board was grateful for government support and praised staff preparing the facility for opening.

“We look forward to welcoming our first patients during May 2026,” he said.