A disaster relief organisation has been giving non-medical assistance to Welsh hospitals.
And during the first month of the Red Cross trial, which covers seven general hospitals across Wales, 70% of the help was focused on Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Bodelwyddan.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which has remained in "special measures" since June 2015, will benefit from the aid until March.
In the first month of the trial, between December 17, 2018, and January 16, 2019, Wrexham Maelor patients were helped out on 2,532 occasions and 2,870 service users were assisted at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. Across Wales 8,691 patients were aided by the philanthropic organisation.
Plaid Cymru AM Llyr Gruffydd welcomed the intervention but called on Welsh Government to keep the help going for longer.
He said: "It’s clearly a big help to the overall running of the hospitals involved in this trial and the statistics confirm that this service, which is only funded until the end of March, is needed on a more permanent basis.
"There’s no such thing as 'winter pressure' any more – there are year-round pressures and they desperately need addressing."
The charity is helping patients collect their medication, equipment and test results, as well as accompanying patients to other departments such as X-ray - plus offering emotional support to beleaguered hospitals.
It comes as part of the Welsh Government’s £20m integrated winter delivery plan, with the Red Cross services running until the end of March.
Cathrin Manning, who is part of the Red Cross team supporting Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Emergency Department, said: "We have seen first-hand how busy the departments can be and we are pleased to have been able to provide extra support for patients and the staff."
At the recent twice-yearly meeting of the Welsh Government, Wales Audit Office and Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, it was decided to keep Betsi Cadwaladr in special measures.
Of the nine health boards in Wales five are under some form of monitoring or intervention but Betsi remains the only health board to have been placed under the severest form of stricture.
