NORTH Wales' health board has responded to a 'tacit suggestion' that Richard Madeley received preferential hospital treatment.

The Good Morning Britain presenter was taken ill at the I'm a Celebrity camp at Gwyrch Castle, near Abergele, last week.

He was taken to hospital as a "precaution", but was reportedly seen within an hour and a half.

It comes just weeks after a letter written by consultants was sent to Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's bosses - which claimed patients are dying in ambulances and waiting rooms due to overcrowded emergency departments at North Wales hospitals.

Doctors working at emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd and Wrexham Maelor warned that overcrowding is causing patients to wait up to 24 hours to be assessed.

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board has responded to a "tacit" claim in the media that Madeley was awarded preferential treatment.

It issued a statement which read: "In today’s media coverage of Richard Madeley’s recent hospitalisation, there has been a tacit suggestion that he was given preferential treatment.

"We are unable to comment on the prioritisation or treatment of any individual patients.

"However, we wish to remind people that in line with the founding principles of the NHS, we always prioritise patients on the basis of clinical need, irrespective of their celebrity status."