An expert panel will now look at how the set-up will work

People living in the area currently go to Liverpool for planned neurosurgery.

But Health Minister Edwina Hart has said she wants Welsh patients treated in Wales wherever possible, and added no patients would be disadvantaged.

Earlier this month, Ms Hart put controversial plans to shut the specialist unit in Swansea on hold.

An expert report had recommended the service be centralised in Cardiff, but, following protests, Ms Hart said she wanted a fresh approach and would keep the unit in Morriston Hospital open.

Expecting people who may not be well to travel to a place they don't know and are not familiar with seems to me to be crazy Darren Millar AM

She said she wanted to make sure as many non-emergency operations as possible were done in Cardiff and Swansea.

Ms Hart also warned Wales could lose part of its service unless best use was made of it.

But Tory AM Darren Millar, who represents Clwyd West, said the current arrangement for north Wales patients was "very satisfactory".

"It's been in place for a number of years and it has served the people of north Wales well," he said.

"To expect people from north Wales now to have a 400-mile round trip is totally unacceptable.

"Expecting people who may not be well to travel to a place they don't know and are not familiar with seems to me to be crazy."

And Aberconwy AM Gareth Jones, who represents Plaid, asked whether there was an alternative to having two specialist centres in south Wales.

There have been protests over the possible closure at Swansea

"If there's a choice, then surely north Wales needs to be considered," he said.

"Certainly places like Llandudno would be ideally situated for that kind of enhancement."

Ms Hart has said that emergency cases will be dealt with at the closest hospital available, and has asked an expert group to look at how the set-up would work in practice.

The panel, which will look at a scheme to pay travel costs, is due to report back in October.

Eluned Kidd, from Llanfairfechan near Conwy, had a brain tumour earlier this year and said she felt it was essential to have been close enough for her family to visit.