A Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report on an inspection of Wrexham Maelor Hospital’s Heddfan Psychiatric Unit has found that inspectors “were not assured that staff and patients were being fully protected and safeguarded against injury”.

The report also noted that:

• there were a high number of vacancies on both wards at the time of our inspection, with most staff saying they felt there were not enough staff to enable them to do their job properly, and a reliance on agency staff to reduce staffing pressures;
• were not assured that staff and patients were being fully protected and safeguarded against injury;
• improvements were required in respect of governance, record keeping and medications management; and
• the monthly ligature audit workbook had not been completed since February 2022, which could threaten patient safety.

Commenting, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales Darren Millar MS said:

“In spite of Labour Government special measures and targeted intervention for almost eight years, mental health services in North Wales still need to improve.

“It will be alarming to patients and their families that inspectors were unable to assure themselves that patients were safeguarded against injury and that governance, record-keeping, and medicines management were also found wanting.

“It is alarming that services which have been subject to so much scrutiny by Labour ministers in recent years still aren’t up to scratch. Labour must get to grips with these issues and deliver the improvements they have promised.”