Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has expressed deep concern that the most recent assessed grades of stroke units show that all units in North Wales are underperforming.  

Grades assessed by the Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme, scored on grades A to E for each stroke unit in Wales, as well as England and Northern Ireland, have been published this week.

They cover the period from October to December 2021, and show that the three main hospitals in North Wales, Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Wrexham Maelor and Ysbyty Gwynedd, have all received low grades.

They each received an overall grade of ‘D’, with ‘E’ being the lowest, and in the ‘Admission to stroke unit’ category, each received an ‘E’.

Ysbty Gwynedd also scored an ‘E’ in the  ‘Thrombolysis (clot busting drugs)’ and ‘Occupational Therapy’ categories.

Commenting of the low grades, Darren said:

“Another week and yet another set of poor results for our hospitals here in North Wales.

“It is absolutely appalling that all three hospitals are performing so badly and not providing stroke patients with the level of care and services which they need.

“This simply isn’t acceptable, and like all the other failings which have been highlighted at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in recent times these need urgently looking at and addressing.    

“Patients in North Wales cannot continue to be let down in this way,”