Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar, has called on the Welsh Government to take immediate action following today’s announcement that the Emergency Department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has been designated by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) as a “Service Requiring Significant Improvement”, with patient safety at risk.
On Monday 9 May 2022, in accordance with its escalation process, HIW held a service of concern meeting to discuss the Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Bodelwyddan at which the service was considered and consequently identified as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement.
This designation is based on an accumulation of evidence, originating in January 2022, leading to the completion of a Quality Check on 8 March 2022 and an unannounced onsite inspection that took place on 3-5 May 2022. Several patient safety concerns were identified during this period.
During the most recent inspection (3-5 May 2022) HIW identified areas where Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s (BCUHB) actions in response to the previous Quality Check had not led to improvement.
Commenting, Darren said:
“Today’s news is deeply concerning, but sadly not shocking given the correspondence in my inbox in recent months.
“It is alarming that in spite of being given the opportunity to develop an action plan and implement change, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has been incapable of being able to demonstrate sufficient progress against several key areas of concern relating to patient safety and quality of care.
“I find it appalling that a Health Board that was previously in special measures – under direct Welsh Government control – does not appear to have the capacity or ability to address serious concerns about patient safety quickly.
“Patients in North Wales deserve better and with ongoing concerns over mental health services, vascular services and other aspects of care Cardiff based Ministers urgently need to get a grip of this situation and deliver the improvements we so desperately need.”
He added:
“The Health Board clearly wasn’t ready for special measures to be withdrawn prior to the last Senedd elections and today’s announcement suggests that the Health Minister’s decision was purely political and not based on evidence.”
