‘Blunder’ As Maternity Services Consultation Responses Lost In Post

It was revealed today some responses to a consultation over plans to shake up some healthcare services in North Wales have been lost in the post.

A spokesperson for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “We have discovered that some responses sent to the local BCUHB Freepost address in North Wales during the early weeks of the consultation may not have been delivered to us by the Royal Mail. We are disappointed by this and have asked Royal Mail to investigate how this happened.

“If you used this Freepost address to send a letter to the Board about the consultation and gave us your address, you will have been sent an acknowledgement. We would like to invite anyone who has concerns that their letter may not have been received to contact us free of charge on 0800 169 3142 so we can confirm their response. We will of course accept a late response where any letter has not been received.”

They added: “This only affects some responses sent to this Freepost address and we do not believe these to be large numbers.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Chairman of the North Wales Health Alliance said: “It seems that everything this Health Board touches turns to rust. There was a popular outcry against the Board’s proposals to downgrade maternity services in north Wales, and many thousands of people will have sent submissions to the consultation. Regardless of who’s to blame, this shambles will undoubtedly create doubts in people’s minds as to the legitimacy of the consultation. That is why it is paramount now that the Health Board takes immediate action to rectify this, and ensure that people’s voices are heard.”

Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru AM for North Wales said: “The news that representations to the consultation that were sent to the Freepost address might have gone lost is disappointing to say the least, and further undermines the credibility of this process.

“While this may not be the fault of the Health Board they are duty bound to ensure that this is fixed and that those who wish to make their voices heard are listened too. People gave compelling and eloquent arguments in favour of retaining our maternity services across north Wales in the public meetings, and it would be a travesty if some of these went lost and were not taken into consideration.

“I would therefore urge the Health Board to allow people to send representations in for another month and work with all agencies, including elected representatives to ensure that this message reaches everyone that is likely to be impacted by these proposals.”

The Conservative candidate for the forthcoming Assembly Elections Andrew Atkinson said: “The consultation must be a proper, robust chance for local people to submit their views. Anything that has damaged that undermines the credibility of the consultation.”

Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for Health, Darren Millar AM, said: “This blunder has to be seen to be believed. One of the most important consultations for the future of health services in north Wales in recent times – and someone’s lost weeks’ worth of responses.”

The Health Board said ‘the overwhelming majority of responses – questionnaires and letters sent to the Freepost address for Opinion Research Services in Swansea (as shown on the consultation questionnaires), emails to the [email protected] and phone calls to the freephone number – have not been affected in any way.’

Pic: One of the packed meetings held in Wrexham during the consultation.