Welsh Government accused of “continuing to fail patients” after damning Ysbyty Glan Clwyd report released
The Welsh Government have been accused of “continuing to fail patients” across North Wales following the release of a damning report into the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) found a “significant disconnect” between the ward and Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board during a follow-up inspection in May.
The inspection was undertaken to follow up on the significant concerns HIW identified during a previous quality check undertaken in March 2022.
However inspectors found that there was a lack of improvement to an “acceptable standard” in relation to concerns identified in March 2022.
As a result, HIW designated the emergency department in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement (SRSI) on 9 May 2022.
A report released yesterday revealed additional areas of concern relating to patient safety were also raised following the inspection.
There were also concerns around the effectiveness of arrangements for assessing, monitoring, observing, and escalating unwell or deteriorating patients.
In reviewing the care records of 12 patients who had been triaged and were awaiting further assessment, treatment or intervention, HIW found “significant issues relating to the timely provision of medical and nursing care”.
One patient with chest pain and ECG abnormalities was placed in waiting area for five hours with no further escalation. Another who, despite having been recorded by a doctor as possibly having had a stroke, was placed in the waiting room for over 17 hours with infrequent observations and no documented checks until 12 hours after arrival.
HIW also found some infection prevention and control procedures were insufficient in clinic and treatment rooms, with a number of items of equipment used for invasive treatments found to be out of date and in some cases perished.
This included some equipment which expired in 2017.
The Welsh Government have now been described as failing patients across the region by the Welsh Conservatives.
Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS, said: “Once again, the Labour Government in Cardiff Bay is failing the people of North Wales.
“It will be deeply alarming to people across the region that the situation at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd still isn’t getting things right despite being put into targeted intervention – Labour ministers need to step up and take responsibility for their failings.
“It is becoming ever more evident that Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board was only taken out of special measures ahead of the Senedd Elections for purely political reasons.
“It is unbelievable that Labour are focusing their efforts on expanding the Senedd rather than address the issues facing the NHS, especially in North Wales.”
Plaid Cymru have described the issues raised by the inspectorate as “another damning report”.
Spokesperson for Health and Social Care, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, said: “Another week, another damning report, and more concerns for patients safety. When will this end?
“This report again speaks of patients being put at risk and staff ‘working above and beyond in challenging conditions’.
“I have little faith in Welsh Government’s ‘targeted interventions’, and once again I call on the Health Minister to look at how starting again with new health structures in the north could provide the fresh start patients and staff need.
“It’s not because I particularly want a health reorganisation but that I think we have little choice.”
Welsh Liberal Democrat Leader Jane Dodds added: “This the latest in a number of alarming reports regarding Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board.
“It is abundantly clear that the board was taken out of special measures before it was appropriate to do so.
“Patients and staff must now get the reassurances needed from Labour that things are going to change.
“The Welsh Government must work with the health board to take significant action immediately.”
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