THE Emergency Department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd has been rated an area of extreme concern by Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW), with calls for Welsh Government to take immediate action.
On May 9, 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”.
Areas highlighted for urgent improvement in the HIW report included “several patient safety concerns being identified”, and the report added: “During the most recent inspection (3-5 May 2022) we identified areas where the health board’s actions in response to the previous Quality Check had not led to improvement.
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“Consequently, having considered the findings and evidence gathered since January 2022, HIW has determined that the health board has not been able to demonstrate sufficient progress against several key areas of concern relating to patient safety and quality of care.”
This designation is based on an accumulation of evidence, originating in January 2022, leading to the completion of a Quality Check on March 8 and an unannounced onsite inspection that took place between May 3-5.
Jo Whitehead, chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, released a statement which said: “It is clear from this report, and HIW’s subsequent visit, patients received a standard of care well below what they, and we, expect.
“We have fallen short of those expectations and we must, and we will, do better.
“On behalf of the health board I apologise to those patients who did not receive the care they deserve.
“I can assure the public, senior leaders already have more robust oversight of the Emergency Department at Glan Clwyd Hospital, including different models of care which are designed to ensure earlier assessment of patients.
“We take our duty of care to patients very seriously and we are working with HIW to put things right.”
“We continue to be extremely stretched in our emergency departments across North Wales, which together with staff shortages puts a greater stress on those who are working, often having to cover extra shifts so our departments can function.
“This situation is compounded because we are seeing more people who are very unwell on arrival at our emergency departments.
“This is not to deflect from the findings of this report, which we accept in its entirety. It was extremely disappointing to read.”
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Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to take immediate action following today’s announcement that patient safety at the Emergency Department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is at risk, calling the inability to have addressed previous concerns “appalling”.
“Today’s news is deeply concerning, but sadly not shocking given the correspondence in my inbox in recent months,” said Mr Millar.
“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.
“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.”
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