Image caption: Reports say patients were treated like “animals” at the now-closed Tawell Fan ward in Isbyty Glan Creed, Bodelwyddan, Denbighshire. Article information Author: Nicholas Bourne Post: BBC News
34 minutes ago
A new apology has been issued over the “poor care” given to some patients at Wales' largest hospital.
It follows a review of measures taken following four critical reports dating back to 2013 into mental health services run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
The organisation manages the NHS in North Wales.
An update considering how recommendations from previous reports have been implemented is due to be presented to the board on Thursday.
Chief executive Carol Sirabia, who was not in her role when the four reports were published, said the investigation was “an opportunity for the board to follow up on previous boards and make a further public apology for the poor care provided in the past”.
“It is clear that the NHS in North Wales, and in particular the health board, has failed patients and their families at a time when they were most vulnerable,” she said in an update.
What were the contents of the four reports?
The review team focused on patient- and user-centred care, legislation and clinical guidelines, staffing, management structures, clinical service organisation, training, resources and the physical environment, and used a traffic light system to assess the implementation of the recommendations in all four reports.
Image caption, The investigation raised concerns about the excessive number of temporary roles and that some staff have been in such roles for “significant periods”.
What did the latest review find?
Of the 84 recommendations, six were rated red, meaning there was no evidence of implementation, 41 were rated yellow, indicating there had been some progress but not good progress, and 31 were rated green, where there was good or strong evidence that the recommendations were being put into practice.Among the concerns highlighted were a lack of electronic records and a lack of investment in infrastructure, which bosses say are being addressed.
“We believe that the lack of an electronic records system in a board with many departments spread across a very large geographic area and multiple clinical teams poses significant governance risks in terms of information sharing and access to up-to-date and contemporaneous clinical records,” the report said.
The team was also concerned about the excessive number of temporary roles, with some staff having held such positions for “a significant period of time”.
Image caption, The health board employs over 19,000 staff and delivers NHS care across North Wales with a budget of over £1.8 billion.
In response, Mr Sillavia said the introduction of electronic records was progressing in consultation with Welsh government officials.
“The events that were the subject of a fundamental and significant review must continue to be important points of reflection and essentially reasons for driving improvement,” she said in her report.
“We need to reaffirm the health board’s commitment to providing the best possible health and care services for people with dementia in particular, but also those who need wider mental health services.”
