Almost five and half years after the Labour Welsh Government were forced to place Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in special measures, North Wales MS Mark Isherwood has criticised the Health Minister’s decision to remove the Health Board from special measures now and accused him of putting politics before patients.
Despite confirming just last month that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was to remain in special measures, where concerns remained over the board’s “performance and strategic solutions” which required “specific external support”, the Health Minister Vaughan Gething today announced that the special measures would be lifted.
Mr Isherwood is deeply concerned by the decision, particularly given that just last month, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board had the poorest A&E Waiting Times in Wales, with Wrexham Maelor worst, (only 48% of patients seen within 4 hours), Ysbyty Glan Clwyd second worst and Ysbyty Gwynedd third worst, and with almost 11% of Betsi’s patients waiting more than 12 hours.
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In his Statement, the Health Minister insisted the decision was a “positive” move for people in North Wales, but responding to him in the Senedd, Mr Isherwood was keen to know what has changed and asked why the decision has been made now.
He said:
“I have nothing but praise for the heroic, hardworking medical staff working in our North Wales hospitals. Concerns lie elsewhere.
“In January, North Wales Community Health Council wrote to you attaching the independent review of Psychological Therapies in North Wales which described a service failing in many areas, and stating: “After nearly 5 years in Special Measures, much of it related to mental health issues, these findings are deeply disappointing” and North Wales Community Health Council “does not recognise the picture painted in the Special Measures Improvement Framework report. This is not reflected in our complaints and advocacy caseload or the reports of Community Health Council visiting teams.”
“Last Friday, they announced that they will be hosting a series of events on Zoom inviting NHS staff, patients, their carers and their families to talk about Mental Health Services. As they said, “ It is vital that we present the experiences and suggestions of all those who use mental health services to those who make decisions and policies”.
“Today, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board stated that they will consider arrangements for the leadership of Mental Health and Learning Disabilities with their incoming Chief Executive Jo Whitehead when she takes up post in the New Year.
“Why aren’t you waiting for these things to happen, putting patients before politics rather than leaping into the dark?”
ENDS