I had a working meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) and MS Cymru to discuss the care and specialist nurse needs of people with multiple sclerosis in North Wales.
At a time of worrying figures on NHS Wales, I thank the nurses at Wrexham Maelor Hospital who looked after my youngest daughter so well, despite the obvious pressure on bed availability. The number of A&E patients waiting more than 12 hours in hospital emergency care units in Wales has increased again, to 3,624 - the highest number since records began – with 1,079 of these in BCUHB hospitals.
Against the Welsh Labour Government’s 95% target, just 76.5% of patients were seen within 4 hours of arrival at BCUHB’s A&E units, below the 77.2% all-Wales average, and falling to 65.4% at Wrexham Maelor and 68.9% at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
The annual number of ‘Serious Untoward Incidents’ affecting patients and families in the Labour-run Welsh NHS reported to the Welsh Government has more than doubled over the past four years. 945 such incidents were reported in 2014/15, up from 414 in 2011/12. In troubled BCUHB, incidents more than trebled over the same period.
Welsh Conservatives have long called for an independent review into the Welsh NHS to identify problems so that action can be taken to put them right - as Professor Keogh’s inquiry following Mid Staffordshire did.
The new NHS Wales Workforce Review found that significant savings can be made by improving service efficiency, reducing agency spend, streamlining recruitment processes, improving staff utilisation through more effective use of rostering and reducing sickness absence.
Welsh Labour's failure to plan for the NHS’ workforce needs emphasises the need for systematic and long-term planning of the Welsh NHS.
Welsh Conservatives are clear – from establishing a joint performers list for clinicians between England and Wales to remove barriers to recruitment, to increasing doctor training places and changing training rotations so that North Wales doctors can do their training in North Wales and the North West of England, we will streamline recruitment processes and boost staff morale. It was great to re-visit impressive Mold-based company Jackson Fire and Security.
Congratulations to them on winning the contract to fit systems at Moneypenny’s new £15m Wrexham office.
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