With a new report showing that patients are still at risk in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Emergency Department, despite some improvements, Clwyd West MS Darren Millar is making fresh calls for the Labour Welsh Government to deliver on its promise of a new North Denbighshire Community Hospital.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) has issued a report (22nd August 2024) following an unannounced follow-up inspection of the Emergency Department (ED) at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
In May 2022, the department, run by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, was designated as a Service Requiring Significant Improvement (SRSI). HIW’s SRSI process aims to identify service failures, to drive forward urgent improvement. This designation was based on an accumulation of evidence, leading to an unannounced onsite inspection in May 2022. A follow-up inspection then took place in November 2022, which noted only minimal improvement, therefore the designation remained in place.
During the recent inspection over three consecutive days in April/May 2024 a marked improvement within the areas of significant concern identified in 2022 were found. These areas included the timely escalation of patients with critical and high-risk conditions, and strengthened oversight of the waiting area compared to previous inspections. Overall, inspectors highlighted an improved culture, an increasing in staffing levels and stronger leadership.
However, they were concerned that pressure and demand within the department was leading to an increased risk to patients.
Darren has long been calling on the Labour Welsh Government to deliver on its promise of a new hospital based at the Royal Alexandra Hospital in Rhyl, which was promised over 11 years ago.
He said:
“The unacceptable pressures and continuing challenges are yet further evidence in support of the need to deliver the new North Denbighshire Community Hospital with extra beds and a new Minor Injuries Unit to serve the coastal area.
“11 years ago, the Welsh Government promised to build this hospital to serve the coastal strip, improve access to NHS services and alleviate the pressure on Glan Clwyd.
“It should have been open in 2016, but we're yet to see a spade in the ground, despite money being spent on a brand-new hospital in South Wales.
“As this latest report clearly indicates, this hospital is desperately needed, yet the Labour Welsh Government are clearly in no hurry to deliver it and provide the people of North Denbighshire with the health services they need and deserve.
“Their dismissive responses when I have repeatedly raised this over the years have quite frankly been appalling – they are putting patients in North Wales at risk. I therefore urge them to consider the findings of this report, build our hospital and stop prioritising their ludicrous vanity projects. People don’t want 20mph speed limits and more politicians, they want a health service they can depend on!”
