Clwyd West MS Darren Millar has called on the Welsh Government to address the “deteriorating” stroke services in North Wales, which are worse than in any other part of the country.
Calling for a Welsh Government Statement on standards of stroke care in Wales in yesterday’s Business Statement in the Welsh Parliament, Darren outlined how stroke patients in North Wales are being let down and asked how the situation will be improved.
He said:
“The Stroke Association recently circulated information that showed that the latest Sentinel Stroke National Audit Programme identified that stroke services in Wales have been deteriorating, and in fact, in North Wales were worse than in any other part of the country.
“Most or many of the hospitals in the region were graded as 'E', the worst grade in terms of their performance. Most patients were not being admitted to stroke units, most patients don't have access to speech and language therapy, and we've have the worst access to physiotherapy too.
“Given the failings elsewhere in the health service in North Wales at the moment people are understandably concerned and want to know how this situation will be improved.”
Responding, the Trefnydd, Lesley Griffiths MS, said:
“You're very aware of what's recently been announced by the Minister for Health and Social Services in relation to the health board, and clearly, there is a significant piece of work that will be undertaken by the new Chair and the new independent members with a great deal of support and monitoring by the Minister's officials and by the Minister herself, so I'm sure she will be looking at that report in detail.”
Speaking after the meeting, Darren added:
“It is absolutely appalling that all three hospitals in North Wales are performing so badly and not providing stroke patients with the level of care and services which they need.
“This simply isn’t acceptable, and like all the other failings which have been highlighted at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board in recent times these need urgently looking at and addressing.
“Patients in North Wales cannot continue to be let down in this way,”
