Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy, has called for urgent action by Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services, in response to the further damning report into Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s emergency department.
A Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) report has highlighted the need for urgent improvement at the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd after making shocking and distressing findings such as:
- Health and safety risks were not appropriately managed within the department
- Infection prevention and control measures were not sufficiently robust in clinic and treatment rooms
- Metal trolley cages, a wooden pallet, construction materials and a rodent trap were seen in the utility area, all of which could present a risk of harm to patients
- Children could potentially have access to harmful areas
- The majority of cupboards in the minors area were unlocked. These included prescription only medicines, scalpels, needles and other surgical equipment. This presented a significant risk to patients, staff and visitors
- The arrangements for assessing, monitoring, observing and escalating unwell or deteriorating patients were not robust or effective and the quality of the nursing documentation within patient notes was poor, and in most cases, absent
- We spoke with a cross-section of staff working in the ED with many telling us that they were unhappy and struggling to cope with their workload. Staff also told us that they did not feel supported by the senior managers within the hospital
Commenting on the report, Janet said:
“This report is further distressing news for my constituents who rely on Glan Clwyd. I honestly believe that many will now actively decide to travel to Bangor for care should an emergency arise.
“Importantly, the report has acknowledged that the emergency department was a very stressful environment for some staff, who were working above and beyond in challenging conditions. Their efforts to care for the people of North Wales is valued, and I am determined that the Welsh Government should take action to improve the hospital not just for patients but for the staff who are trying their best is extraordinary circumstances.
“There are many points that stand out to me, including what I believe to be failure of leadership. As HIC have stated, there had been little progress on the areas of improvement noted during the previous Quality Check despite the health board providing an action plan and assurances that matters had improved. So it seems that we have a situation in which the health board is giving assurances that there are improvements when in reality there are not.
“Clearly, the current model is not working, nor are the Welsh Government targeted interventions.
“Alongside full adherence to the recommendations of the HIC report, we need to see the Eluned Morgan MS, Minister for Health and Social Services, take the lead on running a campaign to fill the over 600 nursing and midwifery vacancies in Betsi Cadwaladr.
“To protect patient care the Welsh Government must introduce a national nursing retention strategy and prioritise safe and effective care for patients.
“Also, as the Minister knows very well by now, I believe that an immediate step should be taken to reduce the pressure on the three major emergency department in North Wales, especially Glan Clwyd. This can be achieved by giving MIUs like Llandudno a greater role to play.
“It is absolutely ridiculous that there are residents of Aberconwy going to Llandudno Hospital for help, but then being sent onwards to A&E at Glan Clwyd or Gwynedd. By increasing the service the MIU can provide in Llandudno, there would be less of a need to transfer patients to the major emergency departments”.
ENDS
Notes:
Mae Janet Finch-Saunders, Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, wedi galw am weithredu brys gan Eluned Morgan AS, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, mewn ymateb i'r adroddiad damniol pellach i adran achosion brys Ysbyty Glan Clwyd.
Mae adroddiad Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru (AGIC) wedi tynnu sylw at yr angen i wella ar frys adran achosion brys Ysbyty Glan Clwyd ar ôl gwneud canfyddiadau brawychus a gofidus fel a ganlyn:
- Ni chafodd risgiau iechyd a diogelwch eu rheoli'n briodol yn yr adran
- Nid oedd mesurau atal a rheoli heintiau yn ddigon cadarn mewn clinigau ac ystafelloedd triniaeth
- Gwelwyd cewyll troliau metel, paled pren, deunyddiau adeiladu a thrap cnofilod yn ardal y cyfleustodau, a gallai pob un ohonynt beri risg o niwed i gleifion
- Gallai plant, o bosibl, gael mynediad i ardaloedd niweidiol
- Roedd y rhan fwyaf o gypyrddau yn ardal y bobl ifanc heb eu cloi. Roedd y rhain yn cynnwys meddyginiaethau presgripsiwn yn unig, cyllyll llawfeddyg, nodwyddau ac offer llawfeddygol arall. Roedd hyn yn peri risg sylweddol i gleifion, staff ac ymwelwyr
- Nid oedd y trefniadau ar gyfer asesu, monitro, arsylwi ac uwchgyfeirio cleifion sâl neu a oedd yn dirywio yn gadarn nac yn effeithiol ac roedd ansawdd y ddogfennaeth nyrsio yn nodiadau'r cleifion yn wael, ac yn y rhan fwyaf o achosion, yn absennol
- Fe wnaethom ni siarad â chroestoriad o staff sy'n gweithio yn yr Adran Achosion Brys gyda llawer yn dweud wrthym eu bod yn anhapus ac yn ei chael hi'n anodd ymdopi â'u llwyth gwaith. Dywedodd staff wrthym hefyd nad oeddent yn teimlo eu bod yn cael cefnogaeth uwch reolwyr yr ysbyty
Wrth sôn am yr adroddiad, dywedodd Janet:
“Mae'r adroddiad hwn yn golygu rhagor o newyddion gofidus iawn i’m hetholwyr sy'n dibynnu ar Glan Clwyd. Rydw i wir yn credu y bydd llawer nawr yn gwneud y penderfyniad i deithio i Fangor am ofal petai argyfwng yn codi.
“Yn bwysig iawn, mae'r adroddiad wedi cydnabod bod yr adran achosion brys yn amgylchedd llawn straen i rai staff, a oedd yn gweithio y tu hwnt i’w dyletswyddau mewn amodau heriol. Mae eu hymdrechion i ofalu am bobl y Gogledd yn cael ei werthfawrogi, ac rydw i'n benderfynol y dylai Llywodraeth Cymru weithredu i wella'r ysbyty nid yn unig i gleifion ond i'r staff sy'n ceisio gwneud eu gorau dan amgylchiadau eithriadol.
“Mae yna lawer o bwyntiau sy'n sefyll allan i mi, gan gynnwys yr hyn rydw i'n credu sy'n fethiant o ran arweinyddiaeth. Fel y dywedodd AGIC, ychydig o gynnydd a oedd wedi bod ar y meysydd gwella a nodwyd yn ystod y Gwiriad Ansawdd blaenorol er i'r bwrdd iechyd ddarparu cynllun gweithredu a sicrwydd bod materion wedi gwella. Felly mae'n ymddangos bod gennym ni sefyllfa lle mae'r bwrdd iechyd yn rhoi sicrwydd bod gwelliannau pan does dim mewn gwirionedd.
“Yn amlwg, dyw'r model presennol ddim yn gweithio, a dyw ymyriadau wedi'u targedu gan Lywodraeth Cymru heb weithio chwaith.
“Ochr yn ochr â chydymffurfio'n llawn ag argymhellion adroddiad AGIC, mae angen i ni weld Eluned Morgan, AS, y Gweinidog Iechyd a Gwasanaethau Cymdeithasol, yn cymryd yr awenau a chynnal ymgyrch i lenwi'r 600 o swyddi gwag ar gyfer nyrsio a bydwreigiaeth sydd gan Betsi Cadwaladr.
“Er mwyn amddiffyn gofal cleifion, mae'n rhaid i Lywodraeth Cymru gyflwyno strategaeth genedlaethol ar gyfer cadw nyrsys a blaenoriaethu gofal diogel ac effeithiol i gleifion.
“Hefyd, fel y mae'r Gweinidog yn gwbl ymwybodol erbyn hyn, rwy’n credu y dylid cymryd camau ar unwaith i leihau'r pwysau ar y tair prif adran achosion brys yn y Gogledd, yn enwedig Glan Clwyd. Mae modd cyflawni hyn drwy roi mwy o rôl i Unedau Mân Anafiadau fel Llandudno.
“Mae'n hollol hurt bod trigolion Aberconwy yn mynd i Ysbyty Llandudno am gymorth, ond wedyn yn cael eu hanfon ymlaen i’r Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd neu Ysbyty Gwynedd. Trwy gynyddu'r gwasanaeth y gall yr Uned Mân Anafiadau ei ddarparu yn Llandudno, byddai llai o angen trosglwyddo cleifion i'r prif adrannau achoson brys”.
DIWEDD
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