Concerns have been raised over comments by the First Minister in response to a question over the number of severe incidents recorded within Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board over the last 12 months.
41 severe incidences ending in death were reported at the Board, more than half of the 77 reported across Wales.
The First Minister justified the number recorded at the Board – over half of all those within Wales – as being down to “more complaints coming forward rather than more cases coming forward.”
Janet said:
“Either the First Minister is suggesting that other Health Boards are reporting such incidents properly, or he is refusing to admit his own Government’s culpability in these shocking statistics.
“Either way, it is shameful that he should be in such denial about the failings of his Government to make the desperately needed improvements within this Health Board.
“Of course, all incidents should be reported and recorded – this would be expected within any such organisation – but the First Minister must recognise that each incident represents an individual, their family and loved ones, and these figures really are of concerns.”
ENDS
The statistics can be found here: http://gov.wales/statistics-and-research/patient-safety/?lang=en
The patient safety data for Oct 2016 – Sept 2017 show:
Highest number of incidences ending in death:
Betsi Cadwaladr – 41
Cardiff and the Vale – 12
Aneurin Bevan – 7
Hywel Dda – 7
Welsh Ambulance NHS Trust – 7
Powys – 3
Abertawe Bro Morgannwg – 0
Cwm Taf – 0
Velindre NHS Trust – 0
Public Health Wales NHS Trust – 0
The transcript from Plenary is below:
Janet Finch-Saunders
How does the Welsh Government ensure patient safety in Wales? (OAQ51245)
Carwyn Jones
We hold all NHS organisations to account on a wide range of patient safety indicators and we encourage an open reporting culture of serious incidents to enable full investigation of every case.
Janet Finch-Saunders
Thank you, First Minister. In north Wales, however, we were shocked last week to learn that, of the 77 unintended or unexpected incidents resulting in patient deaths registered across Wales in the past 12 months, more than half of these fell within the Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board. Every single one of these cases will have been simply devastating to the family and loved ones of these patients. First Minister, questions will be asked as to how the special measures and, indeed, your Government’s intervention in realising any improvement is, in fact, actually now to the contrary. I am asking you now: will you please commit to an inquiry as to why the safety of patients under this board and your Government’s responsibility appears to be increasingly compromised?
Carwyn Jones
The Member doesn’t fully understand these way the statistics are compiled. First of all, we encourage honesty and openness, and that means we encourage people to report serious incidents. Now, that means, just like the crime statistics, for example, that when more people report serious incidents, then more are recorded. It doesn’t mean that there are actually more serious incidents. That said, of course, we want to make sure those incidents are reported. Nothing should be said or done that will discourage reporting in the future, because we want to make sure that incidents are reported and are out in the open. I can say to the Member that, in 2016-17, the crude hospital mortality rate for BCU hospitals was 1.79 per cent, which is less than the Welsh average of 1.81 per cent. So, yes, it is important that every case is investigated, but it is important that people come forward, that there is an open culture dealing with complaints. And that I believe is what we’re seeing here—more complaints coming forward rather than more cases coming forward.