Recommendations by a health watch dog to resolve staffing shortages and other issues at a secure unit must be implemented in full, as Assembly Member has said.
Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders is calling for standards in mental health services to be improved across North Wales following a series of scandals, including the absconding of convicted murderer Richard Dennick from Ty Llywelyn in Llanfairfechan in September.
She is also concerned about the closure of the Tawel Fan mental health unit in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in 2013 amid allegations of historical abuse and neglect.
The politician met Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) staff in Cardiff on Wednesday to see if recommendations from a HIW report on Ty Llywelyn and Bryn y Neuadd Hospital in 2014 had been acted upon by Betsi Cadwaladwr University Health Board.
One concern in the report was about inadequate numbers of staff “to facilitate effective patient care” at Tŷ Llywelyn.
Mrs Finch-Saunders said: “In November last year, the HIW’s report on the Tŷ Llywelyn Unit highlighted areas of serious concern, yet now, a whole year later we have seen very little to reassure patients and families that improvements are being made.
“It is vitally important that the health board takes immediate action when a report highlighting such serious concerns is received, but it is also crucial that the HIW take a more proactive approach.
“They must ensure that there are mechanisms in place to properly and robustly monitor action and progress made following such reports, otherwise we risk reports being written for reports’ sake!”
Mrs Finch-Saunders said mental Health care in North Wales has faced scandal after scandal this year and warned of a ”ticking time bomb”.
“After the heart-breaking and distressing Tawel Fan report, the finding of ‘significant scope for improvement’ at the Heddfan Unit, and the surfacing of a damning report into Hergest Unit only this week, patients and families across North Wales need to see real action being taken.
The Healthcare Inspectorate Wales defended its record.
A spokesman said: “HIW does not generally comment on private meetings. HIW publishes its inspection reports and those relating to Tŷ Llywelyn can be found on the website.
“In August 2015, BCUHB provided an update to HIW on the progress that it has made in relation to recommendations made during inspections carried out in 2014/15.
“HIW continues to be in communication with the health board in relation to the response. We expect to publish the health board’s progress against recommendations in December.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said it made an action plan after the HIW inspection report in November 2014.
A BCUHB spokeswoman said its chief executive and medical director recently visited the unit and found “significant progress”.
She added: “The staffing establishment reviews have seen an increase in the overall levels of staffing within the unit and an increase in the number of senior nurses within the clinical team.”
She said “clinical leadership” in Ty Llywelyn is “strong” and the culture of supervision, support and reflection “continues to improve”.
The management of patient information is satisfactory and is regularly reviewed, she added.
Read the story on the Daily Post website here.