‘Downgraded by the back door’
POLITICIAN’S FEARS FOR YSBYTY GWYNEDD
THE health minister has denied suggestions that a North Wales hospital is being “downgraded by stealth” as work is underway to increase its oxygen capacity.
Arfon MS Siân Gwenllian has welcomed the ongoing efforts to increase the oxygen supplies at Ysbyty Gwynedd, but in an exchange at the Senedd questioned what she described as a lack of historic investment at the hospital.
After she asked Vaughan Gething whether it was a “clear sign that Ysbyty Gwynedd is being downgraded quietly and through the back door”, the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board also refuted the claims, pointing to future investment including a £14m upgrade and expansion of the hospital’s Emergency Department.
Pointing out that the hospital was one of only six across the UK to need urgent upgrades and fearing “an effort to ‘centralize’ services in the east”, Ms Gwenllian said: “This crisis has brought to the fore a fundamental problem at Ysbyty Gwynedd in my constituency.
“For some weeks, I’ve been aware that a problem has arisen with the capacity of oxygen flow in Ysbyty Gwynedd and that, in turn, could restrict the ability of the hospital to deal with the COVID crisis.
“Resolving this is being given priority by the British Oxygen Company, and I’m grateful for the efforts made by local managers to ensure that that’s the case.
“However, would you agree with me that we should have invested in this work over a period of time? It takes a crisis for this to happen.
“And do you agree that this is a clear sign that Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor is being downgraded quietly and through the back door?”
In response, Mr Gething said: “I’m pleased to hear the oxygen flow issues are being addressed and are being highlighted.
“It’s partly, though, because of the flexing up of critical care capacity and the much greater use of oxygen, and so the flow that’s required has obviously increased.
“On your final point about whether this means that Ysbyty Gwynedd is being downgraded, I simply don’t agree with you.
“There is no secret plan to downgrade Ysbyty Gwynedd and to do it secretly and quietly through the back door, so I’m happy to reassure you that this isn’t the plan of either myself or anyone else.”
On the hospital’s oxygen supply, a spokesman for the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said: “In recent weeks NHS Trusts across the UK have reported that oxygen requirements are lower than first feared.
“Like many hospitals we have tested our oxygen systems in recent weeks and our oxygen infrastructure has been shown to be more resilient than many District General Hospitals in the UK.
“However, an issue was identified with the oxygen flow capacity at Ysbyty Gwynedd, which could be increased and is now being prioritised, with work expected to be completed by the middle of May.”
Pointing out to recent investments at the hospital, he added: “It is untrue that there are plans to downgrade Ysbyty Gwynedd.”
“Working with the Welsh Government, we have secured significant investment to strengthen services at Ysbyty Gwynedd in recent years.
“This includes £14m to upgrade and expand the hospital’s Emergency Department.”