Betsi health board faces prosecution over mental health unit patient death, says MS

THE North Wales health board will be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive following the death of a patient at a mental health unit, according to reports.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is said to be facing the action after the patient died at the Hergest unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd in April 2021.

The Welsh Conservatives reported that a health board briefing said: “Health and Safety Executive has advised that the Health Board will be subject to enforcement action in the form of a prosecution of the organisation. This follows their investigation into the death of a patient at the Hergest Mental Health Unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd in April 2021.”

The court hearing is expected to be on August 3, and the matter is set to be dealt with in one hearing.

The health board briefing reportedly said: “This is a very tragic case and our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the patient.”

Darren Millar MS (pictured inset), the Welsh Conservatives’ shadow minister for North Wales, said: “Many people will be shocked at news that the Health and Safety Executive is prosecuting the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board for exposing patients to risks which resulted in the death of a mental health patient in its care. The failure to get to grips with challenges in our mental health services in North

Wales is nothing short of scandalous and the fact that this death occurred just months after the Health Board was taken out of special measures by the Welsh Government raises the questions as to whether that decision contributed to this tragedy.”