Damning vascular services report shows folly of move
YET again the concerns about vascular services for patients in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board area are making the headlines.
A second Royal College of Surgeons’ report was published last week and it is damning, as was the first report which was published in May of last year.
The problems arose when the Board made the huge mistake of reconfiguring the service by dismantling the world-class unit at Bangor.
The Board chose a ‘hub and spoke’ model.
The success of such a model across such a huge geographic area is questionable when you think that many patients face long journeys for care, including in emergencies.
But if that was the chosen model, instead of developing the already well-established and excellent service at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor they chose instead to invest in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd. I have always questioned this decision and the motives
behind such an ill-thought-out move.
This most recent report reviewed 44 sets of case notes and they reveal the serious nature of the concerns about the quality of care and safety of the service. They found deficiencies in care, record keeping, consenttaking and follow-up in a number of the cases examined.
All the issues highlighted need
to be addressed with immediate effect.
I have called for a public inquiry to be held to air the concerns of the last few years and for lessons to be learnt.
The vascular services will be discussed at the next tripartite meeting between Welsh Government, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Wales Audit Office. The Health Minister has indicated that she is considering putting the Board into special measures or targeted intervention following the disclosure of the failings. I would be fully supportive of that move.
The Minister herself has said that the implementation of the new model has faced significant difficulties and in many respects has been poorly executed. She has drawn attention to the annual Vascular Registry Report - which is an audit of care and outcomes – that has shown inconsistent results, which is also a matter of concern.
She says that ‘there are many things which have not been done well and there should be no excuses for this.’
Eluned Morgan, as Health Minister and the Betsi Health Board must give top priority to sorting the issues raised. Most importantly the long-awaited improvements must be permanently embedded so as to change a failing service into one which successfully serves the needs of patients from Arfon and across the north.