Fears for patients’ voices as Welsh Government scraps health watchdog
AN independent watchdog for hospital patients will be abolished at the end of the month by the Welsh Government. The North Wales Community Health Council (NWCHC) is being disbanded after almost half a century on March 31.
The move to axe the body which “gave patients a voice” was slammed by politicians and the former North Wales Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones. The volunteer-led scrutiny body will be reorganised under the Welsh Government’s “Llais” initiative, operational from April 1.
Among its many campaigns, it helped save doctor-led maternity care at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, raised issues over vascular services in North Wales and played a leading advocacy role for families of patients at the heart of the Tawel Fan scandal.
NWCHC will be replaced by the Citizen’s Voice Body for health and social care. It will be chaired by university Professor Medwin Hughes and seven board members.
“It will be a new independent organisation to representing the voices of the people of Wales for health and social care matters,” the Welsh Government’s website states. Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan said she “looked forward” to seeing how they will help shape the new body.
But members of NWCHC fear the loss of local “independent” public scrutiny.
Geoff Ryall-Harvey, chief officer of NWCHC, said: “We’re very disappointed at being shut down. They’ve been trying to abolish us since 2016.
“We will be reorganised into Llais. It will still have volunteers, but is a Welsh Government-run organisation, with decisions taken by a central board, although there is still a lot of uncertainty how things will be organised.
“The NWCHC is a truly autonomous body – we can enter hospitals and care facilities unannounced.
“It’s been in an important public scrutiny role for 49 years, helping to provide NHS direction, policy and highlighting patient concerns. NWCHC has helped change the landscape of the NHS, given a voice to patients.”
Over a 38-year involvement, Mr Ryall-Harvey has helped with campaigns such as the Alder Hey children’s organs scandal, the Harold Shipman deaths and the Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s Tawel Fan, dementia ward investigation.
Geoff added “NWCHC is still doing as much it can up to March 31.
“We will be around and after April 1, but working for the new body.
“We’ll see how it goes.” Anglesey councillor Dylan Rees tweeted his dismay: “A bitter sweet gathering today, we said farewell to staff at NWCHC following the Welsh Government’s bizarre decision to abolish such councils.
Arfon Jones, ex-crime commissioner, and former executive member of the NWCHC said their abolition would mean there was “no scrutiny or accountability whatsoever” of health services in North Wales. They were the “voice” for “Welsh NHS patients for nigh on 50 years”.
“They carried out hundreds of unannounced visits of health settings every year and improved patient’s experience of health services in Wales for thousands. Sadly this will no longer be the case as we await the whitewash that we fear will replace it in name only,” he added.
Gill Harris, Interim Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, said: “The North Wales Community Health Council has over many years carried out robust and effective independent scrutiny of the Health Board while providing a strong voice on behalf of the patients it serves.
“Its forthright but constructive feedback has played a crucial role in helping us deliver on our shared aim of improving healthcare services for the people of North Wales.
“We wish all those involved in the North Wales Community Health Council well in the future and look forward to forging strong working relationships with Llais in the coming weeks and months.”