Relief at Betsi special measures

PLENARY business has been dominated again with many concerns raised by myself and other North Wales AMs, in relation to the frequent and continuous failings within our local health board.

Following robust demands and calls for Ministerial Intervention into the troubled board from Patient groups, the BMA, Senior Politicians and the Community Health Council I was somewhat relieved that the board was placed in Special Measures recently.

This move follows months of significant concerns raised to include ongoing poor governance issues leading to the threat of withdrawal of consultant led maternity services.

The final straw came when the recent and shocking report was published on the former Tawel Fan mental health unit.

This report identified an appalling record of serial institutional abuse of the most vulnerable within our society. It was heartbreaking to read of the accounts of family members and how their loved ones had been betrayed by a system that should have provided the much needed compassionate support for those in its care.

Morale amongst our medical and nursing staff is at an all time low. It is therefore very crucial that any actions to turnaround the cultural failings of this health board are carried out in a transparent and open manner and under the gaze of our valuable and hard working staff, patients and families they serve.

The Minister has set out a number of areas requiring significant improvement as part of the special measures regime and the board will be assisted by a key set of individuals who will provide advice and support.

I shall be meeting with the Chairman of the Board, Dr Peter Higson and others over the coming weeks, in order that I am fully briefed on all developments taking place.

Last week I led the Welsh Conservatives debate on greater clarity required for Welsh Council tax payers, on how their money is spent and on what.

Here in Conwy I’m advised that another council tax rise of approx 5% increase is already factored into figures for next year. This is extremely disappointing news, especially when one considers that for the past three years and as a result of the Barnett consequential, sufficient funding has come to the Welsh Government from the UK Government, that would have seen a freeze in Council tax for our residents.

Welsh Conservatives believe that the £201.00 saving should have been given back to hardworking taxpayers and pensioners, so they too can have a council tax freeze, enjoyed elsewhere over the border in both England and Scotland for several years.