Latest news with #BetsiCadwaladrUniversityHealthBoard
North Wales Live
12 hours ago
- Health
- North Wales Live
North Wales health board to remain at highest level of special measures
A troubled North Wales health board is to remain at the highest level of special measures - level 5. Despite some improvements "significant challenges remain" for the beleaguered Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. Wales' largest health board has "by far the largest proportion, and the longest waits, in Wales," a health report states. The board was placed back under the control of the Welsh Government (WG) around two years ago (February 2023). Prior to that, it was under the highest level of special measures from the summer of 2015 to November 2020. This followed concerns about board effectiveness, organisational culture, service quality and reconfiguration, governance, patient safety, operational delivery, leadership and financial management. The health board has more than 19,000 staff and serves more than 700,000 patients in hospitals across Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham, and manages a budget of £1.87 billion It coordinates the work of 96 GP practices, and NHS services provided by 78 dental and orthodontic practices, 70 optometry practices and opticians and 145 pharmacies in North Wales Escalation levels are considered at least twice a year. Measures are imposed if a board or trust fails to meet expected standards of care and needs external support to improve. A letter to the board's chief executive, Carol Shillabeer, from NHS Wales CEO Judith Paget CBE, from July 15, confirmed that the board would remain under WG oversight: "I am writing to you to confirm that following a recent assessment, the escalation status of your organisation will remain unchanged at level 5 (special measures). "We will continue to hold quarterly special measures assurance board meetings to monitor progress against the agreed special measures framework and de-escalation criteria." Ms Shillabeer, in a chief executive report for July 2025, to be presented at a meeting tomorrow noted that "the Welsh Government report indicates there has been steady and measurable improvement made across key areas including leadership, governance, clinical quality, and financial management over the past two years". However Ms Shillabeer, in her report, acknowledged "significant challenges remain – especially in planned and urgent and emergency care, which will require additional focus during the coming months. "The priority is to improve operational grip and control, agree and implement a new operating model, improve performance and build the necessary foundations for sustainable, system wide improvement." The Welsh Government had noted that the board had "made many changes," over the last two years, she added. "Year one had seen improvements in corporate governance, financial governance and performance, and board leadership, while year two has seen a focus on quality and safety, with the board responding to many legacy issues in an open and transparent manner." "This year, the focus is on reducing the number of long waits and the overall size of the waiting list – bringing it back to pre-pandemic levels – and tackling outpatient appointments-in the most challenged specialities, as well as taking action to improve waiting times for urgent and emergency care services. "This is a priority for the health board as it has by far the largest proportion, and the longest waits in Wales," Ms Shillabeer said.
ITV News
21-07-2025
- Health
- ITV News
'Our four-day-old daughter shouldn't have died — we don't want anyone to go through what we have'
"It wasn't meant to happen." Those are the words of parents who lost their four-day-old daughter following a "serious failure to provide basic medical care" at Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor, Gwynedd. Etta Lili Stockwell-Parry died in July 2023. A coroner described the case as "one of the most distressing cases" she had ever had to deal with, and said negligence by the health board had contributed to Etta's death. Laura and Tristan Stockwell-Parry say the pregnancy was uneventful, with no indication of any problems. "Everything was fine throughout the pregnancy, we were looking forward to becoming parents for the first time," said Laura on S4C's current affairs programme, Y Byd ar Bedwar. Etta was born in a critical condition at Ysbyty Gwynedd on July 3, 2023. She required immediate resuscitation and was taken to the special care baby unit. Laura said: "I just felt like I was looking at someone else's life. They were telling us throughout the labour 'happy baby, happy baby' so we had no reason to worry, no reason to expect her to be born in the condition she was in." At the special care baby unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd, doctors were unable to provide the level of critical care Etta needed. Later that morning, she was transferred to Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool for specialist treatment. 'Goodnight' By July 7, 2023, it was determined that Etta had suffered a severe hypoxic brain injury, due to a lack of oxygen during the birth. With the support of their family and doctors, Laura and Tristan made the heartbreaking decision to withdraw Etta's life support. She passed away peacefully in Laura's arms. Tristan said: "It was such a difficult time. We did not want her to suffer. We said goodnight. 'Nothing can prepare you for making a decision like that - and then facing the drive home with the car seat empty. That journey was heartbreaking.' Their lives had changed forever. Laura said: "I blamed myself. I questioned If I could have done anything differently? We didn't have any answers, there were so many questions in our heads. Leaving her there was the worst thing." Three months later, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board provided the family with a serious incident report. The report concluded that multiple failures occurred in the care of Laura and Etta during the pregnancy and birth. One of the most significant was that midwives failed to notice, on three separate occasions, that Etta was not growing in the womb. It also emerged that mistakes were made while monitoring Etta's heartbeat before birth, with Laura's heartbeat mistakenly recorded instead of the baby's. "That did scare me because it was 43 minutes... that's a long time - it's something quite basic," Laura said. The report also stated there was a significant delay before recording Etta's temperature after she was born, and that doctors should have used another airway device to assist her breathing at the time. In May this year, a coroner came to the conclusion that there had been several serious failures to provide basic medical care before and during Etta's birth at Ysbyty Gwynedd. "She should be here with us, it's really difficult," said Laura. "I feel that the inquest did help us process in a way and that the coroner herself recognised that there was neglect, failing in basic care.' 'Poor care' Charlene François is a midwife with almost 40 years' experience. She is also an expert witness and has given her opinion in cases all over the world, including in Wales. Ms François said Etta's death could have been avoided if Laura had been transferred to the labour ward to be continuously monitored because she was a small baby. "It's not acceptable," she said. "They didn't do the measurements correctly, it's poor care. The standard of care is very low and it shows that there is a lack of training among staff." Angela Wood, executive director of nursing and midwifery services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said: 'We wish to express our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Mr and Mrs Stockwell-Parry following the heartbreaking loss of baby Etta. 'Since this tragic event in July 2023, we have conducted a comprehensive review of the care provided and taken decisive action to address the issues identified. We are committed to learning from this experience and have introduced a range of measures to enhance our training and clinical oversight, ensuring the best possible care for both mothers and babies.' Last year, Tristan and Laura welcomed their son Esra into the world. They chose for Laura to receive care and give birth at Arrowe Park Hospital near Liverpool, rather than at Ysbyty Gwynedd. Laura and Tristan said they don't want others to endure the same loss they have suffered. "It wasn't meant to happen and we don't want anyone to go through what we have. People say it gets easier with time, but it doesn't. "She is our little girl. She made us parents. She will be our little girl forever."
North Wales Live
17-07-2025
- Health
- North Wales Live
Delayed plans to redevelop North Wales hospital branded a 'farce'
An outspoken Rhyl councillor has slammed the Welsh Government, describing plans to develop Rhyl's Alexandra Hospital as a 'farce' and 'political stick'. Last week a Denbighshire Council scrutiny committee spoke about a delayed meeting with Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which had been put back from September to October. Betsi chiefs attended a council meeting in February where Denbighshire councillors were told to expect a planning application for an extension to the hospital between March and August. But despite it already being mid-July, a planning application is yet to be submitted, leading to several Denbighshire councillors calling for Betsi to attend a now-postponed September meeting to 'face the music'. Originally planned as a project that would cost tens of millions, the new plans have been scaled back post pandemic, but the health board have said construction could start in the first quarter of 2026. Betsi is targeting Welsh Government funds, which are yet to be secured, with the new building planned as 'a third-sector hub' supporting patients, as well as having support services such as catering facilities, reception, and staff rest areas – with a café also to be part of the plans. S ign up for the North Wales Live newsletter sent twice daily to your inbox. The health board say the plans will also include a bedded unit and minor injuries and ailments unit. But after his comments at last week's scrutiny committee, Rhyl Conservative councillor Brian Jones is claiming the Welsh Government is using the hospital as a 'cheap vote-winning trick'. 'Whilst any commencement of work to the Royal Alex is to be welcomed, I have to say the project that is on the table is a very poor shadow of the original project,' he said. 'A lot of local people are ex-health board employees. The whole thing is a farce. This is being used as a political stick to try and hoodwink the electorate that they are going to be building an extension in Rhyl and mirrors what happened at the last Senedd elections, whereby Betsi Cadwaladr was taken out of special measures just before the elections. It then went back into special measures, and it is still in special measures now.' He added: 'If they turn up and come to the scrutiny meeting in October, the question will be raised: Is this a political move to try and push this new Rhyl development forward as what happened previous to the last elections? It appeared to be just a cheap vote-winning trick.' Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board's Central Integrated Health Community Director Gareth Evans responded to the criticism. 'We are in regular contact with Denbighshire County Council about the progress of the Royal Alexandra Hospital development,' he said. 'A contract has been awarded to design the new build element of the site, and a planning application will be submitted within the next month or so. We have repeatedly confirmed the new-build plans include a bedded unit and Minor Injuries and Ailments Unit (MIAU). 'The progression of the scheme is conditional on formal board approval, planning permission being granted, and Welsh Government approval of our full business case. "We expect all elements to have been submitted by the end of the calendar year and, if successful, would hope to start construction in early 2026. "Reparations and improvements to the existing Royal Alex site are planned to go ahead separately to the new build.' A spokesman for Welsh Government added: 'We are awaiting a revised full business case for the Royal Alexandra Hospital to be submitted to us by the health board later this year. The scheme, if approved, would receive funding from the NHS All-Wales Capital Programme and Integration & Rebalancing Capital Fund (IRCF).'
Rhyl Journal
15-07-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Royal Alexandra Hospital redevelopment thrown into doubt
In February this year Denbighshire Council's partnerships scrutiny committee was updated by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on plans for the hospital. At the meeting, councillors were told that the health board is now planning a much smaller building on site than the one originally proposed before the pandemic, having presented a business case to Welsh Government. The committee was informed about the scope of the work and the proposed timescales and the available funding – which is yet to be secured. The new building is planned as 'a third-sector hub' supporting patients, as well as having support services such as catering facilities, reception, and staff rest areas – with a café also to be part of the plans. MORE NEWS: Man charged after 'extremely serious' attack leaves victim in coma Rhyl mourns 'local legend', DJ, biker and community hero Glan Clwyd nurse who was burns victim as child is now inspiring others 25 years later Back in February, the council was given a list of dates from the health board, with a planning application due to be submitted between March and August this year. But as yet, no plans have materialised – despite the proposals being on hold for over a decade. Betsi was due to update councillors at the committee in September, but that meeting has now been delayed until October when a joint partnerships scrutiny and communities meeting will take place instead. Speaking at July's partnerships scrutiny committee at the council's Ruthin County Hall HQ, Rhyl councillor Brian Jones said he wanted Betsi to 'face the music' as planned, despite no update being available. Cllr Jones said: 'I've got the (hospital redevelopment) timeline in front of me. January to April this year, they were going through the procurement. It was ongoing. 'By March to August the planning application (was due). To hear they want to delay is extremely disappointing when you look at the overview of this project on the number of years it has been going on. 'I'd like to propose we have them here in September as per the arrangement that was agreed for them to give us whatever the update is. 'On the timescale they should have hit all these gateways, so I don't think it'll do any harm for gentle persuasion if we get them here in September so they give us a high-level view of where this is. 'Will the new build start in the first quarter of 2026? 'Because that is the date they declared back in February, so I think we should have them back here for what might be an awkward conversation with them, but they need to come and face the music in my book, because there was obviously a lot of interest locally in this. 'It was heralded as a big step forward in February that the spades would be going in the ground in January 2026, and now in this short space of time since February more doubt has been cast over it.' Cllr Jeanette Chamberlain-Jones said: 'They do have us jumping through hoops, don't they? 'Betsi Cadwaladr, they give us this; they give us that; they give us nothing. 'I think we should hold them to account and say, no, you will come. You said you would, and so let's be having you in September. 'It's time we stamp our foot on this because they do mess us about a lot.' Corporate director Gary Williams responded: 'When we talk about making people come to face the music or stand their ground type-thing, the authority can invite people, but it has absolutely no power to summon people to come to the committee.' Mr Williams then reminded councillors they were better waiting for Betsi representatives to be ready, rather than wasting time, adding: 'Are you better having people when they are in a position with something to be able to tell you that you can scrutinise, or do you just want them to be here so you can tell them off?' Cllr Brian Jones said he would eat humble pie if the hospital was built next year, as timescales had indicated. 'I did put on the table back in February I would have baked a cake, a humble pie, and would have eaten it,' he said. 'I still didn't believe these timelines. I still believe there won't be any spades in the ground in 2026, and so I'll keep the humble pie for October or whenever, and I can't see it happening. I can't see this thing happening.' The committee and health board are now scheduled to meet in October.
Rhyl Journal
30-06-2025
- Health
- Rhyl Journal
Pensioner died following overdoses at Kinmel Bay care home
John Richard Collinson died aged 88 on August 30, 2022, having been overdosed for risperidone twice each day between July 1 and 4, 2022 at Kinmel Lodge, on Betws Avenue. Mr Collinson's family moved him out of Kinmel Lodge shortly after this became apparent; he then died at Pembroke House care home in Colwyn Bay, where he was moved for end-of-life care. An inquest at County Hall, Ruthin today (June 30) heard that miscalculations when converting Mr Collinson's risperidone from tablet to liquid form caused the overdoses. Though, the home's manager, Samantha Leuty, said the first she heard of it was during the morning of Monday, July 4, after staff who had worked the previous weekend raised no concerns. The inquest heard that Mr Collinson, who lived in Llanfairfechan, ran a fish and chip shop, and was described as a 'very loving, caring man' by his son, Kevin, began residing at Kinmel Lodge in August 2020 following issues with his cognitive functions. Kevin and Rhian Collinson; two of Mr Collinson's children (Image: Newsquest) He was first given risperidone in January 2022 to help 'mellow' him - this changed from tablet to liquid form in June after he encountered difficulties swallowing. But at the start of July, Mr Collison was given 2.5ml of the drug, instead of the correct amount of 0.25mg, twice a day. This total daily dosage of 5ml of risperidone was described by both a pharmacist and a nurse at the inquest as exceeding the 'maximum daily dosage'. Only weeks earlier, his son said, Mr Collinson had been 'dancing and singing' at a party at the home to celebrate Queen Elizabeth II's Platinum Jubilee. The repeated overdoses 'wiped him out' and rendered him 'comatose', his son added, while Mr Collinson also developed a bedsore on his left heel which 'left him in agony'. 'After that medication, he never walked unassisted again,' Mr Collinson's son told the inquest. 'He was essentially bedridden, apart from getting into a chair.' Dr Tuma Abdul Karem Tuma, a consultant psychiatrist for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board at the time, said it was 'very likely' that the overdose caused Mr Collinson's reduced mobility. When he met Mr Collinson on July 20, when he was residing at Llys Elian care home in Colwyn Bay, he said he appeared 'very unwell physically and mentally', and 'acutely confused'. Ms Leuty, manager of Kinmel Lodge, said Mr Collinson was 'one of the first' residents at the home to be given medication in liquid form, but stressed this was 'no excuse'. She said she immediately contacted Mr Collinson's general practitioner after being made aware of the overdoses on July 4. Asked whether this could have become apparent sooner, Ms Leuty said: 'You could say yes; however, he had presented like this before, after a urinary tract infection.' She added the home has 'learned a very hard lesson,' and now conducts weekly audits instead of monthly, having carried out its own internal 'in-depth investigation'. Multiple members of senior management staff must also now sign off on medication being prescribed to residents, Ms Leuty added. Priya Ellson, Kinmel Lodge's owner and responsible individual, said it now works with a new pharmacy, and has moved to a new care planning system. All staff involved with Mr Collinson's case were issued with 'refresher training', while there have been no similar issues at the home since. John Gittins, senior coroner for North Wales (East and Central), recorded a narrative conclusion, and said it is 'probable' that Mr Collinson's decreased levels of mobility following the overdoses 'more than minimally' contributed to his death. A cause of death was recorded of bilateral pulmonary emboli due to deep vein thrombosis, with immobility following medication error stated as a contributory factor. Mr Gittins refrained from issuing Kinmel Lodge with a Prevention of Future Deaths report, saying he felt satisfied that the home had 'wholly accepted' and addressed the error. Speaking after the inquest, Mr Collinson's daughter, Rhian, said his family "lost everything about the way he was" after his overdoses. His son, Kevin, labelled his death "premature", and said he and his siblings have "had to fight for our father's dignity".
