North Wales residents would rather travel to England for treatment if they had a stroke than use the A&E at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
Following a further series of alarming announcements relating to healthcare provision across North Wales, along with an increasing number of requests for help in accessing treatment from residents throughout Aberconwy, Robin is urging the UK Government to take a greater role in ensuring the quality and safety of healthcare throughout the region.
Inspectors of The Wales Healthcare Inspectorate have said, in a report published today, that there is a "clear and significant risk to patient safety" after inspections at the A&E department in Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Denbighshire. Earlier this year vascular services at the north Wales health board were also designated as needing "significant improvement” and last week it was announced a second hospital in England will take some vascular patients from north Wales because of that service's fragility.
Today’s report follows a similar report published in May which revealed that the Accident and Emergency Department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd is the worst performing in Wales, with two thirds of patients waiting more than four hours to be seen.
The report published in May, which identified the department as a ‘service requiring significant improvement,” outlined assessments carried out between 8th and 10th March, and 3rd and 5th May, and catalogued a series of alarming safety concerns. These include a frequent absence of patient monitoring and safety checks, non-observance of national clinical policies as well as local management procedures and processes, evidence of a failure to learn from or share critical incidents, non-compliance with mandatory training, excessive delays, and a culture in which management were either unaware of concerns or did not respond when those concerns were brought to them. The report additionally details infection prevention and control issues.
Harrowingly, it was also revealed in May that three incidents which could have caused serious harm or death in north Wales hospitals are being investigated. A Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board report has revealed that two of the cases were described as "wrong site surgery," a term that refers to a surgery performed on the wrong area of the patient, the wrong patient, or the wrong procedure. The incidents, described as "never events", are said to be preventable as guidance is available and should have been implemented. The third incident under investigation relates to a swab having been left inside a patient.
The report published this week by HIW highlighted that inspectors found staff who were "working above and beyond in challenging conditions" during a period of "unrelenting demand". However, inspectors said that the health board was not fully compliant with many of the health and care standards, and highlighted significant areas of concern, which could present an immediate risk to the safety of patients. The report states inspectors found:
- Doctors were left to "come across" high-risk patients instead of being alerted to them
- Patients were not monitored enough - including a suspected stroke patient and one considered a suicide risk
- Used underwear was discover among dirty equipment found in cupboards
- Cupboards containing prescription only medicines, scalpels and needles were left unlocked
- Children were at serious risk of harm as the public could enter the paediatric area unchallenged
- An adult patient was in the paediatric area when a child was receiving care there Inspectors found evidence of children leaving unseen or being discharged against medical advice
North Wales Community Health Council’s Geoff Ryal Harvey said "this is the worst situation we've seen," adding "people tell us if they have a stroke they're going straight up to Liverpool or Arrowe Park, so there is that reputational damage and the loss of confidence."
Speaking about these recent disclosures, Robin said:
“Ensuring patient safety and easier access to better healthcare services for residents in Aberconwy is a priority of mine. Even though health is a devolved service in Wales, I receive correspondence regularly from concerned patients, seeking help - many of whom tell harrowing stories of genuine distress and long-term pain.
The reality is this is just the latest revelation of problems into a range of services which go back almost a decade now in North Wales. This goes beyond local management and frontline professionals - many of which are roles that have been filled by different people during this period. For the sake of patients' safety and interests we must now also ask real questions of the Welsh Government’s ability to bring the necessary improvements to the NHS in Wales.”
Continuing, Robin said:
“We have particular problems in North Wales but let's be clear - more than one in five people in Wales is on an NHS waiting list, contrasting to less than one in ten in England. In Wales, Referral to Treatment Times are double those in England. And across Wales, average waiting times for orthopaedic, trauma and eye surgery are nearly three times longer than if you live over the border in Chester.
“UK citizens and residents are surely entitled to access a minimum standard of treatment and service wherever they are across the United Kingdom. But that is not the case in Wales, especially north Wales.
"Along with my fellow North Wales Conservative MPs I will continue to press colleagues in the UK Government to discuss options going forward and offer whatever support and scrutiny they can to assist my constituents."
Concluding, Robin said:
“At the same time, I want to reiterate my great admiration and gratitude for the many professionals working tirelessly for us here in North Wales and in Aberconwy - in our hospitals and our GP surgeries, our pharmacies and our care homes - to deliver health and care services. I've commented many times before on my discussions with, and support for, the Chief Executive and Chairman of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. They have made incredible efforts to improve things for us in North Wales. I do see a course they have plotted to improvement, but they cannot do it alone. I will do what we can to support them on that improvement journey.”
Robin yn mynegi pryder mawr am ddarpariaeth gofal iechyd ledled Gogledd Cymru
Byddai’n well gan drigolion Gogledd Cymru deithio i Loegr i gael triniaeth pe baent yn cael strôc na defnyddio’r adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd
Yn dilyn cyfres arall o gyhoeddiadau brawychus am ddarpariaeth gofal iechyd ledled Gogledd Cymru, ynghyd â nifer cynyddol o geisiadau am gymorth i gael triniaeth gan breswylwyr ledled Aberconwy, mae Robin yn annog Llywodraeth y DU i chwarae mwy o ran yn y gwaith o sicrhau ansawdd a diogelwch gofal iechyd ledled y rhanbarth.
Mewn adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd ddydd Llun, mae Arolygwyr Arolygiaeth Gofal Iechyd Cymru wedi dweud fod “risg glir a sylweddol i ddiogelwch cleifion” ar ôl arolygiadau yn yr adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Sir Ddinbych. Yn gynharach eleni, cafodd gwasanaethau fasgwlaidd bwrdd iechyd gogledd Cymru hefyd eu dynodi’n rhai y mae angen eu gwella’n sylweddol ac yr wythnos diwethaf cyhoeddwyd y bydd ail ysbyty yn Lloegr yn cymryd rhai cleifion fasgwlaidd o’r gogledd oherwydd bregusrwydd y gwasanaeth hwnnw.
Mae adroddiad heddiw’n dilyn adroddiad tebyg a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai a ddangosodd mai’r Adran Damweiniau ac Achosion Brys yn Ysbyty Glan Clwyd sy’n perfformio waethaf yng Nghymru, gyda dwy ran o dair o gleifion yn aros mwy na phedair awr i gael eu gweld.
Roedd yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd ym mis Mai, a oedd yn nodi bod yr adran yn ‘wasanaeth lle roedd angen gwelliant sylweddol,’ yn amlinellu asesiadau a gynhaliwyd rhwng 8 a 10 Mawrth, a 3 a 5 Mai, ac yn rhestru cyfres o bryderon diogelwch dychrynllyd. Mae’r rhain yn cynnwys diffyg archwiliadau diogelwch a monitro cleifion yn aml, diffyg arsylwi ar bolisïau clinigol cenedlaethol yn ogystal â phrosesau a gweithdrefnau rheoli lleol, tystiolaeth o fethiant i ddysgu o ddigwyddiadau critigol neu i rannu digwyddiadau difrifol, diffyg cydymffurfio â hyfforddiant gorfodol, oedi gormodol, a diwylliant lle nad oedd rheolwyr naill ai’n ymwybodol o bryderon neu lle nad oeddent yn ymateb pan daethpwyd â’r pryderon hynny iddynt. Mae’r adroddiad hefyd yn rhoi manylion materion atal a rheoli heintiau.
Datgelwyd hefyd ym mis Mai bod tri digwyddiad a allai fod wedi achosi niwed difrifol neu farwolaeth yn ysbytai’r gogledd yn cael eu hymchwilio, sy’n newyddion gofidus iawn. Mae adroddiad gan Fwrdd Iechyd Betsi Cadwaladr wedi datgelu bod dau o’r achosion wedi’u disgrifio fel “llawdriniaeth ar safle anghywir,” term sy’n cyfeirio at lawdriniaeth a gyflawnwyd ar ardal anghywir ar gorff y claf, llawdriniaeth a gyflawnwyd ar y claf anghywir, neu cyflawnwyd y driniaeth anghywir yn gyfan gwbl. Dywedir bod modd atal y digwyddiadau, sy’n cael eu disgrifio fel digwyddiadau ‘byth’, gan fod canllawiau ar gael a dylid bod wedi’u rhoi ar waith. Mae’r trydydd digwyddiad sy’n destun ymchwiliad yn ymwneud â swab yn cael ei adael y tu mewn i glaf.
Roedd yr adroddiad a gyhoeddwyd yr wythnos hon gan AGIC yn tynnu sylw at y ffaith bod arolygwyr wedi canfod bod staff “yn gweithio y tu hwnt i amodau heriol” yn ystod cyfnod o “alw diddiwedd”. Fodd bynnag, dywedodd arolygwyr nad oedd y bwrdd iechyd yn cydymffurfio’n llawn â llawer o’r safonau iechyd a gofal, a thynnodd sylw at feysydd pryder sylweddol, a allai beri risg uniongyrchol i ddiogelwch cleifion. Mae’r adroddiad yn datgan bod arolygwyr wedi canfod:
- Roedd meddygon yn cael eu gadael i “ddod ar draws” cleifion risg uchel yn hytrach na chael eu rhybuddio amdanynt
- Nid oedd cleifion yn cael eu monitro ddigon – gan gynnwys claf yr amheuir ei fod wedi cael strôc a chlaf a oedd yn cael ei ystyried yn risg o gyflawni hunanladdiad
- Cafodd dillad isaf wedi’u defnyddio eu darganfod ymysg offer budr mewn cypyrddau
- Roedd cypyrddau a oedd yn cynnwys meddyginiaethau presgripsiwn, ffleimiau a nodwyddau ar agor a heb eu cloi
- Roedd plant mewn perygl difrifol o niwed gan y gallai’r cyhoedd fynd i mewn i’r ardal bediatrig heb unrhyw rwsytrau
- Roedd claf sy’n oedolyn yn yr ardal bediatrig pan oedd plentyn yn derbyn gofal yno ac fe wnaeth Arolygwyr ganfod tystiolaeth o blant yn gadael heb eu gweld neu’n cael eu rhyddhau yn erbyn cyngor meddygol
Dywedodd Geoff Ryal Harvey o Gyngor Iechyd Cymuned Gogledd Cymru, “dyma’r sefyllfa waethaf rydyn ni wedi’i gweld. Mae pobl yn dweud wrthym os ydyn nhw’n cael strôc maen nhw’n mynd yn syth i Lerpwl neu Arrowe Park, felly mae niwed i enw da’r ysbyty ac mae hyder yn cael ei golli.”
Wrth siarad am y datgeliadau diweddar hyn, dywedodd Robin:
“Mae sicrhau diogelwch cleifion a mynediad haws at well gwasanaethau gofal iechyd i drigolion Aberconwy yn flaenoriaeth i mi. Er bod iechyd yn wasanaeth sydd wedi’i ddatganoli yng Nghymru, rwy’n derbyn gohebiaeth reolaidd gan gleifion pryderus, sy’n ceisio cymorth – llawer ohonynt yn adrodd straeon dirdynnol am drallod gwirioneddol a phoen tymor hir.
Y gwir amdani yw mai dyma’r datgeliad diweddaraf o broblemau sy’n ymwneud ag ystod o wasanaethau sy’n mynd yn ôl bron i ddegawd yng Ngogledd Cymru erbyn hyn. Mae hyn yn mynd y tu hwnt i reolwyr lleol a gweithwyr proffesiynol rheng flaen – llawer ohonynt yn rolau sydd wedi cael eu llenwi gan wahanol bobl yn ystod y cyfnod hwn. Er mwyn diogelwch a buddiannau cleifion, rhaid i ni nawr ofyn cwestiynau go iawn am allu Llywodraeth Cymru i gyflwyno’r gwelliannau angenrheidiol i’r GIG yng Nghymru.”
Aeth Robin ymlaen i ddweud:
“Mae gennym broblemau penodol yng Ngogledd Cymru ond gadewch i ni fod yn glir – mae mwy nag un o bob pump o bobl yng Nghymru ar restr aros y GIG, sy’n cymharu â llai nag un o bob deg yn Lloegr. Yng Nghymru, mae’r Amseroedd Aros rhwng Atgyfeirio a Thriniaeth yn ddwbl y rheini yn Lloegr. Ac ar draws Cymru, mae’r amseroedd aros ar gyfartaledd ar gyfer llawfeddygaeth orthopedig, trawma a chlustiau bron deirgwaith yn fwy na’r hyn sy’n cael ei gynnig dros y ffin yng Nghaer.
“Mae dinasyddion a thrigolion y DU yn siŵr o gael mynediad at safon sylfaenol o driniaeth a gwasanaeth lle bynnag maen nhw ar draws y Deyrnas Unedig. Ond nid felly y mae hi yng Nghymru, yn enwedig yng ngogledd Cymru.
“Yn ogystal â’m cyd-Aelodau Seneddol Ceidwadol yng Ngogledd Cymru, byddaf yn parhau i bwyso ar gydweithwyr yn Llywodraeth y DU i drafod opsiynau wrth symud ymlaen a chynnig hynny o gymorth a chraffu ag y gallant i gynorthwyo fy etholwyr.”
I gloi, dywedodd Robin:
“Ar yr un pryd, hoffwn ategu fy edmygedd a’m gwerthfawrogiad mawr o’r llu o weithwyr proffesiynol sy’n gweithio’n ddiflino drosom ni yma yng Ngogledd Cymru ac yn Aberconwy – yn ein hysbytai a’n meddygfeydd teulu, ein fferyllfeydd a’n cartrefi gofal – i ddarparu gwasanaethau iechyd a gofal. Rydw i wedi gwneud sylwadau sawl gwaith o’r blaen ar fy nhrafodaethau gyda Phrif Weithredwr a Chadeirydd Bwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr, ac yn eu cefnogi. Maent wedi gwneud ymdrechion anhygoel i wella pethau i ni yng Ngogledd Cymru. Rwy’n gweld cymllun ganddyn nhw i geisio gwella pethau, ond ni allant wneud hynny ar eu pen eu hunain. Byddaf yn gwneud popeth o fewn ein gallu i’w cefnogi ar y daith honno i wella.”