Health

Ombudsman slates Health Board

Published

3 years ago

October 22, 2021

HYWEL DDA UHB failed a mother and son when it abruptly ended support services for individuals with long-term needs.

The Public Services Ombudsman, Nicholas Bennet, published a report in the public interest this week about the Board’s failings.

The report was scathing about the Board’s failure to discharge its duty of care towards individuals with complex needs.

In the decision, in which both mother’s and son’s names are anonymised, the Ombudsman upheld a complaint made by the mother (Ms B) about the failure of service provision to her son (Mr C).

Ms B complained that the Health Board failed to provide appropriate care to her son, Mr C.

Specifically, Ms B complained that the Health Board failed to provide Mr C with appropriate psychology services and as a result failed to meet his clinical needs.

Mr Bennett found the Health Board failed to take prompt steps and arrange to meet the clinical needs of Mr C following the closure of a psychology service.

Despite the Health Board identifying that Mr C’s needs were not being met, it failed to put any plan in place to meet them.

He found that Ms B, as Mr C’s main carer, was left without sufficient support to manage his challenging behaviours.

The closure of the psychology service happened when Mr C’s challenging behaviours were further complicated by the impact of the restrictions due to the COVID-19 lockdown.

The Ombudsman found no evidence of contingency planning should the psychology service come to an end, meaning that the Health Board and the patients receiving the psychology service were unprepared for the abrupt end.

Mr Bennett found that the Health Board’s communication with Ms B was inadequate which left her uninformed at the time of the COVID-19 lockdown when she was struggling to cope with Mr C’s challenging behaviours.

He also found that the Health Board’s complaint responses to Ms B were inadequate and were not in line with the relevant regulation.

After ordering the Board to make a full apology to Ms B, the Ombudsman told the Board it must take further steps to avoid any future repetition of its failings.

Mr Bennett said the Board must undertake a review to identify any other patients with unmet clinical needs as a result of the closure of the Specialist Service and ensure steps are taken to meet those needs either by the Health Board or other agencies.

He also ordered the Board to commission and complete its planned review of the Health Board’s child psychology services and report the findings back to his office.

Commenting on the report, Nick Bennett said it was a “highly concerning case where a mother felt as if her family had been destroyed”.

He said: “The ending of the specialist service left a huge gap for Ms B and all families with children with learning disabilities in the health board’s area.”

Hywel Dda’s chief executive Steve Moore said the health board was “very sorry for the failings identified” and has written an apology to the family.

“This was a very challenging period for the health board’s learning disability team and the psychology service in particular, due to high levels of staff absence, vacancies and unsuccessful recruitment initiatives,” he said.
Mr Moore also said that measures have been introduced to “ensure appropriate communication is in place to respond to complaints”.

However, the ball is now firmly back in the Board’s court to satisfy the Ombudsman that it has taken the further steps he has ordered to address the failure to provide a service to those who are particularly vulnerable.

Health

RCN demands Cardiff University protect nursing education

Published

15 hours ago

March 19, 2025

Tom Sinclair

Don’t scrap top-ranked nursing degree, union urges

RCN WALES has strongly opposed Cardiff University’s proposal to close its School of Nursing, warning of serious consequences for students, staff, and patient care.

The Royal College of Nursing (RCN) expressed deep concern in its formal response to the university’s internal consultation, criticising the lack of prior engagement before the announcement. The union described the proposal as a threat to nurse academics, student members, and the wider public.

A petition urging the Senedd to intervene and preserve the university’s nursing courses has already gathered over 7,300 signatures from across Wales. The potential closure comes as Wales faces a critical shortage of nurses, with around 2,000 NHS vacancies and an increasing reliance on corridor care, where patients are treated in unsuitable and sometimes unsafe areas. The RCN warns that shutting down the programme would worsen these challenges and put patient safety at risk.

The move would also damage Cardiff’s reputation as a centre of excellence for nursing education. The university has provided nurse training since 1972 and is ranked 1st in Wales, 5th in the UK, and 51st globally for nursing. As a member of the prestigious Russell Group, Cardiff plays a vital role in developing Wales’ healthcare workforce.

Helen Whyley, Executive Director of RCN Wales, said: “This proposal is profoundly alarming. Either Cardiff University’s leadership does not recognise its proud legacy in nurse education or believes this is a price worth paying.

“How Cardiff University can claim that its nursing programmes are unsustainable when they are funded by the Welsh Government is baffling. The university should immediately withdraw these proposals, commit to no compulsory redundancies, and instead work with key stakeholders, including the RCN, to find a solution that safeguards nursing students, academic staff, and patients.”

She added: “We remain committed to working with Cardiff University to secure the future of nurse education in Wales.”

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Health

Welsh NHS leaders call for long-term strategy to sustain health and social care

Published

2 days ago

March 18, 2025

Tom Sinclair

NHS leaders in Wales are urging the next Welsh Government to take a long-term approach to ensure the sustainability of health and social care services.

The Welsh NHS Confederation (WNHSC) has outlined key priorities it wants to see included in political party manifestos ahead of the 2026 Senedd election. These include prevention, workforce planning, performance and financial frameworks, social care reform, and investment in infrastructure.

The WNHSC, which represents all NHS organisations in Wales, conducted a survey of 95 NHS leaders to identify the most pressing issues facing the sector. The five key priorities are:

Delivering a cross-government national strategy to improve health and wellbeing and reduce inequalities.
Investing in a long-term workforce plan for the NHS and social care, including education and training.
Publishing a joint health and social care performance and financial framework for seamless care.
Establishing an independent rapid review to develop a long-term plan for social care sustainability.
Launching a long-term capital and infrastructure strategy.

NHS leaders warn that health and social care services are under extreme pressure, with high demand and limited resources. The growing elderly population is adding further strain, with the number of people aged 80 and over expected to double between 2000 and 2038. Additionally, the number of people living with four or more long-term conditions is predicted to nearly double by 2035.

Darren Hughes, director of the WNHSC, said: “The needs of the population are evolving. Over the next decade, we need a fundamental shift from a reactive healthcare model—treating illness—to a proactive one that focuses on prevention and early intervention.

“There’s an alarming wave of demographic and health challenges ahead, but we have an opportunity to make significant improvements within the next five to ten years. This requires a whole-system approach, with government, public services, and society working together to drive better health outcomes.”

NHS leaders are calling on the Welsh Government to prioritise investment in community-based services and prevention across all sectors. They argue that sustainable reform will only be possible through collective action and long-term planning.

The WNHSC will be engaging with politicians in the coming months and plans to release a more detailed report outlining the steps needed to secure the future of health and social care in Wales.

Health

Haverfordwest opticians raises funds for Glaucoma UK with charity bake sale

Published

3 days ago

March 17, 2025

Tom Sinclair

A LOCAL opticians in Haverfordwest has raised awareness about glaucoma and funds for charity Glaucoma UK by hosting an in-store bake sale.

Coinciding with World Glaucoma Awareness Week (9 – 15 March), an annual campaign encouraging people to talk about the effects of glaucoma, the fundraiser saw employees at Specsavers Haverfordwest, alongside local café, The Box, donate a variety of baked goods to help support the cause.

Customers and local community members contributed to the event, raising £280 through cash and online donations. Leftover cakes were donated to local community initiative, Feed the Community.

According to Glaucoma UK there are around 700,000 people living with glaucoma and between 2015 and 2035 that number is set to rise by 44%[1]. Early detection plays a crucial role in preventing sight loss, as glaucoma can often be managed effectively if diagnosed in time.

Andy Britton, director and glaucoma specialist at Specsavers Haverfordwest, explains: ‘Glaucoma is a major cause of sight loss, but the good news is that early diagnosis and treatment can make a real difference in managing the condition. That’s why events like this are so valuable in spreading awareness.

‘We’re delighted with the turnout for our bake sale and want to thank everyone who contributed, whether by baking, donating or simply stopping by to support the cause. Raising awareness of glaucoma is vital and we’re proud to support Glaucoma UK in their mission to help those affected by the condition.’

To further boost fundraising efforts, the store also held a raffle with prizes including a food and movie night hamper and a voucher for local restaurant, Waldo Lounge.

Alongside cash donations on the day, Specsavers Haverfordwest set up a JustGiving page to allow those unable to attend in person to contribute.

To support the fundraiser, donate via the JustGiving page: www.justgiving.com/page/danielle-thomas-turner-1?newPage=true

Specsavers Haverfordwest is open seven days a week. To find out more information about Specsavers in Haverfordwest, request an appointment or browse the online store, visit https://www.specsavers.co.uk/stores/haverfordwest.

Additionally, to make eye health accessible to all, the store offers a Home Visits service for those unable to leave their homes unaccompanied due to disability or illness.