South Wales Central Conservative MS Andrew RT Davies has demanded Senedd ministers publish a detailed plan of action to address serious failings at the University Hospital of Wales.
Many residents of the Vale of Glamorgan have recent experience of using the hospital, whose leadership has come under criticism from senior consultants.
Speaking in the Senedd, Mr Davies told First Minister Eluned Morgan that clinicians were “an inch away from putting a motion of no confidence down in the management”, and demanded Senedd ministers “quickly get a grip on the situation”.
A recent investigation found several serious incidents, including pigeons flying around operating theatres, theft, illegal drug use and members of the public being allowed in to operating theatres while surgery was being carried out.
Mr Davies said responsibility ultimately lies with Senedd ministers.
He said the incidents at the hospital were the result of projects like the £55 million Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers and £120 million spent on 36 more Senedd members being prioritised over the NHS.
Mr Davies said:
“The appalling situation at University Hospital of Wales is the result of Senedd ministers’ failure to prioritise our NHS.
“While resources were devoted to making Wales a Nation of Sanctuary for asylum seekers and putting 36 more politicians in the Senedd, health services played second fiddle.
“Vale patients deserve better.”
ENDS
NOTE: Please find below the Senedd Record of Proceedings from Tuesday 25th November
Andrew RT Davies
14:24:09
Thank you, First Minister, for that answer. Obviously, this letter that has made it to the public domain was highlighting the concerns of many senior clinicians and indeed medical staff across the UHW site. Many people reflect on the poor condition of that site, but what is of deep concern is the working culture that is existing on that site that was amplified earlier in the year in the report on the operating conditions in the theatres at the site, and now we have this letter from consultants, who were an inch away from putting a motion of no confidence down in the management at UHW and the health board. That health board is in special measures—special measures 4 in a rating of 5, being the most serious. So, the Welsh Government need quickly to get a grip on the situation there, re-instigate confidence amongst the clinical staff, and make sure that the new chairman and, equally, the senior management do respond to those concerns. So, will the Welsh Government be publishing a detailed plan of action so that patients, clinicians and anyone who depends on UHW, is needing the services there, can have confidence that they are getting the best services possible?
Eluned Morgan
14:25:23
Well, thanks very much. It is a very serious situation. There have been recent reviews of clinical services, which, as you say, have identified issues around culture, individual behaviours, leadership, management structure and infrastructure issues. Now, what I can tell you is that the board’s leadership has already responded to the letter with a commitment to certainly improve communication and engagement, but, clearly, they need to go further than that. I can tell you that the Cabinet Secretary held a public accountability meeting in Cardiff on 13 November, where they went through a whole range of issues, including financial concerns, performance areas, reviews that have been commissioned, such as the review of operating theatres, and also the need to address that issue of culture and leadership, which has put them into that level 4 level of escalation.