National Health Service

[SteveH]

A former NHS boss expects "pretty major changes" in the leadership team of north Wales' troubled health board.

Prof Marcus Longley said he believed fresh faces at the top of Betsi Cadwaladr's executive team would give the health board a chance "to reset".

Health Minister Eluned Morgan has said she read the "riot act" to executives but didn't have the power to sack them.

She has just placed the health board back under direct Welsh government control.

The organisation spent 1,996 days under direct government oversight after being placed in special measures in 2015.

Last week, a damning report from the public spending watchdog found Betsi Cadwaladr's leadership to be dysfunctional.

The health board manages the region's NHS care and is led by a board of executive directors and independent members, with the report finding "clear and deep-seated fractures within the executive team that are preventing that team from working effectively".

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64847135

[SteveH]

NHS Wales: Falls project avoids 50 needless ambulance callouts

A new scheme to help people who have suffered falls has prevented 50 ambulances being unnecessarily sent this year.

St John Ambulance Cymru works with Hywel Dda health board, Pembrokeshire to send its people for 999 calls.

Sandra Davies, whose husband Teifion fell at home, said it was "marvellous" as he did not want to go to hospital.

The pilot has been used 96 times since January but it needs more health board funding to continue after March.

Ageing Well in Wales estimates that between 230,000 and 460,000 over 60s fall each year.

When people dial 999, it can be directed to the St John Ambulance Cymru falls response team, who are sent to perform an assessment and identify whether the person can stay home or needs an ambulance to take them to hospital.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64902736

[SteveH]

Welsh Government 'shuts down' the 'voice' of North Wales NHS patients
An independent watchdog which has operated for half a century will be abolished at the end of the month

The move to axe the body which "gave patients a voice" was slammed by politicians and the former North Wales Crime Commissioner Arfon Jones. The volunteer-led scrutiny body will be reorganised under the Welsh Government's "Llais" initiative, operational from April 1, 2023.

NWCHC will be replaced by the Citizen?s Voice Body (CVB) for health and social care. It will be chaired by university Professor Medwin Hughes and seven board members.

"It will be a new independent organisation to representing the voices of the people of Wales for health and social care matters," the Welsh Government's website states. Minister for Health and Social Services Eluned Morgan said she "looked forward" to seeing how they will help shape the new body.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/welsh-government-shuts-down-voice-26442215

[SteveH]

BETSI Cadwaladr Health Board say they have a "zero-tolerance approach" to abuse following an increase in incidents.

The health board in North Wales, which was placed back into special measures last month, has had a rise in incidents of abuse towards primary care staff.

They state that GP surgeries remain under pressure, yet are still aiming to do their best to help patients.

They have warned that the police may be contacted depending on the nature of the abuse or comments.

cont  https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23387004.north-wales-health-board-seeing-rise-abuse-towards-staff/

[SteveH]

Betsi Cadwaladr: New NHS chair not sure if brand can be repaired
Dyfed Edwards said Betsi Cadwaladr health board had to get to a "good place" before reorganising or rebranding.

It is in special measures again after a damning audit report.
Since then, ministers have been under pressure to sack executives after the report criticised how the organisation was run.

Mr Edwards said executives need to "take stock" of their place in the organisation and decide if its best they consider "other options".
He assured the public that the board is safe, but acknowledged that it has to improve "in a number of areas" and that safety should be at the top of its priorities "at all times".

As well as reports on its leadership, Betsi Cadwaladr health board has been criticised over its health services, particular in vascular and emergency medicine.
cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-64975977



A health body is urging people affected by long treatment waits exacerbated by Covid-19 to share their stories and help secure funding for improvements.
North Wales Community Health Council said the numbers waiting more than 52 weeks had increased dramatically.

It wants to gather information before it is disbanded at the end of March and replaced by a new body, Llais.
A number of in-person events are being held in Wrexham, Colwyn Bay and Porthmadog along with online ones.

The council published a report, Our Lives on Hold, in 2018, describing the effect of long waits on patients, including losing jobs, relationships and being left in agony, the Local Democracy Reporting Service said.

Chief officer Geoff Ryall-Harvey said it had contributed to the pressure on the Welsh government to reduce waiting times and fund initiatives.
He wants to produce a 2023 version, saying: "As a result of the pandemic, the number of people waiting over 52 weeks has increased dramatically.

"The NWCHC wants to hear how this is affecting lives and well-being so that we can build the case for additional resources to clear these waiting lists and return to pre-pandemic waiting times (and hopefully better) within two years."
Read more ps://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-64941044

[Helig]

I remember Geoff Ryall- Harvey used to be head of the Community Health Council in Chester up until they abolished it. He was very dedicated and worked hard to get improvements for patients.

[SteveH]

I was told by CYD chemist of the ?40 charge for delivery, which is dearer than Bryson charge for garden waste disposal, nothing like kicking the public while they are down..........

A NORTH Wales MS has demanded that a Welsh Government minister explain why delivery charges are being imposed on the prescriptions of vulnerable constituents.
Llyr Gruffydd MS said: ?May I ask for a statement from the health minister on the issue of charging for delivering prescriptions from pharmacies?

?It's entirely reasonable to charge in a scenario where an individual can't be bothered to collect a prescription, but I've been contacted by some people in my region who, because of their medical condition, can't go and fetch their prescriptions, and have now found that they are required to pay for that.

?In the first instance, many of them can't afford to do so, and the inevitable upshot of that is that they will not, therefore, be receiving the medicines that they need.

?And that, of course, undermines the policy that we're all proud of, that prescriptions are free of charge in Wales.

?So, I think we need some clarity from the Minister on what the Government expects from pharmacies: do the pharmacists or the individuals trying to access prescriptions need support?

?And I think we need more consistency across Wales, because in some areas they charge, and in others they don't.?

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23393539.north-wales-ms-urges-explanation-prescription-delivery-charges/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

MS for Aberconwy, has spoken of her delight after receiving an update on dental care services by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB)

In January, BCUHB responded to a letter she sent and advised that it had submitted proposals to Welsh Government, in an effort to secure funding to increase dental services in priority areas.

Some of these areas are within Aberconwy, namely Betws-y-Coed, Conwy and Llandudno.

As the health board notes, the procurement will be for additional activity in existing practices or for set up of new practices, and has a total combined value of ?1.3million that is recurrent funding.

?BCUHB, along with Welsh Government, must now ensure that these plans come to fruition.?

cont https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23393611.increased-dental-services-promised-across-aberconwy-constituency/

[SteveH]

The Welsh Conservatives will force a vote of no confidence in Wales' health minister on Wednesday.

They accuse Eluned Morgan of trying to dodge responsibility for failings at Betsi Cadwaladr health board.

Special measures were imposed on the north Wales health board for the second time earlier this year, following a damning audit report.

Defending the health minister, Welsh Labour said Ms Morgan "is doing a great job".

While the Conservatives and Plaid Cymru will support it, Labour Senedd members are expected to back Ms Morgan.

The move puts more pressure on the health minister, but with the Welsh Lib Dems also planning to reject the no confidence vote, it's expected the Conservatives will lose.

cont https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-politics-65026015

[Ian]

It's clear there are issues with BCUHB, mainly based around arguments and disagreements between senior managerial staff. But I do wonder just how much conditions have been aggravated by the distribution of finance from the UK government dominated (lest we forget) by the Tories who are no supporters of the NHS.

Health care is a difficult issue and N Wales, in particular, is a long way from Cardiff. Add to that we have the most rapidly ageing socioeconomic profile in Wales, so it's not difficult to see why there are arguments at BCUHB. It's uncomfortably similar to the Behavioural Sink experiments  of John B. Calhoun's, the main findings of which were deprive an overcrowded population of resources and the results are life threatening.

[SteveH]

Readers agree that Betsi board were right to resign but aren't confident for the future
Former chairman Mark Polin had his say on the situation surround health service in North Wales earlier this week - this time it was your turn

The full results are below:   see link
Is it the right decision to put Betsi Cadwaladr into special measure?

82% said yes (65 out of 79)

10% said no (8 out of 79)

8% said I don't know (6 out of 79)

Should the existing board have resigned?

56% said yes (44 out of 79)

33% said no (26 out of 79)

11% said I don't know (9 out of 79)

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/readers-agree-betsi-board-were-26541020

[SteveH]

85 dental practices to close amid national shortage in dentists - full list................  locally Total Orthodontics Colwyn Bay under revue.

The British Dental Association said that the service is ?approaching the end of the road

Bupa Dental Care is set to cut 85 dental practices in a move that will affect 1,200 staff across the UK, amid a national shortage of dentists and ?systemic? challenges across the industry.

The healthcare group said patients at the affected practices have not been able to access the NHS dental service they need.

cont https://www.walesonline.co.uk/news/uk-news/85-dental-practices-close-amid-26582102?IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

Mark Drakeford defends Welsh Government after criticism of North Wales health board
The First Minister was repeatedly challenged about the health board's failings after it was placed into special measures again

He has leapt to the defence of his ministers after criticism from the former chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board. It happened during a heated debate at First Minister?s Questions.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/mark-drakeford-defends-welsh-government-26583166

[SteveH]

THREE newly appointed assistant practitioners have been making sure elderly patients get continuity of care at Glan Clwyd Hospital.

Annette Mason, Care of the elderly ward manager, decided to take them on Dawn Eccles, Kelly Jones and Jade Riding after encountering difficulties recruiting Band 5 registered nurses to cover maternity leave.

The three additions to the team were all Band 2 healthcare assistants who had completed their Level 4 health and social care training.

The role is similar to a Registered Nurse.

This is another step on the path to undertaking a nursing degree. If they go down that route then they will get paid because it?s funded by the health board and you?re paid while you study.?

Dawn, Kelly and Jade do not administer medications in their role but they do take part in ward rounds, multi-disciplinary team meetings and shift handovers, under the supervision of registered nurses.

https://www.northwalespioneer.co.uk/news/23425120.new-assistant-practitioners-filling-nursing-gap-glan-clwyd/?ref=rss&IYA-reg=49560bcd-5a9c-47f0-8fc5-ba2e71710589

[SteveH]

New Betsi chairman in 'your health board needs you' plea to public to fill jobs
Dyfed Edwards wants to fill a shortage of registered nurses and healthcare assistants can help bridge the gap

Since taking on the role as chairman of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board it has crystallised my belief it is the people of North Wales who are the key to our future success. Of course, we will want to attract the best people wherever they are from ? and we continue to try to do that.

However I firmly believe, with the development of the Medical School, the Dental Academy and other initiatives, we are well placed to nurture the talent in our communities. A little over two years ago the health board celebrated the 20th anniversary of our intake of Filipino nurses, who have given everything to guarding our population?s health.

We employ staff from dozens of different countries and from areas all across the UK but it?s our own population which will always be the bedrock of our services. Our staff, their friends and extended families are the population we serve.

cont https://www.dailypost.co.uk/news/north-wales-news/new-betsi-chairman-your-health-26713656