The Welsh Minister for Health, Eluned Morgan MS, has responded to my call for an inquiry into health services in Wrexham saying the current "targeted intervention" of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is an "appropriate" level. As part of the current level of targeted intervention, the Welsh Government have laid out key areas and expectations for improvement. You can read the full response below.
This response follows my letter to the Minister earlier this year in which I outlined my concerns about health care access in Wrexham and called for an inquiry into the management of services. At the time, I said that "an inquiry is vital so that the Welsh Government and the health board can understand where mistakes are being made and, crucially, it will give patients the confidence that the Welsh Government is listening to their concerns."
Alongside my call for an inquiry, I am also calling on reforms to the management structure of the health board to make clinicians centre to management decisions and I am asking for a walk-in centre for Wrexham to alleviate pressure on GPs and A&E.
Disappointingly, the response does not lay out further plans for improvement nor does it highlight how the Welsh Government are planning to spend the additional £1.3bn it has allocated over the next three years to support services.
It is also interesting that, despite trying to distance herself and the Welsh Government from the health board's failings on vascular services, in this response she says the health board remains "under considerable level of scrutiny from my officials." If the Welsh Government has control, it should be taking action.
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