Latest news with #BetsiCadwaladr
BBC News
6 days ago
- General
- BBC News
Former nurse, 84, removed her own eye cyst after years of waiting
An 84-year-old retired nurse removed a cyst from her own eye after waiting years for treatment, a report has account was revealed in a citizen experiences report presented during a meeting of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board on Thursday, which looked at the long delays facing people awaiting treatment for conditions in north found some frustrated NHS patients were taking matters into their own hands, with another patient carrying out their own tooth filling with a kit from the health board said it acknowledged that "significant work" remained to address challenges in a "sustainable, long-term way". The woman, who is still waiting for an eye operation, initially waited three years to be seen after being placed on the ophthalmology waiting list in had some procedures but said they "did not help", so was eventually driven to carry out the dangerous procedure herself, according to the report."She is waiting for an eye operation, which was requested in October 2023, and her eyesight is deteriorating rapidly," it said."As a former nurse and nurse manager, she has given her working life to care for other people. Now she needs some care of her own."The report described long waits experienced by patients in the emergency departments at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Ysbyty Wrexham Maelor, and Ysbyty Glan Clwyd were found to be waiting up to 36 hours and "overcrowding, uncertainty, and discomfort" were also common public consultation had been part of a "listening and understanding" initiative aimed at improving the design and delivery of care and had been 300 enquiries from MPs and MSs over their constituents' experiences, with waiting times the main focus. Another case was a man who wanted to join the Army, but was unable to because of the health of his report said the man had not been able to find an NHS dentist nearby due to a "chronic shortage" of dentists in north Wales, and private dentists quoted a minimum of £3,000 for conversations highlighted issues over outpatient waiting times, access to services, ambulance and emergency department delays, and was found to have had a "catastrophic impact" on one patient's life who suffered daily pain, and another, awaiting an operation for bladder stones, endured "continual bleeding". Llais, the body which gives people a "voice" when accessing health services, also gathered data which found people had "significant challenges" accessing timely and affordable primary care, difficulty accessing GP appointments and the absence or loss of NHS dental treatment or self-management of dental problems had manifested sometimes in "unsafe or distressing" ways, including one patient "filling their own tooth with a kit from the dentist". Another patient reported waiting "12 hours in a corridor on a trolley".Long delays for specialist services, including audiology, cataract surgery, neuro-developmental assessment, and respiratory care were also "a major concern".A meeting to discuss the report heard that despite many people highlighting "dissatisfaction or frustration", many other participants had also expressed "gratitude" and praise for the "professionalism and compassion" by hospital staff, members and report said measures had been taken by the board to address calls for dental care, this included creating contracts worth more than £1.5m to expand NHS dental provision and a new dental access portal, launched in February, was also helping "simplify and centralise" access to procurement exercises, covering general dental services, orthodontics, oral surgery, and non-urgent access, also totalled more than £ to areas such as emergency departments, dermatology, gynaecology, physiotherapy musculoskeletal, cancer services, and a midwifery ward bereavement suite had also been neuro-developmental services, it said a child and adolescent mental health improvement programme was in place to provide mental health support for children and young people.
Yahoo
24-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
'Gross failures' and 'neglect' played part in death of newborn baby
The death of a newborn baby girl was in part caused by "gross failures" in medical care and "neglect". A coroner said she was so concerned about the circumstances surrounding the death of Etta-Lili Stockwell-Parry in 2023 that she issued a Prevention of Future Deaths (PFD) report to the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). Her mother Laura Stockwell-Parry was induced and Etta-Lili was born "in poor condition" on July 3, 2023,at Ysbyty Gwynedd, Bangor having suffered oxygen starvation, according to a pathologist. She was taken to Arrowe Park Hospital on the Wirral but died there four days later on July 7. At a two day inquest in Cernarfon Kate Robertson, senior coroner for north west Wales, found that neglect was a contributory factor in the little baby's death. READ MORE: Council crews to search bins and hand £70 fines to rule-breakers READ MORE: Venomous snake bolts into sea from beneath paddleboard at popular Welsh beach Staff had failed to notice problems early enough and a subsequent investigation wasn't thorough enough, the coroner said. Neither a community midwife before the birth, nor maternity unit staff at Ysbyty Gwynedd noticed the baby had stopped growing at about 40 weeks, the hearing was told. Sign up for our free daily briefing on the biggest issues facing the nation sign up to the Wales Matters newsletter here. North Wales Live reported that the health board said said "significant steps" had been taken to address the failures in this case, which it said was an "isolated incident". Mrs Robertson found cause of death was hypoxic ischaemic encephalopathy. She recorded a narrative conclusion at this week's inquest. In a Prevention of Futue Deaths report statement, issued after the inquest the coroner said there were "several gross failures" identified in Etta's mother's care. These failures resulted in opportunities not taken to deliver Etta before she became distressed. There were "many incidences of learning" relating to Etta's resuscitation at Ysbyty Gwynedd, she added. Mrs Robertson found: "There were several opportunities not taken by those caring for Etta's mother. "There were opportunities to identify concerns with Etta through her mother on the midwifery led unit on 2 July 2023 including properly conducting holistic assessments, properly completing partogram and manual palpation of maternal pulse which would also likely have resulted in earlier detection of distress and successful delivery. Etta's death was contributed to by neglect." The coroner also found that Mrs Stockwell-Parry ought to have been referred to the labour ward for close monitoring, but instead, she was induced and received only intermittent monitoring. Her pulse was not always taken and recorded and there was no recognition that Etta Lili's mother's pulse was being recorded as opposed to the fetal heart rate. Mrs Robertson also found the neonatal investigation was not thorough. The investigator neither obtained nor requested statements from the doctors directly involved in Etta's resuscitation, nor did they meet them to understand what had occurred. Mrs Robertson said she is concerned that staff not involved in the incident will not learn enough from events where there is inadequate sharing of learning from an incident. She issued the Prevention of Future Deaths report about her concerns. BCUHB has 56 days to respond with a timetable of how it will act on points raised. Angela Wood, Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery Services at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said "significant steps" have been taken to address the issues in this "isolated incident". She said: "We would like to extend our deepest sympathies and heartfelt condolences to Mr and Mrs Stockwell-Parry following the tragic death of baby Etta. We recognise the profound impact this has had on the family, and we are truly sorry for the pain and loss they have endured. "Since this tragic event in July 2023, we have carried out a thorough review of the care provided and taken significant steps to ensure that the issues identified have been addressed. We are committed to learning from this and have implemented a range of measures to strengthen our training and clinical oversight to ensure the safest possible care for mothers and babies." She added: "We want to reassure expectant mothers and families in our care that this was an isolated incident. Providing safe, compassionate care is our highest priority, and we remain committed to upholding the highest standards of care across our maternity services." Get daily breaking news updates on your phone by joining our WhatsApp community here. We occasionally treat members to special offers, promotions and ads from us and our partners. See our Privacy Notice
BBC News
19-05-2025
- Health
- BBC News
Welsh primary schools see lunch menu crackdown plan
More fruit and vegetables will be on the menu in primary schools and fried food is being cut as part of healthy eating plans in desserts will also be scaled down as part of Welsh government plans to improve the nutritional balance of school meals.A consultation on new guidance will also look at portion sizes, a maximum and minimum recommended amount of red meat, reclassifying fruit juice as "not a piece of fruit", as well as banning fizzy Health Wales (PHW) welcomed the proposals, while one dietitian said the changes were "really important" because some children "fall short" of having enough fibre and vitamins. Currently one in four reception-aged children in Wales are categorised as overweight or Welsh government said evidence showed children were eating too much sugar and not enough fruit, vegetables and wholegrains. Cabinet Secretary for Education Lynne Neagle said good nutrition was "vital" to help children "perform at their best"."Our evidence-based changes to school food rules will help give Welsh children the best start in life while supporting Welsh producers and nurturing a generation of healthy eaters to safeguard the future of our NHS," she said. The move comes after a strategy committed the Welsh government to reviewing the regulations on nutrition following the rollout of universal free school meals in primary Basu, a public health dietitian working for Betsi Cadwaladr health board, welcomed the plans and said they would protect the nutritional health of children and lay "key foundations" for good added: "A lot of cognitive, physical and emotional health develops in a relatively short period of time... [so] it's really vital that nutrition is optimal. "We know children who eat well feel well, learn better and grow stronger." Ruth Heeley, a teaching assistant at Ysgol Bryn Tabor in Coedpoeth, Wrexham, said food education was important for children to learn how to make good choices.A programme called food and fun was brought in help the children try foods and flavours that might be new to them, allowing them to try fruit and vegetables sometimes for the first time."They don't always have the option at home to try different things, being together at school and having peers to encourage is a big thing," she said. Year 2 pupil Kiki said she enjoyed the tasting session and liked strawberries the most."I liked finding the fruit and vegetables and all the things... we eat what's healthy," she friend Eleri said she tried melon for the first time and it was "good". Rachel Bath of PHW welcomed the proposals, adding: "We know there is work to do to give all children access to nutritious meals alongside food education and positive dining experiences."These changes not only support children's health but also contribute to a more sustainable food system and local economy."Ms Neagle said she looked forward to hearing from parents, teachers, suppliers, and young people on the plan in order to "create school food standards that work for everyone".
BBC News
15-05-2025
- Politics
- BBC News
Welsh Conservatives pledge to drive down Welsh NHS waits
A promise to bring down waits for NHS treatment to no more than 12 months will be among Welsh Conservative pledges at next May's Senedd home economics to the curriculum is also being trailed, with Senedd leader Darren Millar saying its 2026 manifesto would be its "boldest and most ambitious".A public inquiry into north Wales' troubled Betsi Cadwaladr health board, ban on mobile phones in schools and the introduction of a Welsh winter fuel allowance for pensioners is also included in a series of policy announcements to be two-day conference, in Llangollen, begins on Friday. The Conservatives say a school mobile phone ban would be implemented using strict guidance and, potentially, making funding conditional on following will be a plan to boost staffing at GP surgeries, the party says, and a target to make all GP appointments available within seven working days. Other pledges include reversing next year's expansion of the Welsh Parliament to 96 members, meaning voters electing 60 members in 2030, as they did in Welsh ministers would also return the controversial 20mph default speed limit to 30mph, keeping to 20mph near schools and hospitals, and "deliver an M4 relief road".Welsh Labour ministers scrapped proposals six years ago, then estimated to cost £1.6bn, for the 14-mile motorway relief road around Newport because of its cost and impact on the education policies include automatically excluding pupils bringing knives into costings have been said: "My team and I will present a comprehensive, fully-funded set of policy commitments to fix Wales ahead of the Senedd election.""The Welsh Conservative 2026 manifesto will be the boldest and most ambitious in our history."The Welsh Conservatives are working tirelessly to hold Labour to account, while other parties like Plaid Cymru have routinely propped them up. "We now stand ready to offer the only credible alternative Welsh government."Labour has led the Welsh government since powers were transferred from Westminster to Cardiff Bay in 1999, either on its own or in partnership with Plaid Cymru or the Liberal suggest Reform is a serious contender to be the biggest party next May, but in an interview with BBC Wales ahead of the conference Millar predicted they would "melt under any kind of reasonable scrutiny of their policies - when they do bring them forward - because they do not appear to have any".The pledge that no patient would wait more than 12 months for treatment is to the latest statistics, in February there were 15,505 cases where somebody had waited more than two years, a reduction of more of more than 26% on the January figure. The Conservatives have already announced plans to take 1p off the basic rate of income tax through "efficiency measures" in government but "protecting health, schools and farming".All road projects will be "unfrozen" and no new cycle lanes will be built until "roads are fixed".Millar will give his main speech to the conference on Saturday, his first to a conference since becoming Tory Senedd leader just over five months ago. 'Preventable deaths' Meanwhile the shadow Welsh Secretary Mims Davies has reiterated calls for a public inquiry into preventable deaths at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health 2024 it was reported that 27 prevention of future death reports in just over a year were issued to the health board by coroners, more than any other health board Davies called for Westminster to hold the inquiry. "The UK Labour government is clearly failing in its duty by not holding this crucial inquiry and listening to families and those who have lost loved ones," she her "invisible", she said the Welsh Secretary Jo Stevens "needs to put political allegiance to one side and finally listen and act to deliver for the people of Wales"."It is imperative the families of the victims of this scandal obtain justice."The previous Conservative Welsh Secretary David TC Davies had called for an inquiry into preventable deaths at the north Wales January, Mims Davies urged current Labour Welsh secretary Jo Stevens to "push" the Welsh government to hold an inquiry. Additional reporting by David Deans
Yahoo
23-04-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
Hospital ward closure 'immoral', families say
The failure to recruit NHS staff in a rural part of Wales is having a "cruel and immoral effect" on patients, families have warned. The Dyfi Ward at Ysbyty Tywyn in the south of Gwynedd closed temporarily two years ago but the health board said it still cannot get enough staff to safely reopen it. Family members said they now must travel long distances to visit loved ones, including journeys of up to two hours to Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board said it had faced challenges in recruiting and maintaining staffing levels but would "rethink" health care in the area. Too few consequences for NHS underperformance - Miles Hospital waiting times fall for third month 'Long way to go' for NHS board's special measures Sian Lewis, whose father died less than three weeks ago, said he spent his final weeks being moved between hospitals far from home because there was no care available for him in Tywyn. "It's been awful, he wasn't able to come back to Tywyn at all," Ms Lewis told BBC-produced Newyddion S4C. "I'm very sad and angry." She added: "My mum is 91 and she couldn't just go and see him, she had to rely on us and friends to take her there." Lisa Markham, who lost her father six years ago when the inpatient ward at Ysbyty Tywyn was open, said she felt lucky her father was able to spend his final days close to family and in his own community. "I look back with gratefulness and thanks... my [grandparents] and then my dad had amazing care here as they died. "We, his children and grandchildren, could come to visit him, and it was an amazing time where he could just say goodbye to us and we to him." She added: "It makes you angry when you see what Sian has had to go through because her father was so far away." Campaigners said the long distances were made more inaccessible due to limited and unreliable public transport in the area. They said this meant people were missing vital time with family during their final days. Janet Maher's father died on the Dyfi Ward just six months before its closure and said having care in this rural part of Wales was "invaluable". "It's so sad, cruel and immoral that they haven't opened the ward. "The love and care they showed my father... he died after two weeks on the ward, and we were just so grateful for the care he received." She added: "Everyone has the right to have that care like he did." Betsi Cadwaladr said a shortage of staff led to the closure of the ward two years ago, but it was expected to reopen. Health board chair Dyfed Edwards said a major campaign to recruit locally, nationally and internationally had not succeeded. Mr Edwards highlighted new community scheme Tuag Adref which ensures care at home and the minor injuries unit at the hospital which was open five days a week. He said Betsi Cadwaladr had no intention to close the ward completely and that the board would be discussing the way forward for health services in the area in May. Back of queue threat for people who miss NHS appointments Drug dispensing robot hailed as 'ground-breaking' Corridor care in Welsh hospitals 'endemic', doctors say
