Shadow Health Minister Darren Millar AM has written to the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) to express concern at reports that a Merseyside hospital where North Wales babies needing the highest level care will be cared for, has admitted operating on patients with equipment that had not been sterilised.
It was reported at the weekend that routine checks at Arrow Park Hospital found some medical instruments had not been fully decontaminated. The equipment had been used on nine patients, including a woman who had a caesarian section.
In November a decision to transfer specialist care for some of sickest and most premature babies in North Wales to Arrowe Park was overturned by the First Minister, however he said some babies needing the highest level care will still need to go to the Wirral hospital.
Darren said:
“These reports are alarming and will clearly be of concern to patients in North Wales given the proposed relationship between the region and Arrowe Park Hospital for neonatal services.
“I have therefore written to the Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board to ask what action he intends to take to ensure that patients from North Wales will not face unnecessary clinical safety risks should they be transferred to the care of Arrowe Park Hospital in the future.”
Darren, who backed campaigns to retain neonatal health services for North Wales babies in North Wales, added;
“From the off-set there has been a great deal of concern over the health board’s plans for North Wales’ smallest and sickest babies to be sent to the Wirral and these latest reports will fuel existing worries.
“It is therefore crucial that North Wales parents receive assurances from the health board that should their babies need to be treated at Arrowe Park Hospital, they are in the safest hands.”
