Darren Millar
Welsh Conservatives today steped up calls for a Keogh-style inquiry into the Welsh NHS.
Labour’s First Minister has continued to reject calls for a Keogh-style inquiry on grounds of cost, despite the intervention of senior Labour MP Ann Clwyd, alarming hospital death rates and news of an inquiry into Abertawe Bro Morgannwg following the neglect of an elderly patient at two hospitals.
Figures published last week showed that six of Wales’ seven health boards had risk-adjusted death rates, which were higher than expected.
Welsh Conservative demands for a full Keogh-style inquiry have been backed by Ann Clwyd who, in publishing a report into how NHS complaints are handled, warned that high mortality rates are ‘a smoke signal that something is wrong’. Ann Clwyd’s comments have been endorsed by Public Services Ombudsman Peter Tyndall.
Andrew RT Davies AM, Leader of the Opposition, said, “Carwyn Jones is ignoring the growing chorus of calls for a Keogh-style inquiry from patients, clinicians and even his own MPs.
“This longstanding position of the Welsh Conservatives in calling for a Keogh-style inquiry into the Welsh NHS is gaining support on a daily basis, yet Carwyn Jones has his head in the sand.
“The latest risk-adjusted death rates appear to show that too many people are dying in Welsh hospitals.
“We need a thorough review to investigate why death rates are so high, identify failings and put them right so patient safety is not compromised.
“The reality is that Labour’s record-breaking NHS cuts have focussed managerial eyes on the finances rather than patient care, which has led to a drop in standards, a rise in waiting times and a fall in capacity.
“Carwyn Jones’ Labour Government must reverse its damaging NHS cuts and concede that a Keogh-style inquiry into the Welsh NHS would shed much-needed transparency on the Welsh health service.”
Darren Millar AM, Shadow Minister for Health, said, “Labour Ministers need to listen to respected health campaigner Ann Clwyd’s concerns and give detailed consideration to her informed report about the needs of patients in the NHS.
“We urgently need a robust Wales-wide inquiry into standards of patient care and high death rates in our hospitals to identify failings and put them right to prevent another Mid Staffs scandal.
“How can Carwyn Jones look patients in the eye and continue to refuse an inquiry which could give patients confidence in the standards of care in the Welsh NHS.
“You cannot put a price on a life, yet Carwyn Jones is blocking transparency in the Welsh NHS on cost grounds.
“Carwyn Jones’ Labour Government must listen to calls for a Keogh-style inquiry from frontline NHS staff, respected health campaigners like Ann Clwyd and Welsh patients to prevent any mistreatment of patients and unnecessary deaths.”
