Janet Finch-Saunders, Member of the Welsh Parliament for Aberconwy is deeply saddened by news that people have died because mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board have not been improved.
The Royal College of Psychiatrists found that fewer than half of the 84 recommended improvements to the Health Board’s mental health department have been implemented.
An investigation uncovered a culture of bullying and low morale, leading to unaddressed patient safety concerns. Over the past 10 years, four separate inquiries made recommendations for action.
However, evidence revealed that only 37 out of 84 recommendations (44%) had been fully implemented, and according to patient watchdog Llais, people have continued to die during this period.
Commenting on the news, Janet said:
“I am extremely disappointed and saddened by this news. We know that the Betsi Health Board is under enormous strain but the fact that we are still reviewing unresolved issues, over a decade on, is deeply concerning.
“Patient safety is the first priority of any medical professional so it is heartbreaking to hear stories about patients being treated like ‘animals in a zoo’.
“I know there will be many, if not most, of the doctors, nurses and practitioners who are troubled by this news and disappointed that it tarnishes the hard work that they do.
“The Betsi Health Board is sadly in dire shape. I know the Chair, alongside the board, is working extremely hard but these issues are deep rooted and go back decades. It is tragically a consequence of years of poor management, under resourcing and low moral amongst staff.
“25 years of Welsh Labour has left our Welsh NHS battered and broken. Staff vacancies are at all-time highs with waiting lists now hitting new records. Only last week, the number of individual patients waiting for treatment hit a new record - 599,100. Enough is enough.
“We need to address this swiftly and seriously. We need a comprehensive plan to retain doctors and nurses, increase capacity for scans and improve communication amongst the different health sectors. I fear that we cannot continue as we are for much longer, the time for the Welsh Government to act is now.”
ENDS
Roedd Janet Finch-Saunders, yr Aelod o’r Senedd dros Aberconwy, yn hynod drist o glywed y newyddion fod pobl wedi marw oherwydd nad yw gwasanaethau iechyd meddwl ym Mwrdd Iechyd Prifysgol Betsi Cadwaladr wedi gwella.
Canfu Coleg Brenhinol y Seiciatryddion fod llai na hanner yr 84 o welliannau a argymhellwyd i adran iechyd meddwl y Bwrdd Iechyd wedi cael eu rhoi ar waith.
Datgelodd ymchwiliad ddiwylliant o fwlio a morâl isel, gan arwain at bryderon diogelwch i gleifion na chawsant sylw. Dros y 10 mlynedd diwethaf, gwnaeth pedwar ymchwiliad ar wahân argymhellion ar gyfer camau gweithredu.
Fodd bynnag, datgelodd tystiolaeth mai dim ond 37 o’r 84 argymhelliad (44%) a oedd wedi cael eu gweithredu'n llawn, ac yn ôl y corff gwarchod cleifion, Llais, mae pobl wedi parhau i farw yn ystod y cyfnod hwn.
Wrth gyfeirio at y newyddion, dywedodd Janet:
"Rwy'n siomedig iawn ac yn hynod drist i glywed y newyddion hyn. Gwyddom fod Bwrdd Iechyd Betsi dan straen enfawr ond mae'r ffaith ein bod yn dal i adolygu problemau sydd heb eu datrys, dros ddegawd yn ddiweddarach, yn destun pryder mawr.
"Diogelwch cleifion yw prif flaenoriaeth unrhyw weithiwr meddygol proffesiynol felly mae'n dorcalonnus clywed straeon am gleifion yn cael eu trin fel 'anifeiliaid mewn sw'.
"Rwy'n gwybod y bydd yna lawer, os nad y rhan fwyaf, o’r meddygon, nyrsys ac ymarferwyr yn bryderus iawn am y newyddion hyn ac yn siomedig ei fod yn gwmwl dros y gwaith caled maen nhw'n ei wneud.
"Yn anffodus mae Bwrdd Iechyd Betsi mewn cyflwr difrifol. Rwy'n gwybod bod y Cadeirydd, ochr yn ochr â'r bwrdd, yn gweithio'n eithriadol o galed ond mae'r problemau hyn wedi'u hymwreiddio'n ddwfn ac yn mynd yn ôl degawdau. Mae'n ganlyniad blynyddoedd lawer o reolaeth wael, dim digon o adnoddau a morâl isel ymhlith y staff.
"Mae 25 mlynedd o Lafur Cymru wedi gadael ein GIG yng Nghymru ar ei liniau. Mae mwy o swyddi gwag nag erioed gyda rhestrau aros bellach yn torri amryw record newydd. Dim ond yr wythnos diwethaf, torrodd nifer y cleifion unigol a oedd yn aros am driniaeth record newydd - 599,100. Digon yw digon.
"Mae'n rhaid i ni fynd i'r afael â hyn ar fyrder ac o ddifrif. Mae angen cynllun cynhwysfawr arnom i gadw meddygon a nyrsys, cynyddu capasiti ar gyfer sganiau a gwella cyfathrebu ymhlith y gwahanol sectorau iechyd. Rwy'n ofni na allwn barhau fel hyn ni am lawer hirach, mae'n amser i Lywodraeth Cymru weithredu nawr."
DIWEDD
