BETSI Cadwaladr University Health Board is to be prosecuted by the Health and Safety Executive (HSE) following the death of a mental health patient in its care at Ysbyty Gwynedd in April 2021. The decision to prosecute has been met with shock and dismay by Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS.
Millar highlighted the failure of mental health services in North Wales and questioned whether the Health Board’s removal from special measures by the Welsh Government just months before the patient’s death contributed to the tragedy.
The HSE investigation into the incident resulted in the enforcement action against the Health Board. A court hearing is expected on 3 August 2023, with the matter expected to be dealt with in one hearing.
The Health Board released a statement expressing their condolences to the family and loved ones of the patient, but declined to comment further until after the hearing.
A former hospital manager told Herald.Wales that this tragic case raises questions about the adequacy of mental health services in North Wales, and the need for greater accountability and transparency in the healthcare system.
The Health Board’s prosecution serves as a reminder of the importance of patient safety and the responsibility of healthcare providers to provide a safe and effective standard of care, our source said.
