Hospital emergency department starting to improve

Ysbyty Glan Clwyd’s emergency unit has been under special scrutiny since May 2022

A hospital emergency department that was criticised for poor patient care and long waiting times has started to make improvements, according to a report.

The emergency unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital near Rhyl in Denbighshire has been under special scrutiny since May 2022, when inspectors also found poor treatment of patients with mental health issues.

The regulatory body Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) made a further inspection in spring 2024, and its latest report said things were beginning to improve.

But it said further changes were still needed and people were waiting too long to be treated.

HIW says things are beginning to improve

The department was designated as a "service requiring significant improvement" by HIW after a series of inspections in early 2022.

When it went back in November of the same year, it found almost nothing had changed.

But inspectors reported improvements had started to happen after an unannounced visit at the end of April this year.

They reported the most seriously ill patients and those with high-risk conditions were being seen quickly.

Staff also kept a closer eye on the waiting room, offering patients food and drink during long waits and responded better to emergencies that happened while people waited.

But inspectors found one person was not seen by a doctor for more than 10 hours with a suspected fracture at the top of their thigh bone, and no record of pain relief.

They said better checks were needed on life-saving equipment, and patients' medication was not always managed properly or accurately.

Carol Shillabeer took over as chief executive of Betsi Cadwaladr health board in May 2023

Alun Jones, chief executive of HIW, said: "The pressure and demand on healthcare services continues to create significant challenges for the NHS.

"During this inspection we found staff working extremely hard in challenging conditions to provide patients with safe and effective care.

"It is reassuring to see improvements have been made since our previous inspections of the department, but further improvement is still needed.

Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, which runs the department, thanked all staff involved in improving their department for their dedication "while working under constant pressure".

“This report shows that tangible and positive difference is being made, whilst indicating the further improvements we are totally committed to taking forward," she added.