Labour Slow to address complaint handling failures in Welsh NHS

Commenting on a report by the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales calling for urgent cultural change to end the cycle of poor complaint handling in our Welsh NHS, Welsh Conservative Shadow Health Minister, Russell George MS said:

“A lack of openness, timeliness, candour and a pattern of complaint handling failures that in some cases are not even acknowledged by health boards across Wales are just some of the issues highlighted in this report.

Health matters are devolved in Wales, meaning that it is the Labour Government’s responsibility to promote accountability in our Welsh NHS

“Health matters are devolved in Wales, meaning that it is the Labour Government’s responsibility to promote accountability in our Welsh NHS. I am disappointed to read that the complaints and lessons brought forward in 2017 by the Ombudsman’s office have yet to be fully addressed 6 years on, progress has been too slow.

“We know that avoidable mistakes in our Welsh NHS can be costly to the taxpayer at a time where Labour is cutting the health budget in real terms, so I would urge them to engage in a renewed effort to ensure there are robust procedures in place to address the issues highlighted in this report.”