Vaughan Gething, Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services
This was published under the 2016 to 2021 administration of the Welsh Government
Donna Ockenden presented the findings from her Governance Review to the BCU Board this morning and her report has now been published on BCU’s website. The terms of reference for the review were agreed by BCU in November of 2015 and I am pleased that the report is now complete and that the Board can consider the findings in detail, as part of its wider improvement plans.
It has been over 4 and half years since concerns were first raised regarding the care and treatment on Tawel Fan ward and this review has drawn heavily on the findings from previous reports. It helpfully brings these together into one place, providing the opportunity to reflect on the learning from this series of investigations and reviews, for BCU and the NHS more broadly.
This review reinforces what we already know about the position of the health board and why it was placed in special measures. It also reflects the significant journey that BCU continues to be on.
The health board is establishing an Improvement Group, led by the Executive Director of Nursing and Midwifery, to drive forward the work required in response to both the Donna Ockenden Governance review and the HASCAS Investigation.
My previous statements were clear on how I expect BCU to act on recommendations and report on its progress as part of the special measures improvement framework and this will include actions in response Donna Ockenden’s Governance report.
My focus, and that of the new chair when he takes up post, the Board and Chief Executive, is on moving forward, with an emphasis on ensuring support is in place to build on the work to date and make the necessary improvements at pace to benefit the population of North Wales and staff at BCU.