An ‘independent’ report on NHS reconfiguration in North Wales – rewritten after the health board’s intervention – has exposed the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board’s plans for a second consultation on further proposals for major service change.
Material passed to Shadow Health Minister, Darren Millar AM, shows a report by the National Clinical Forum was altered to support the plans after ‘private emails’ between the chair and the chief executive of Betsi Cadwaldr University Health Board.
Public consultation on controversial NHS shake-up plans in North Wales has recently closed, but an email from the Chair of the Forum (full version attached) also reveals that a second consultation in the region is in the pipeline:
They realised that they do have to address the issues but said that there are still doing the work required to put forward plans (looking at the 2 + 1 options, at specialty interdependencies, discussing trainee numbers with the Deanery, etc). As soon as that was concluded, they would be looking to have a second consultation on those matters. The timescale they had to work to meant that they chose to go out for consultation on the issues that were 'ready'. The minutes of their Board Meeting explain this and they thought that we had been made aware. I admit that I was not aware of their reasoning and was remiss in not knowing.
Shadow Minister for Health Darren Millar AM said:
“I am absolutely baffled to hear a second consultation is already being planned by the health board.
“Despite all the opposition to the controversial and dangerous proposals already brought forward, we now know there’s more pain to come.
“Communities across North Wales will be extremely worried by this development and deserve to know what else is being planned.
“Despite being happy to discuss this process over email with the National Clinical Forum chair, the health board has kept any mention of this a secret to others.
“That shows a startling lack of transparency.”