Local AM demands more responsive LHB

10.57.09am UTC (GMT +0000) Mon 6th Aug 2007

Welsh Liberal Democrat AM for Brecon and Radnorshire, Kirsty Williams, will call for a change of ethos within Powys Local Health Board when she meets with the new Chief Executive later this month.

The local AM will also be discussing the issues identified in the recent review of clinical governance and patient safety in Powys, which has identified several areas of concern.

Ms Williams said: "I look forward to welcoming the new Chief Executive to the Board, and hope that her appointment will herald a new approach from the organisation. If they are going to take the action needed to ensure the incidents identified by the review cannot happen again, they will have to be much better at working with local doctors and Friend's groups within the county than they have been in the past. I will also be seeking re-assurances over the future of services such as the Minor Injuries Unit in Builth Wells, which is such an important facility for the local population.

"Patient safety must be a priority for us all, and I will be meeting with the Health Minister at the Assembly as soon as we reconvene in September to discuss her vision for the future of health services in our area, and what ideas she has to improve safety and accountability in Powys."

Notes:

Ms Williams will be meeting with Judith Paget, the new Chief Executive of Powys LHB, on 14th August, and with Health Minister Edwina Hart on the 18th September.

A review of the arrangements for clinical governance and patient safety within the provider services of Powys LHB is being carried out by the Clinical Governance Support and Development Unit at the request of the Chief Executive of NHS Wales. Their initial report, which sets out their progress to date and the next steps to be taken, was presented to the LHB on 25th July, and is available at http://www.wales.nhs.uk/sites3/Documents/501/Progress%20to%20date%20Powys%20review%200707.pdf .