A Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) report into mental health services for older people at Llandough Hospital has raised serious concerns about patient safety, dignity and leadership oversight.
While inspectors identified compassionate staff delivering personalised care, treating patients with kindness and respect and maintaining high standards of clinical record keeping, the report identified a number of unacceptable failings in the care of dementia patients.
HIW have raised concerns about inadequate arrangements for safeguarding patients' belongings, poor standards of cleanliness, environmental hazards and weaknesses in infection prevention. The report also criticised a failure to maintain dementia-friendly orientation aids such as clocks displaying the correct date and time.
Of particular concern were findings that patients' valuables were being stored in controlled drugs cupboards without appropriate security arrangements and that systems for recording, tracking and returning property were not robust.
HIW concluded that staffing pressures, environmental issues and insufficient domestic support were placing additional strain on clinical staff and reducing the time available for direct patient care.
Natasha Asghar MS, Shadow Minister for Health and Social Care, said:
"While it’s really reassuring to read about the compassionate care that older patients are receiving at Llandough Hospital, but there are clearly a number of areas where performance is not good enough.
“Staff on the wards are clearly working hard under difficult circumstances and deserve recognition for the compassionate care they provide. However, failures in leadership, maintenance, housekeeping and governance are not acceptable and must be addressed by the health board as a matter of urgency.
"People living with dementia are among the most vulnerable patients in our health service and there is clearly scope to improve their care.
"The health board must demonstrate clear progress on cleanliness, patient safety, dementia-friendly environments and leadership accountability. Families need reassurances that these shortcomings are being addressed."
