Angela Burns AM – the Shadow Health Minister – has reacted with shock to the announcement today (April 28) that 31 deaths linked to Covid-19 (Coronavirus) went unreported at Hywel Dda University Health Board. This announcement comes days after it was revealed that 84 deaths went unreported at the troubled Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
Mrs Burns said:
“We’re told that the electronic form for notifications of deaths is either not being signed off or implemented across all health boards.
“This has led to – at Hywel Dda – a consistent undercount over the period of the pandemic. The lack of conformity in reporting that is likely skewing results and the action to be taken to combat Coronavirus.”
However, Mrs Burns said that she has already spoken with the Chief Executive of the health board, who explained why it had happened and apologised for any distress caused.
Mrs Burns said:
“I expressed to the Chief Executive, Steve Moore, my absolute shock at these figures. He apologised unreservedly, and explained that a number of reasons for the underreporting exist.
“One is clinicians who may either not have known about new guidance on reporting Covid-19 deaths as introduced a month ago, or have been so overworked that they may have missed including these deaths.
“Another is that there are different data channels for the recording of these deaths, and that is why it is I and my Welsh Conservative colleagues are calling on the Welsh Labour Government to review the way suspected Covid-19 deaths are recorded as a matter of utmost urgency, and to embed a culture of compliance with reporting protocols throughout NHS Wales.”