Cardiff and Vale University Health Board responds to Healthcare Inspectorate Wales report into Hafan y Coed

“The Health Board recognises the importance for the public and patients in having confidence in the services we provide and the integral role Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) play in providing these assurances around quality and standards of care delivered by healthcare organisations. As a learning organisation, we are open and fully receptive to any areas for improvement as recognised in our improvement plan.

It is positive to see a number of the recommendations identified have already been completed since the initial visit to the Crisis Assessment Unit (Cedar Ward) and Psychiatric Intensive Care Unit (PICU) (Alder Ward) was undertaken in July and that a robust improvement plan has been agreed with HIW to address any outstanding areas.

Capital, Estates and Facilities colleagues are undertaking a comprehensive programme of exploratory work with contractors to address the maintenance issues referenced within the report. To facilitate the repair work, patients have been transferred to an alternative ward within adult mental health services to ensure services and care can continue during this time.

While we recognise the concern raised in relation to Occupational Therapy, the Health Board is fully compliant with the 'National Minimum Standards for Psychiatric Intensive Care in General Adult Services'.  Interim arrangements continue to be provided across all inpatient mental health services whilst recruitment is ongoing to these posts, while recognising there are national shortages in this professional group.

The welfare, safety and quality of care of patients has always remained our utmost priority. To address the issue of the call bells, all patients in Hafan y Coed have a comprehensive and individual care plan that is risk assessed, and where it is considered clinically appropriate, they are provided with emergency assistance call point in line with national standards. 

We would like to reassure service users and families that mental health colleagues are fully qualified and competent in managing behavioural issues which require restraint, and the Health Board has taken a concerted and proactive effort to improve compliance of training and development, particularly around improving cultural competencies within equality, diversity and human rights training. We would like to assure service users and their families that, whilst it is sometimes necessary to physically restrain people in order to ensure their safety, this is done proportionately and is always in the context of a dignified and trauma-informed approach.

The Health Board is pleased to read in the report that colleagues within mental health services are enthusiastic and passionate in the delivery of care to patients and patients shared they are treated with respect and kindness. We will continue drawing on the expertise and lived experience of colleagues and service users to coproduce further solutions which continually improve the services we provide.

If any patients or members of the public are concerned with any services or aspects of care provided, please contact the dedicated concerns team”.