“Distressing” that 1,700 patients discharged whilst still in need of help

Rhun ap Iorwerth calls for immediate "rebuild" of mental health services in Betsi Cadwaladr

It’s emerged that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board wrongly discharged nearly 1,700 patients from its mental health services due to the Coronavirus pandemic. Giving initial estimates of 200-300 patients affected, the health board apologised, saying it shouldn’t have happened. Now that the real scale has been revealed, Rhun ap Iorwerth MS, has questioned how this was allowed to happen and calls for an immediate rebuilding of mental health services.  

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board says it was down to a misinterpretation of Welsh Government guidance, and says it intends to contact them all in coming days to be reinstated as patients. Plaid Cymru Health Spokesman Rhun ap Iorwerth has called for an explanation of how such a decision could have happened right across the health board area, and says “immediate investment is needed to rebuild mental health services.”

Plaid Cymru Shadow Health Minister Rhun ap Iorwerth MS said:

"One patient being discharged before time is one patient too many. To now learn that 1,694 patients were discharged early, while they still needed support from mental health services, is a deeply distressing.

"I welcome the assurance that all 1,694 patients will be contacted in the coming days to be reinstated to this vital service, but the question remains as to how such a decision could have happened right across the health board area, and how there could have been such widespread 'misinterpretation' of guidance. It should have been pretty clear that this would be unacceptable.

"I think it’s clear that immediate investment is needed in rebuilding mental health services."