Call for health board boss to quit over patient safety concerns

Concerns over patient safety at a north Wales hospital have prompted a call for a health board chief executive to resign.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) visited the emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, Denbighshire, in May and said it needed "significant improvements."

A follow-up last month found progress had been made but challenges remained and "enhanced oversight" of the department was still needed.

The emergency department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd came out of special scrutiny in 2024 before being given the designation again in summer 2026.

In its report, HIW said it identified "several immediate assurance concerns that required urgent action by the health board" relating to waiting area safety, paediatric emergency care, medicines and equipment management, and safeguarding oversight.

Patients, relatives and carers also shared their experiences in 660 survey responses, highlighting long waiting times, overcrowding and issues relating to privacy and dignity - though they also recognised the compassion and professionalism of staff.

A follow-up visit over two days in August found improvements including in staff wellbeing and engagement, patient flow, and paediatric governance.

But the HIW report also flagged challenges still which remained in waiting room oversight and reducing delays in medial and surgical referrals.

It said enhanced monitoring would focus not just on if actions had been completed, but also on whether they were "delivering measurable improvements, reducing risk and making a sustained difference to the experience of patients and staff."

Read full story

Source: BBC News, 10 September 2026