Major concerns raised over safety and overcrowding at A&E unit

Concerns have been raised about patient safety at a hospital emergency department less than two years after it came out of special scrutiny for similar issues.

The unit at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in Denbighshire has been designated as needing significant improvements over issues including leadership, governance, culture and overcrowding following an inspection last month.

Carol Shillabeer, chief executive of the hospital's Betsi Cadwaladr health board, said it fully accepted the findings, which reflected "serious concerns".

One woman who said she witnessed an elderly patient die alone in the overcrowded unit with beds lining its corridors said the findings came as "no surprise" to her.

The hospital unit has been designated as a service requiring significant improvement (SRSI) following an unannounced inspection by regulatory body Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) in May.

Alun Jones, HIW chief executive, said it was "very disappointing" that some of the previous problems had reoccurred since it left special scrutiny in 2024.

He said a full report will be published in September, but that issues included the concerns of staff who felt they "weren't listened to" when speaking up about safety issues.

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Source: BBC News, 17 June 2026