Plaid Cymru calls for Holden report to be published following “failure of governance” admission from Betsi

“Is it any wonder that families of patients feel this is more evidence of a cover-up?” – Mabon ap Gwynfor MS calls on Welsh Government to detail steps taken to improve mental health services in north Wales, since the health board was taken out of special measures last year. 

It has been eight years since concerns raised by staff at the Hergest Unit, Ysbyty Gwynedd, were first documented, and eight years since Robin Holden was commissioned to undertake an investigation into the mental health unit.

The findings from Holden’s report preceded another damning report at another mental health unit, Tawel Fan, in the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), which led to the health board being placed in special measures in June 2015.

Since then, BCUHB has been taken out of special measures, but the Holden Report is yet to be published. The Information Commissioners Office upheld an appeal last year for the report to be published in full, but the Health Board has appealed this decision and a tribunal hearing is not expected until later this year.

At the time of the ICO decision, the interim Chief Executive of BCUHB, Simon Dean, stated that actions had been taken from the Holden Report. However, since then, it has emerged that a report from BCUHB’s Quality, Safety & Experience Committee admits “it is not possible to state with confidence” that actions taken were as a result of the Holden Report. The report goes on to say that “the absence of a clear tracking mechanism for the actions represents a failure of governance.”

Mabon ap Gwynfor, Plaid Cymru MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, used his first opportunity to speak in the Senedd to call on the Welsh Government to publish the Robin Holden report in full, and also ask for an update on steps that have been taken to improve mental health services since Betsi Cadwaladr was taken out of special measures last year.

In response, the Welsh Government confirmed that the Deputy Minister for Mental Health and Well-being “will have that report on her desk” and it “will either be published or there will be a statement to accompany it.”

Plaid Cymru’s Member of Senedd for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, Mabon ap Gwynfor said,

“A report that still hasn’t been published, eight years on, and mitigating actions that – by the health board’s own admission – might have happened more by chance than design: Is it any wonder that families of patients feel this is more evidence of a cover-up of the Hergest Unit scandal?

“The historic failings in mental health service in north Wales is well documented and is one of the reasons why the health board was put into special measures in the first place. Several constituents suffered as a consequence, and it is so important lessons have been learnt, given the forthcoming redevelopment of the Ablett Unit.

“This latest admission of a failure of governance at Betsi Cadwaladr health board does nothing to restore shattered public trust.

“The Robin Holden report was a pivotal report, and had the recommendations been acted on when it was published then the problems that we saw in Tawel Fan might well have been resolved sooner. I’m concerned that even though many years have gone by since the Holden Report that things have not fully been resolved. 

“The Welsh Government must now provide an update on the steps that have been taken to improve mental health services in north Wales since the health board was taken out of special measure in autumn last year. Most importantly, we need to see the Holden report in full, so that we can judge for ourselves whether or not the issues raised have been dealt with in full.”