Difficult questions must be asked, and answered, over DNR notices

The Shadow Minister for Health and Social Services – Angela Burns MS – has said that it is time for transparency and honesty over Do Not Attempt Cardiopulmonary Resuscitation (DNACPR) or Do not Resuscitate (DNR) notices, saying that “difficult and uncomfortable questions will need to be asked, and answered”.

Mrs Burns was speaking after media reported that England’s Care Quality Commission had found that individuals’ human rights were potentially breached in more than 500 cases where DNR decisions were made during the Coronavirus pandemic.

Mrs Burns said:

“Welsh Conservatives have pressed for clarity over this issue in Wales – most recently over DNRs being applied for people with learning disabilities – and none has really been forthcoming from Welsh Government, Health Inspectorate Wales,  and the Care Inspectorate Wales.”

Mrs Burns said she has been told that while “assurance work” is being conducted by Care Inspectorate Wales to ensure the safety, rights, and wellbeing of individuals have been protected during the pandemic, it is unlikely to be published before the summer “… at the earliest”.

Mrs Burns said that even the summer is too late for a report, adding:

“It’s now essential that we have transparency over this matter, which mean some difficult and uncomfortable questions will need to be asked, and answered, including how many DNR notices have been applied in Wales without consultation – and how many, if any, have been acted on.”