Responding to the news Health Inspectorate Wales will undertake an ‘independent assessment’ on the review undertaken by Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Health Board into the Kris Wade case, South Wales West AM and Shadow Cabinet Secretary for Social Services, Suzy Davies AM, has said:
“I’m pleased that the Cabinet Secretary has finally seen sense in answering Welsh Conservative calls for an independent investigation, which is a fundamental step towards base-line transparency.
“However, while this is welcome, its scope and remit will define its success and we hope it is not simply limited to being based on the initial flawed review.
“Lessons from that process have to be learned and we’d expect Health Inspectorate Wales to speak directly to those involved raising concerns, which was sadly not the case in the first instance.
“It’s clear it should never have been left to the health board to investigate serious concerns about itself, especially given the magnitude of the failings of this case, which led to severe breaches of patient safety.
“We expect a rigorous investigation from HIW, looking in detail at the original review and hope that whatever lessons emanate from their report can be learned so that this grotesque episode can never again be repeated.”