A local politician has stated his serious concerns following the publication of a health care report highlighting issues with vascular services provided by the North Wales Health Board.

The second part of an independent review of vascular services in Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board by the Royal College of Surgeons was released today and found the implementation of treatment "poorly executed". 

It reviewed 44 sets of case notes and found deficiencies in care, record keeping, consent-taking, and follow-up in a number of the cases examined.

The BBC highlighted one particular case which stated that that "an amputee 's wife had to carry him to the toilet because he was sent home without a care plan".

The first part published in March last year detailed nine urgent recommendations to be put in place in order to address patient safety risks, and two recommendations for service improvement.

The Health Minister, Baroness Morgan, admitted she was “disappointed and concerned” by the report. She added: “I expect the health board to address these issues with immediate effect and put a plan and processes in place to contact and review patients appropriately and sensitively.”

Ahead of the report’s release, the Health Board’s Chair and Chief Executive said the report made for “disappointing reading” for them, that they take the findings “very seriously”, and acknowledge that the service they “implemented is not always delivering to the high standards our patients deserve”, apologising to those who have been affected.

Commenting online today, the Shadow Minister for North Wales and MS for Clwyd West, Darren Millar, said:

“This report is extremely alarming for people across North Wales and provides yet further evidence of failures in leadership in the NHS across the region. 

"The fact that the cases which were reviewed related to a period when the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was in special measures makes it all the more concerning and exposes the complete inability of Ministers in Cardiff to address the underlying failures in our health services.

"We need rapid action from the Labour Government to resolve the issues identified by the Royal College and restore faith and public confidence in vascular services as soon as possible."  

Welsh Government has been approached for a response.