AFTER it was said that the under reporting of deaths was down to a ‘glitch’ Plaid Cymru AM for Arfon Sian Gwenllian has demanded that the report into why Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board had been under-reporting deaths for over a month be made public.
Figures from Public Health Wales published on Friday included 84 retrospective deaths reported by Betsi Cadwaladr in north Wales which occurred between 20 March and 22 April.
Wales’ chief medical officer Dr Frank Atherton said Betsi Cadawaladr health board failed to report daily coronavirus death figures because it used a different system to the rest of the Welsh NHS.
Plaid Cymru AM for Arfon Sian Gwenllian questioned why Betsi Cadwaladr had been using a different system to the rest of the Welsh NHS “in the first place” and why it had taken a month before Welsh Government and Public Health Wales realised something was wrong.
Ms Gwenllian said the report into the incident should be published publicly “as soon as possible” and warned lessons should be learnt.
The Arfon AM said “honesty and transparency” was crucial to maintain public trust and confidence “during such challenging times”.
Sian Gwenllian added,
“Why was Betsi Cadwaladr using a different system to the rest of the Welsh NHS in the first place? And why did it take a month before Welsh Government and Public Health Wales realised something was wrong?
“We need to know from the health board, Public Health Wales and Welsh Government what really happened – and fast.
“The Welsh Government must publish the report into the incident as soon as possible. Lessons must be learnt . Honesty and transparency is crucial to maintain public trust and confidence – especially during such challenging times.”
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