Health Commission Wales Report - Jenny Randerson Comment

1.00.00pm BST (GMT +0100) Tue 10th Jun 2008

Commenting on the shocking report in to Health Commission Wales published today, Welsh Liberal Democrat health spokesperson Jenny Randerson said:

"Professor Aylward's report enforces what we have been saying for some time.

"This is a very damming report that presents a picture of an underfunded, understaffed organisation. It provides a clear picture of muddle and confusion and from the start there were fundamental flaws in the way in which the organisation was set up.

"The report concludes that the organisation was too close to government and that independent advice and expert governance were not taken into account anywhere near enough.

"There are big lessons here for the Minister who is currently consulting on the new NHS structure. She must learn the lessons from Health Commission Wales and ensure that if she decides to set up the proposed National Board to oversee the Health service in Wales, it must make use of proper clinical advice and crucially be operated at arms length from the Welsh Assembly Government.

"It is clear that patients have not been getting a fair deal from HCW because of a lack of clear and transparent processes, coupled with inadequate funding.

"The main task now for the Minister is to reform HCW as an independent, arms-length body and ensure it has adequate funding.

"HCW's staff have been doing their very best with an almost impossible workload. It is the leadership from WAG that has let Wales down so badly."