Almost 300 complaints made to Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board over welfare of mental health patients

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has received almost 300 complaints about the welfare of mental health patients in the last four years.

The 294 complaints have highlighted concerns over ongoing abuse and violence occurring in mental health wards of the board, which has been special measures since 2013. They included 40 complaints of abusive, violent, disruptive and self-harming behaviour.

A freedom of information request shows The Hergest Unit in Bangor has seen a 100% increase in complaints of the same nature since the board was put into special measures.

Grievances reached their peak in 2015 when the board received 115 complaints relating to mental health care over a-12 month period.

A report published by independent health expert Donna Ockenden in May 2015 revealed that patients in Betsi Cadwaladr mental health wards had suffered 'institutional abuse' at the hands of staff.

Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board say that there has been a reduction in the number of complaints being made across their mental health services since it was placed in special measures.

And that the figures illustrate the number of complaints received, not the number of complaints which were found to be substantiated.

A Welsh Government spokesperson said every complaint made to the NHS will be looked into promptly as well as the NHS learning all necessary lessons from such complaints.

BCU are working hard to improve mental health services in their area as part of the special measures improvement programme and this work has been accelerated since the appointment of a mental health director.