Hywel Dda Health Board Faces Ombudsman Criticism Over Epilepsy Service closure, Issues Apology
Carmarthen, Wales – The Hywel Dda University Health Board has been sharply criticized by the Public services Ombudsman for Wales, Michelle Morris, following the abrupt closure of a learning disability epilepsy service in June 2021. The Ombudsman upheld a complaint detailing notable failings in the health board’s handling of the service’s termination and subsequent support for vulnerable patients and their caregivers.
Morris’s report, released today, details a “serious injustice” stemming from the lack of timely review of patient needs when the service ended.She found that the health board failed to establish option care pathways or adequately communicate with those affected, leading to widespread distress.
“Carers described feeling abandoned and unsupported, unsure who to contact for advice or assistance, while having to navigate a lengthy complaints process with no clear outcome,” Morris stated in her report.
This isn’t an isolated incident. The Ombudsman highlighted a similar 2021 report concerning the Hywel Dda health board, which flagged poor service planning and a failure to proactively arrange alternative provisions when a service was discontinued. The recurrence of these issues across different service areas is a major concern, morris noted.
Further compounding the problem, the report revealed that while other health boards in wales do offer learning disability epilepsy services, there was no evidence Hywel Dda had plans to provide a comparable service or establish referral pathways for patients.
The Hywel Dda University Health Board has issued an apology and pledged to take “urgent action” to address the concerns raised by the Ombudsman.Details of the corrective measures are expected to be released in the coming weeks.This case underscores the critical need for robust transition planning and clear dialog when healthcare services are altered or discontinued, notably for vulnerable populations.
