Top doctors tell of serious concerns over running of Wales’ largest hospital

THE most senior medical staff at Wales’ flagship hospital have written to the chair of the health board to raise their concerns about the way it is being run.

- CONOR GOGARTY

> University Hospital Of Wales' management is under increasing pressure

The extremely rare step by Cardiff and Vale university health board's senior consultant body - which has more than 100 members - shows the depth of concern about the state of services at the University Hospital of Wales.

The letter has not been made public by the consultants or by the health board, but was raised at an accountability meeting held by Welsh Government health secretary Jeremy Miles.

The Western Mail has been told that the letter raises a number of serious concerns about the failure to address major problems with the hospital’s infrastructure and the way services are being run.

Cardiff's University Hospital of Wales is the nation’s flagship hospital which is home to many services used by people from a much wider area.

However , it was built in the 1960s, has major issues and long-mooted plans for a replacement have not progressed far.

The letter also accuses management of failing to take “clinical input on key decisions”.

In a public accountability meeting last Thursday, health secretary Jeremy Miles questioned senior figures at the health board on the grievances aired in the letter.

“Clearly we're not getting it right’, replied the health board’s chief operating officer Paul Bostock, though he insisted bosses do not sit in “darkened rooms” and would be working to engage more with consultants.

Earlier this year a damning report on the operating theatres at the University Hospital of Wales found chronic leaks risked affecting patient confidence, poor lighting made operations challenging, and corridors were “cluttered” due to insufficient storage.

We understand the consultants behind the letter considered expressing no confidence in the health board’s management but ultimately decided not to at this stage.