HEALTHCARE provision in Blaenau Ffestiniog is “primitive” according to a scathing report by a health service expert.

At an inspection of the service levels in the Welsh Uplands, Health Inspectorate Wales (HIW) explored how the GP practice Meddygon y Blaenau, now run directly by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board, met the standards of care set out in the Health and Care Standards of April 2015.

The report has been examined by Tom Brooks, a management consultant in the delivery of effective and efficient healthcare, who declared it “evidence of primitive healthcare being delivered in the area”.

Mr Brooks has been supporting the Ffestiniog Memorial Hospital Defence Committee in its fight to restore services to Ffestiniog and the Welsh Uplands that were closed down by Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in 2013.

He claims that “Ffestiniog had the most primitive healthcare service in the UK and this report did nothing to dispel that view”.

“Some failings” said Mr Brooks, “indicated unsafe patient care.

“Care of the elderly, cancer care and patient medicines management were highlighted by Health Inspectorate Wales as at risk.

“Some people were blaming Betsi Cadwaladr, but in fact, the board had been in special measures since June 2015 under the direct management of the Welsh health minister and with a scrutiny team of senior healthcare managers supporting the health minister appointed chief exec­utive.”

HIW’s most telling statement, acc­ording to Mr Brooks, was: “We observed that the practice was extr­emely full and busy at times during the day”.

Both branch surgeries in the area have been closed, he said, forcing patients to travel to Blaenau and to overfill the surgery.

The management consultant felt that “as a small step to raise the healthcare services out of the primitive level, both branch surgeries should be reopened”.

“Since the health board does not seem able to recruit enough GPs they should be staffed originally by an advanced nurse practitioner and a practice nurse,” he added.

“The Mid Wales Healthcare Collaborative established by the Welsh Government in an attempt to imp­rove healthcare in rural areas is training physician associates.

“One of these should be earmarked for the Ffestiniog area.”

There were also concerns over poor staff numbers.

“The staffing provision is minimal”, said Mr Brooks.

HIW reports that “overall there was much evidence that the practice was not being effectively managed”.

The report says that “whereas we would have expected increased support during these times of transition and instability, we found that no formal practice team meetings had been held”.

HIW added: “We raised concerns regarding the practice sustainability under its current climate and about the impact on patients.

“Therefore we have advised Betsi Cadwaladr to undertake an urgent review of the overall staffing levels to ensure that adequate support staff cover is available to sustain this busy practice.”

In response, a Betsi Cadwaladr spokesperson said: “The health board has welcomed the HIW insp­ection report into GP services in Blaenau Ffestiniog as it provided an objective and independent review of services.

“Since taking over management of the practice in February 2015, the services provided have been enh­anced with access to an advanced nurse practitioner, physiotherapist and pharmacist who complement the work of the GPs and nurses and compares favourably with other practices across north Wales.

“The practice continues to receive both informal and formal positive feedback from local people regarding these changes.

“The report has identified a small number of issues that need addressing to improve the service and ens­ure these can be sustained over time.

“We are working with the practice staff to address these.

“The development of Canolfan Goffa Ffestiniog, the new integrated primary care centre in Blaenau Ffestiniog, has commenced.

“We anticipate it being opened in the spring of 2017.

“It will give us a fantastic opportunity to provide enhanced health, social care, voluntary and wellbeing services and deliver care closer to home for the local population in a purpose built facility in the centre of the community.

“We are proud of the staff in the practice, who have maintained services for the area through challenging times.

“It is important to value and support the staff working in the practice to maintain their morale and ensure we can recruit staff in the future.”