Abertawe Bro Morgannwg University Local Health board’s Handling of Sex Assault Claims

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 30 January 2019.

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Photo of David Lloyd David Lloyd Plaid Cymru 3:31, 30 January 2019

This is a situation of utmost gravity and the fundamental issue is: why are issues relating to the care of people with learning disability persistently ignored? That's the fundamental issue here, because the AMBU board knew of both the allegations against Kris Wade and the problems in the learning disability directorate itself, but failed to act. The Crown Prosecution Service failed to take the women's allegations seriously, despite police going back to ask them to reconsider. The police wanted to pursue the situation; the CPS failed to take any action. The view from the service is that the Welsh Government always kicked the attempts to develop effective liaison between learning disability services and the criminal justice system into the long grass. I'm not going to have the political debate about what's devolved and what's not devolved now, but, surely, with matters of such potential gravity, you need to be able to work together as opposed to just ignoring the situation, because, over the years, there are myriad reports on the additional morbidity and mortality of people with learning disability in general hospitals. They're not being listened to either there. And I know about the multi-agency learning disability advisory group, but that is exactly what it says on the tin—it's an advisory group only. There's no change in outcomes for people with learning disability. This case highlights a situation of utmost gravity. So, also, can I ask: why didn't senior health board executives think or feel that the allegations in the Kris Wade case were serious? Why did Welsh Government agree to an internal desktop review back in October 2017? If there was no case to answer, why have a review? If it was serious, have a proper review, not just an internal desktop review. And, finally, is Welsh Government proud of the treatment of the medical whistleblower in this case?