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

Part of 4. Topical Questions – in the Senedd at 3:24 pm on 30 January 2019.

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Photo of Bethan Sayed Bethan Sayed Plaid Cymru 3:24, 30 January 2019

Thank you for that reply. This report is, of course, the third one if we include the desktop review into safeguarding at the health board, and the report shows there is still a lack of clarity on how some recommendations, which stretch back before this particular scandal, have or will be put in place. When we discuss this report, I think we should all remember what it's about—sexual assault against very vulnerable women in a care setting where they thought that they were safe. The women did not feel that they were believed, and do you agree, Minister, that this is totally unacceptable? If the #MeToo movement is to have impact, public authorities must listen to all women, be they vulnerable or not, but, more importantly, believe them too.

There are parts of the report that are deeply problematic. There is criticism of governance at the health board. It says that board members were aware of allegations individually, but nothing formal was done until far too late. Disconnect between the board and operational services has been apparent since the 2014 'Trusted to Care' report. What are you going to do differently, Minister, now in relation to governance, so we don't have to have another report in a few years' time and the same press-ready, recycled responses from you? Will you look to explore the possibility of special measures to oversee the implementation of recommendations, particularly in this report? And will you personally instigate a review of governance in ABMU and an urgent change of leadership at the board level?

Finally, I'd like to ask, as I did yesterday, to seek assurances of the independence of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales. And I say this again because I think it's vitally important. The press were given a briefing at 9 o'clock in the morning and I was only afforded the same report at 6 o'clock that evening, under the alleged proposition that they had to keep that private for families. If it was so private, why were the press afforded that briefing before elected politicians in this place? I only got the report because I proactively asked—no other AM got that report—and an MP that has taken an interest in this area also. Just for the sake of clarity, we need assurances that HIW is entirely independent, because if they are, why did they treat the press differently to elected politicians in this place?