9. Short Debate: Hands up on Holden — Time for transparency on mental health services in North Wales

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 6:01 pm on 29 September 2021.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 6:01, 29 September 2021

So, you told us in the Chamber that you would read the report, and I've no reason to doubt whether that has happened, but now, Minister, this evening, you need to explain to us, firstly, why the Holden report has still not been made public; secondly, why the recommendations of the report have not been carried out; and, thirdly, you need to explain why people are still dying on mental health units in north Wales when those risks should have been eliminated.

This is a tragic, avoidable scandal. It's a scandal because nobody has been held to account for these failings. And these aren't the failings of overstretched front-line staff. These are the long-term failings of senior managers who have continued to be employed by the health board, some of whom have very senior roles in Betsi Cadwaladr. It was avoidable because staff, families and Holden had raised the alarm many, many years ago. And the tragedy is that no action was taken, or that not sufficient action, at least, has been taken to date, and that means that vulnerable people are still dying on mental health units in north Wales. And I use the plural, because, in the past year, we've seen deaths on Hergest and also on the Ablett unit in north Wales. 

We've seen glacial progress in terms of getting the facts out into the open, and it's time this Government showed some leadership, and it's time you held your hands up to Holden. Let's have this report out in the open so that we can all see for ourselves what needed doing back then, and what needs doing now, so that we can start to deliver the mental health services that the people of north Wales deserve.