What strategies does the Welsh Government currently employ to gather public opinion and ensure that patient experiences and concerns are effectively heard and addressed in NHS Wales?
The Welsh Government regularly consults with the public and stakeholders to understand how new policies or proposed new laws affect people or how existing policies and strategies can be improved. The process of consultation ensures people’s views help to shape health policy. We have recently consulted on the new Mental Health and Wellbeing Strategy and the Suicide and Self-Harm Strategy, for example.
Putting Things Right (PTR) is the process in NHS Wales through which concerns and complaints are investigated and handled. It aims to ensure there is proper investigation when a concern or complaint is raised, and that lessons are learned after mistakes have been made.
PTR arrangements are currently governed by the National Health Service (Concerns, Complaints and Redress Arrangements) (Wales) Regulations 2011. The Welsh Government is currently reviewing and refreshing the PTR process to ensure it meets the needs of people raising concerns and complaints.
The Duty of Candour, implemented in April 2023, states that NHS bodies must be open and transparent about adverse outcomes and must offer an apology. In each case, working with the patient to investigate what lessons can be learnt from the incident , sharing these lessons to prevent it happening again.
Working in partnership with NHS health boards and NHS trusts; Llais and third sector, we have developed the People’s Experience Framework, which will be launched next year and will strengthen the citizens’ voice through the development of our quality and safety intelligence.