Hospital ward inspection downgraded, Welsh Tories claim

People who help the care watchdog check standards on Welsh hospital wards will no longer be paid, prompting Tory claims of "downgrading" the service.

Healthcare Inspectorate Wales (HIW) has told its team of lay reviewers that from July 2016 they will no longer receive a £250 fee.

The Welsh Conservatives said it sent "a very poor message to the public" in the light of scandals over poor care.

HIW said volunteer reviewers were used by inspection bodies across the UK.

Wards are usually inspected by a team of four, made up of two nurses, one member of HIW staff, and one lay member.

Welsh Conservative leader Andrew RT Davies said: "From revelations about patient care at Tawel Fan, to the horrific findings of the Trusted to Care report, it's clear to me that hospital inspection teams need more power - not less.

"It sends a very poor message to the public that Healthcare Inspectorate Wales is downgrading the only role in the inspection teams dedicated to monitoring the patient experience."

A spokeswoman for HIW said: "Lay reviewers continue to form an important aspect of HIW's inspection teams which also include inspection managers and clinical reviewers.

"HIW's decision to recruit lay reviewers on a voluntary basis has been taken to align with the voluntary sector, the Community Health Councils in Wales and inspection bodies across the UK.

"By recruiting voluntary lay reviewers, including from third sector organisations, we will continue to recruit people who want to make a difference to patients.

"We are pleased that a number of our existing lay reviewers have expressed an interest in continuing to help us highlight concerns for healthcare providers and improve the quality of patient experience on a voluntary basis."