Plans are in place to improve vascular services, Betsi Cadwaladr's Executive Medical Director has confirmed following a damning report. 

In early February, a report from the Royal College of Surgeons of England (RCS) was published in relation to vascular services at the North Wales health board.

The report reviewed 44 sets of case notes and found deficiencies in care, record keeping, consent-taking and follow-up in a number of the cases examined.

Betsi Chairman Mark Polin described the findings of the report as "shocking and completely unacceptable" and Health Minister Eluned Morgan gave the health board an ultimatum on improving the services.

Since then, a new indepenent Vascular Quality Panel has been set up, chaired by Susan Aitkenhead.

In a Health Board meeting held on March 10, Executive Medical Director Nick Lyons, outlined the steps that Betsi are set to take moving forward as they look to urgently improve their vascular services. 

Mr Lyons confirmed there had been 'huge progress' in the last three or four weeks in the service, but insisted more is still needed to be done.

He said: "Work is going on to communicate with the patients and families affected by the report. There is a great deal of work taking place to enhance the strength in capacity and expertise of leadership. 

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"Workshops have already taken place to further teams understanding of professional standards which was highlighted as a key issue within the report. 

"We've established a weekly review of vascular notes across the Health Board, this is a very dynamic and changing situation. We continue to monitor the vascular improvement plan on a daily basis."

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There have been discussions regarding a change of pathway for patients in the vascular service, although Mr Lyons wants to reassure people that the new pathway aims to get the best service for each patient. He added:

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"There is no change in terms of patients who have a need for surgery or review, there is no proposal to change that. Those patients that need vascular expertise will continue to have vascular expertise."

He stated that the idea stems from certain patients being better suited to receive care from differing roles, including physcians, clinicians and surgeons. 

Adding: "The pathway changes are not about moving patients from vascular to somebody else. They are around providing absoloute clarity as to who is the best place clinically to help each and every patient at each point on their pathway."