IT has been deeply worrying to see a number of recent reports on care within our NHS that reveal a complete failure of all the systems that should be in place to protect our most vulnerable people. Whilst there are many examples of quality care from excellent staff within the NHS, it is also clear that too often the current inspection system has failed as the final backstop to ensure that care was first class.

The current system for ensuring the quality and safety of healthcare services in Wales is not fit for purpose and it is time for it to be scrapped and replaced with a new, independent and more robust system.

The Welsh Liberal Democrats have led a debate in the National Assembly calling for a new health watchdog that is fully independent of the Welsh Labour Government. Under our plans, this watchdog would be led by a new chief inspector for hospitals and healthcare. They would carry out targeted inspections in response to quality concerns and routine inspections of all hospitals on a regular basis.

We must also take action to curb the continuing culture of fear, bullying and secrecy in the NHS where staff are too scared to come forward. It is only by identifying when things are going wrong that we can take proactive steps to address them. We need to encourage a stronger culture of openness in the whistleblowing process and reform the complaints procedures to ensure greater independence and restore the trust of patients and their families. From dealing with cases brought to me by local residents, it is clear that the complaints procedure is not fit for purpose with people being passed from pillar to post before getting a response.

Together these plans will create a stronger inspection system to protect our most vulnerable people. The Welsh Liberal Democrats have an online petition for a new independent health watchdog for Wales, which you can sign here: http://www.welshlibdems.wales/healthwatchdog

Eluned Parrott AM