Plaid Cymru has demanded that the Welsh Government responds to ‘alarm bell’ mortality figures in Glangwili Hospital in Carmarthen. The Party of Wales leader Leanne Wood called on the First Minister to send in Health Inspectorate Wales to investigate why its RAMI figures pointed to higher risk levels in two Welsh hospitals - Glangwili and Neath Port Talbot.

The figures published by the government last month showed that 37% more deaths happened in Glangwili hospital would have been expected.

Elin Jones, Ceredigion’s AM and Party of Wales Shadow Health Minister, urged the First Minister to learn the lessons of Mid Staffordshire rather than question the data.

The review the Welsh Government has announced is a statistical review to reassess clinical targets, not a clinical review to address high mortality rates.

Ceredigion’s local Plaid Cymru AM Elin Jones said,

“One of the crucial lessons from the failures of Mid Staffordshire is that figures like this should act as an alarm bell.

“When such an alarm sounds, there should at least be a proper investigation. And that’s why Plaid Cymru is calling for the Health Inspectorate Wales to carry out reviews at Glangwili and Neath Port Talbot to investigate and produce an explanation for these statistics.

“Aside from the statistics, people have been to see me in advice surgeries with deep concerns about the treatment they and their loved ones have received.”

The Party of Wales leader Leanne Wood said:

“Welsh Government statistics last week showed that Glangwili Hospital has a mortality rate 37% higher than should be expected.

“But the First Minister is unable to explain these statistics.

“It should be a cause for alarm that Glangwili Hospital hasn’t had an inspection since March 2011 and that was a cleanliness inspection.”