Calls to improve healthcare in north Wales as one year of Betsi Cadwaladr special measures approaches

A motion calling on the Welsh Government to “ensure patients in North Wales get the timely, high-quality healthcare that they deserve” will be put before the Senedd this week.

The Welsh Conservative motion, which will be debated on Wednesday (21 February), comes almost a year after Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was placed back in special measures.

The decision followed a damning report from the Auditor General for Wales, which highlighted “deep-rooted issues” with working relationships at the most senior levels within the health board. ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌​​​ ‌​‌‌​​​‌‍‌​‌​‌‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌‌​​‍‌​​‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​​‌‌​‍‌​‌‌‌‌‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​‌​‌​‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌‌‍‌​​‌​‌‌​‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌​​‌‍‌​​‌‌​‌​‍‌​​​‌‌​​

At the time Health Minister Eluned Morgan said there were “serious concerns about performance, leadership and culture.”

It led to the resignation of several independent members of the board who said they had “no confidence in the Welsh Government’s grasp of the situation” of health in the region.

In a statement released at the time, the independent members said: “It seems that responsibility for organisational culture, service quality and reconfiguration governance, and operational delivery have been placed at our door without recognition of the limitation of our powers as Independent Members.

“In undertaking our legitimate role, we uncovered serious failings in the financial management of the Health Board.

“We commissioned a specialist review by Ernst & Young, which confirmed our concerns, found evidence of serious malpractice, and resulted in a counter fraud investigation.”

They added that they were “gravely concerned” over the health minister’s to the last year’s Audit Wales report.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan

Following significant changes to the board membership over the last 12 months, and a period of upheaval, a follow-up report published last week describes a board that is now more stable.

The report, while acknowledging improvements, also highlighted persistent challenges facing Wales’ largest health board.

The health board – which provides healthcare services to 700,000 people in north Wales – was previously in special measures between June 2015 and November 2020.

It was removed by then Health Minister Vaughan Gething who at the time stated that the board would enter a period of Targeted Intervention.

However the Welsh Conservatives have argued that it was “conveniently taken out of special measures six months prior to the 2021 Senedd elections.”

With the one year anniversary of its return to special measures approaching the Welsh Conservatives will on Wednesday put forward a motion calling on the Welsh Government “to listen to the concerns of healthcare professionals when concerns are raised about the quality of services, and ensure patients in North Wales get the timely, high-quality healthcare that they deserve.”

Commenting ahead of the debate, Welsh Conservative Shadow North Wales Minister, Darren Millar MS, said: “The Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is nearing yet another anniversary in special measures, but patients and staff are yet to see the improvements they have been promised by Labour Ministers.

“Report after report highlights problems yet the Labour Government seems incapable of getting to grips with the failings and problems they expose.

“Next week, we will be calling on the Labour Government to listen to the concerns of healthcare professionals, patients and their loved ones, and ensure that the people of North Wales get the timely, high-quality healthcare that they deserve.”

The motion which will be debated on Wednesday reads:

To propose that the Senedd:

1. Recognises the work and dedication of hardworking staff at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

2. Notes that:

a) 27 February 2024 marks one year since Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board was placed back into special measures;

b) the health board was previously subject to special measures between 8 June 2015 and 24 November 2020, less than six months prior to the 2021 Senedd elections; and

c) the health board has spent longer in special measures than any other NHS organisation in the history of the National Health Service.

3. Regrets that since being placed into special measures, patients and staff are yet to see the required improvements.

4. Calls on the Welsh Government to:

a) listen to the concerns of healthcare professionals when concerns are raised about the quality of services; and

b) ensure patients in North Wales get the timely, high-quality healthcare that they deserve

The motion will debated by members of the Senedd on Wednesday 21 February.