Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board appoints new Chief Executive
Carol Shillabeer has been named the permanent Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, having served as the interim Chief Executive.
Ms Shillabeer was appointed in May 2023 on secondment from the Powys Teaching Health Board; she will formally take on the substantive role early in the New Year.
“The appointment will provide continuity of leadership and support the new Board dynamic to work towards bringing the Health Board out of special measures and developing and delivering ambitious plans for the future,” the health board said in a statement.
The previous chief executive, Jo Whitehead, retired in autumn 2022, and since then, the board has been dealing with leadership instability.
In February 2023, an Audit Wales report highlighted the “dysfunctionality and factions” within the board’s senior executive team, pointing out a clear lack of unity.
The report emphasised, “clear and deep-seated fractures within the executive team that are preventing that team from working effectively.”
In response, Health Minister Eluned Morgan asked the non-executive directors on the health board to resign and placed the organisation back under special measures.
On today’s announcement, Carol Shillabeer said, “I am delighted and honoured to have been appointed as the Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.
“In the short time I have already been here, I have seen a strong commitment from colleagues and partners alike to make improvements and give the people of North Wales the services they expect and deserve.
“There has been a lot of change here in recent years, and I am confident we will build the right leadership and culture to provide the stability and confidence we need to take the organisation in the right direction.
“I know we face some significant challenges, and I am committed to working collectively with staff, partners, and communities to help us overcome them together as we move forward.
“It is my job, with the Board, to make sure there are strong foundations for the future, and we have clear ambitions to do just that. I am looking forward to being able to make a real difference for our patients and our staff, who all have an important part to play in that future of our NHS in North Wales.”
Dyfed Edwards, Chair of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, said, “I am really pleased that Carol has chosen to take on the role as our Chief Executive and welcome her to the Health Board on a permanent basis.
“I have had the opportunity to work with Carol since May and believe her strong track record of leadership, organisational development, and partnership working make her the right person to get this Health Board where it needs to be.
“Carol has already made a significant impact since joining us on an interim basis, and this appointment provides us with the stability we need to continue delivering improvements for our communities, staff, and partners.”
Commenting on the announcement of Carol Shillabeer’s appointment as permanent Chief Executive of Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, Welsh Conservative Shadow Minister for North Wales, Darren Millar MS said:
“I welcome the appointment of a permanent Chief Executive at the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board and wish Carol Shillabeer all the very best for the new role.
“Carol has a huge task ahead. The Health Board needs strong and confident leadership as it seeks to get to grips with failings and plots a route to improved NHS services for patients across North Wales.
“I look forward to continuing to engage with Carol in the months and years ahead.”
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