“No change” to targeted intervention measures at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board

A “number of serious challenges” need to be addressed before it can be removed from targeted intervention, the health minister has said.

Eluned Morgan MS has today published a written statement providing an update on the situation at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

The north Wales health board has been under targeted intervention for two years, after then health minister Vaughan Gething announced that it would be removed from special measures after five years.

However there been growing calls in recent months for Betsi Cadwaladr to either be remodelled or return back to special measures after a series of issues raised by the Welsh Government and other public bodies.

It was announced in March that complex cases requiring vascular services were being moved from North Wales to Liverpool after two concerning safety incidents were identified.

Targeted intervention measures were extended to include vascular services and the hospital’s emergency department in June 2022 after “significant concerns” were identified  by inspectors.

In August 2022 a damning report about the emergency department was released, with the Welsh Government accused of “continuing to fail patients” in the region.

In a written statement Health Minister Eluned Morgan said: “On 5 October, I published a written statement setting out the escalation levels of health boards across Wales.

“I said the escalation status of Betsi Cadwaladr and Cwm Taf Morgannwg university health boards were being considered separately and I would update members following the tripartite meeting.

“On 7 June, I confirmed my decision to extend the targeted intervention status of the health board to incorporate Ysbyty Glan Clwyd, focusing on the vascular service and emergency department.

“It is clear there are still a number of serious challenges the health board needs to overcome. I have accepted the advice that there should be no change to the escalation status of the health board.”

Commenting on the update, Welsh Conservative shadow health minister Russell George MS said: “Sadly, the issues facing the NHS are Wales-wide, with most health boards in some state of intervention, record-long waiting lists, the slowest ever ambulance response times, and Britain’s worst A&E waits.

“What we need more than just action is explanation for why this is the case – otherwise, Labour will never get a grip on the NHS and stop breaking all the wrong records.”