- Welsh Government is taking direct action to drive improvement
at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board, rather than the
health board leading own recovery.
- Independent panel will review patient safety, leadership and
culture, reporting back by end of October.
- Health Minister says this is clear statement of commitment to
supporting improvement and ensuring the people of north Wales
receive the safe, high-quality and timely care they deserve.
A Welsh Government directed intervention will take place at Betsi
Cadwaladr University Health Board to stabilise services,
strengthen leadership and accountability and drive lasting
improvement for people across north Wales.
Betsi Cadwaladr has been in a heightened state of escalation for
11 years, and at the most serious level - level 5 - since
February 2023.
Health and Care Minister has said the health board
continues to fall short of the standards that people in north
Wales deserve and has been clear that the situation can no longer
continue.
As part of the intervention, a full stocktake of the health
board's current position will be carried out, covering
operational challenges, quality of care and strategic direction.
The review will examine patient safety as well as the health
board's leadership, governance, organisational culture and board
capability. An independent expert panel will undertake the
assessment and provide clear, evidence-based recommendations to
the Cabinet Minister.
Previous approaches relied on the health board leading its own
recovery with external support. That has not delivered the pace
or scale of change required. This new intervention moves beyond
that, with Welsh Government taking a more direct role in ensuring
improvement happens.
A final report is expected by the end of October.
Cabinet Minister for Health and Care, said: People in north
Wales are waiting too long to be able to access the care and
treatment they need. This is not a reality the public should be
asked to accept, and it is not one this Government will accept
either.
This is the Board's final chance to demonstrate they can deliver
the consistent high standards of care that the people of north
Wales deserve."
NHS Wales Performance and Improvement (NHSWPI) has been tasked in
supporting the health board in areas such as planned care,
diagnostics and cancer to support operational improvement
planning and increasing the robustness of delivery.
Further resources will now be deployed to ensure improvements
through the coming months.
Healthcare Inspectorate Wales recently designated the emergency
department at Ysbyty Glan Clwyd as a 'service requiring
significant improvement' - its highest level of concern - less
than two years after it had previously been removed from that
status.
NHSWPI will support the development of an Urgent & Emergency
Care Improvement Team led by a senior expert who will take
forward an improvement plan.
The Minister added: Today's announcement is a serious
intervention, reflecting the persistent and unresolved concerns.
Previous arrangements have relied on the health board identifying
and delivering its own recovery, with support alongside it, that
has not worked.
This new plan represents a clear departure from the failed
approaches of the past. We are not simply asking the organisation
to improve; we are directing them on how that improvement
happens. That means setting clear expectations, providing
targeted expertise, and maintaining close and continuous
oversight of delivery.
It is a clear statement of my commitment to supporting
improvement and ensuring the people of north Wales receive the
safe, high-quality and timely care they deserve.
