Urgent intervention is required from Welsh Government to support improvement at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB), says the Chair of the Senedd’s Public Account and Public Administration Committee, following reports of dysfunctionality within the Board.
Mark Isherwood MS is responding to a report published today (Thursday 23 February) by Audit Wales which claims that a breakdown in working relationships at BCUHB “is fundamentally compromising” the Health Board’s ability to tackle the numerous challenges it faces.
Mark Isherwood MS says: “In a time of unprecedented challenges and long-term concerns over performance, quality and safety, it is shocking to read in the Auditor General’s report about the lack of cohesion at the very top of the Board at Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB). Most disturbingly is the impact this is having on patients, who are not receiving the health services they so vitally need.
“Yet again we find that a breakdown in relationships between the Health Board‘s senior leaders has compromised its ability to move forward. This is simply not good enough.
“The Committee is doubtful that the Health Board can make the necessary improvements without external intervention and the Welsh Government should use the current Escalation and Intervention Framework to support urgent improvements.
“The Public Accounts and Public Administration Committee will be watching these developments closely and will conduct its own comprehensive scrutiny of these matters in a timely manner.”
The Audit Wales report titled "Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – Review of Board Effectiveness" is available online
