2 weeks Ago
WALES’ First Minister has said Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board (BCUHB) is “turning a corner” after being in special measures for the last two years. Eluned Morgan spoke with where she discussed health care provision in North Wales. In March, the Welsh Government published a progress report on BCUHB – which has been in special measures since February 2023.
The report detailed progress in a range of areas, including culture, leadership and governance and quality and safety. It concluded: “Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board has stabilised and started to put in place the building blocks to become a sustainable organisation over the course of the last 2 years under the current level 5 (special measures) arrangements. “Progress has been made in relation to corporate governance, financial control and governance and over the last 12 months the quality management system has begun to demonstrate improved grip and control.
“The focus the chair, independent members, chief executive and executive directors are bringing to these areas has made an impact but, as this report highlights, there are areas of continuing fragility, which are linked to operational performance and clinical services, where further improvements are urgently needed.” And the First Minister said things are improving at the troubled health board. “Last year we took the drastic step of putting in a new board – which is starting to pay dividends,” she said.
“Waiting lists are coming down, especially in orthopaedics where two-year waits have dropped by two thirds over the last couple of years. This will continue to improve when the new orthopaedic hub opens in Llandudno.” The report also stated that mental health performance for adults and young people has improved, and BCUHB has the highest number of consultations carried out under the pharmacist independent prescribing service in Wales.
The First Minister added: “On average 200,000 people in North Wales get to see their GP every month. When people say the NHS is failing that’s worth remembering. That’s a huge portion of the population who are accessing free health care every month and a lot of work being done.
“We’re working really hard improve health care services in North Wales, and we’ve got a lot of work still to do, but we definitely feel we’re turning a corner with BCUHB.”.
