Health board 'learns' from £9.4m error

The health board serves Anglesey, Gwynedd, Conwy, Denbighshire, Flintshire and Wrexham

Wales' biggest health board says it has "learned" from a £9.4m clerical blunder.

A damning report by Audit Wales and subsequent investigation found Betsi Cadwaladr health board deliberately made incorrect entries into its own accounts for 2021-22.

Probes by NHS Counter Fraud and North Wales Police found no evidence of fraud.

Health board CEO Carol Shillabeer said she hoped the final report into the matter, discussed at a board meeting on Thursday, would allow the health board to "start to move forward" with learning from the mistakes.

The Welsh government put the health board back into special measures in February 2023 after Audit Wales found a "deeply worrying degree of dysfunctionality" within the then board and senior leadership.

Finance department staff confidentially raised concerns about the recording of transactions through whistle blowing procedures.

The health board was also made aware of an unauthorised disclosure of an accounting report by accountancy firm EY in May 2023.

The final report says: "This is to provide transparency and accountability and to ensure learning, with measures in place to safeguard that such matters do not happen in future.

"This was clearly a serious and complex matter and a wide range of reviews, investigations and other processes have been undertaken as a result.

"The report demonstrates the learning and actions implemented and there are now strengthened systems, culture, and leadership in place."

Audit Wales found no concerns in its review of the last two financial years, the report also said.

"External bodies, through various reports and assurances, have recognised the progress made by the health board.

"We have and will continue to learn from this experience as we build a culture of integrity, respect, and transparency across all areas of our organisation."

Speaking at the meeting, Ms Shillabeer said the "core issues" related to accounting practice were in turn related to wider issues including contract procurement and management, HR management, information governance, culture and behaviours.

"This matter has been very difficult for the people involved and for wider departments in the organisation and the health board in general," she said.

"I hope that bringing this final report means that having brought out the issues, the learning and action we can now start to move forward."