Betsi Cadwaladr health board bosses defend appointment

Health board bosses have defended the appointment of a senior manager who left a previous job following the publication of a damning report.

Bernie Cuthel's role as a director at Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board in north Wales has been extended until August.

She stood down from Liverpool Community Health NHS Trust after a report criticised the way staff were treated.

A new report said an "oppressive" culture led to poor services. The trust said it was now making improvements.

Welsh Conservative's shadow health minister Darren Millar said: "North Wales' patients deserve the very best people in charge of NHS services. I'm not sure that appointing a person who has been at the heart of such a scandal meets that criteria."

Betsi Cadwaladr Health Board chief executive Gary Doherty said Ms Cuthel was "making a positive contribution" to the board while on secondment as its interim director of primary, community and mental health.

"This secondment was advertised on the NHS Jobs website, Bernie applied in open competition and was deemed to be the strongest candidate at interview," he said.