Ministers issue final warning to Betsi Cadwaladr health board

The health board centralised vascular services to a new unit at Glan Clwyd Hospital in 2019

North Wales' health board has been given a warning to make urgent changes or it could be placed back in special measures.

Health Minister Eluned Morgan told Betsi Cadwaladr health board it needed to make significant improvements in the next three months.

It comes after a critical report into Betsi Cadwaladr's vascular service.

The health board said it would make improvements and intended to meet Ms Morgan's expectations.

Ms Morgan said: "If the recommendations... are not sufficiently progressed... there will be consequences."

The critical report by the Royal College of Surgeons (RCS) published earlier this month made five urgent recommendations "to address patient safety risks".

In a controversial move, complex vascular services were centralised from Ysbyty Gwynedd in Bangor and Wrexham Maelor Hospital, to Ysbyty Glan Clwyd in April 2019.

Patients and staff have frequently raised fears about the move, and the second part of the RCS's report, was highly critical of vascular services run by BCUHB.

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The body responsible for hospitals and other NHS services across north Wales has previously been under Welsh government direct control for over five years.

It was brought out of special measures in November 2020.

The health minister acknowledged that the health board had "responded swiftly to the second part of the RCS review and has taken a number of immediate actions".

These include, establishing links with Liverpool, setting up a quality panel which will be independently chaired, and taking steps to strengthen clinical leadership locally.

Ms Morgan said it was "correct to allow the health board team some time to prove that these measures are making a difference".

"However, I have made it very plain to the health board that if I do not feel confident that their planned actions are being implemented or if I am not convinced the service is heading in the right direction within the next three months, then I will ask the tripartite (the Welsh Government, Health Inspectorate Wales and the Audit Office) to convene an additional meeting to consider advice on further escalation measures," she said.

The health board will now have to report directly to the Welsh government each month about any improvements made to its vascular services.

In response, BCUHB said it was "responding immediately" to the review.

Chairman Mark Polin said: "We fully accept the findings of parts one and two of the review and will continue to make improvements in the service to ensure we deliver the quality of care our population deserves and expects.

"Today's clear announcement by the health minister reflects the desire we all have to improve care - at pace - and we intend to meet the minister's expectations and those of our communities."

'Let down'

Speaking in the Senedd, Conservative Darren Millar said north Wales' politicians felt "let down" by the Welsh government for failing to turn the situation around in over five years when the organisation was in special measures.

The Member of the Senedd (MS) for Clwyd West said it it made him question how effective the measures might be if they were reintroduced.

"But secondly, we feel let down by the leadership of that health board in the past."

Mr Millar called for a register of Welsh NHS leaders to be able to hold them to account.

"I'm talking about managers," he said. "They should...never be allowed to put people at risk again, by being thrown off a register in the future."

The health minister told the Senedd that ministers "are concerned about the situation".

Plaid Cymru's Mabon ap Gwynfor, MS for Dwyfor Meirionnydd, said "at last there is recognition that substantial mistakes have been made with this service".