THE WELSH GOVERNMENT has confirmed that Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board will remain under the highest level of intervention, with ministers warning that patients in North Wales are still waiting too long for vital treatment.
In a written statement issued on Thursday (March 5), the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Care, Jeremy Miles, said that despite some areas of improvement, serious concerns remain about operational performance and access to care.
The health board was placed into special measures in February 2023 following longstanding concerns about governance, leadership and performance across its services.
Publishing the third annual progress report since the intervention began, the Welsh Government said the organisation had shown some progress but must now deliver “rapid and sustained improvement” in several key areas.
Miles said too many patients across North Wales are still facing unacceptable delays.
He said: “Too many people are waiting too long for care, including cancer services, in North Wales. Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board must deliver rapid and sustained improvement to ensure people receive safe and timely access to high-quality planned care, cancer and urgent and emergency care services.”
The statement highlights ongoing concerns about waiting times for planned treatment as well as pressure on urgent and emergency departments.
While ministers acknowledged improvements in some parts of the organisation, the health board remains at Level 5 – the highest level of intervention available to the Welsh Government.
Special measures allow ministers and officials to exert direct oversight of the organisation’s leadership and performance while requiring detailed progress reports on efforts to improve services.
Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is the largest health organisation in Wales, responsible for providing care to around 700,000 people across the north of the country.
The board has faced repeated scrutiny in recent years over waiting lists, leadership instability and service performance.
The latest report comes as the Welsh NHS continues to face significant pressure from record waiting lists and growing demand for both emergency and planned care services.
The Welsh Government said it would continue to monitor progress closely while working with the health board to drive further improvements for patients across North Wales.
