Aberconwy AM Janet Finch-Saunders, has called for the Welsh Labour Government Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services, Vaughan Gething AM, to resign, after three years of special measures for Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.

Janet said:

“The Health Board has been under special measures for three years now – far, far longer than any Health Board in England. Having had, essentially, direct control of the Board during this time, it is exceptionally disappointing that patients in North Wales have seen so little progress.

 

“In many areas, performance has actually gone backwards – with the Cabinet Secretary recently escalating the level of intervention in treatment waiting times, unscheduled care and financial planning and management.

 

“He has admitted intense concern at the decline in performance in such areas, yet this has been under his watch.

 

“Since the Board has been under the direct intervention of the Welsh Labour Government, the number of patients waiting over 36 weeks for treatment has gone up by 34%. This is simply unacceptable, and the Cabinet Secretary must take direct responsibility for these failings.

 

“Give his poor track record on health – and particularly the Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board – I do think that now is the time for the Cabinet Secretary to consider his position, and resign.”

ENDS

Notes

In his Statement on 05-06-2018, the Cabinet Secretary noted “concerns on governance, clinical leadership and service redesign. In the last 12 months, the Welsh Government has escalated the level of intervention in finance and some areas of performance due to substantial concerns on referral to treatment waiting times, unscheduled care and financial planning and management. I am intensely concerned with the decline in performance in these areas, and generally exasperated with the pace of progress by the health board on the milestones set for the first part of this calendar year and the continued lack of clarity on its plans for the future.”