Health Board still in crisis after four years of direct Labour Government control

In response to the Health Minister’s announcement that Betsi Cadwaladr health board was remaining in Special Measures, Llyr Gruffydd, Plaid Cymru’s North Wales AM, said: “Any improvement in Betsi Cadwaladr health board’s performance is to be welcomed but we are almost four years into Special Measures and there are still huge problems in our local NHS.

More than £30 million is still being spent annually on agency staff, there are more than 1400 vacancies including 565 nurses and A&E services in our main hospitals are at breaking point. Special Measures was supposed to be a temporary measure but we’re almost four years in with direct Welsh Government control and the signs of improvement are few and far between.

“The Health Minister must take responsibility for the health board’s performance but shows no sign of apologising for the ongoing problems staff and patients are facing.”