Part of 1. Questions to the First Minister – in the Senedd at 1:49 pm on 13 February 2018.
First Minister, my question was: what's gone wrong? This is a health board that was put into—I think the words are—'targeted intervention' some 18 months ago, along with three other health boards, and obviously the special measures health board of Betsi up in the north. So, four of our health boards are under some form of Government intervention. This escalation in the deficit up to £70 million, building on two previous substantial deficits, clearly shows that that financial oversight—and it was specific to financial oversight, that the Welsh Government intervened—is not working in this health board. Now, we know there's a consultation about re-organisation of health services in Hywel Dda. We know, from the apology you gave last week, that you don't give apologies that easily, in fairness, in coming to this Chamber because of the misinformation that that health board handed over to you. Really, how can anyone have any confidence in the ability of the health board to deliver health services in west Wales for in excess of 10 per cent of the population of Wales? A £70 million deficit—how on earth is that deficit going to be brought back under control while maintaining services and getting on top of waiting lists?