5. Statement by the Cabinet Secretary for Health and Social Services: Betsi Cadwaladr University Local Health Board — Special Measures Update

Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:31 pm on 6 November 2018.

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Photo of Darren Millar Darren Millar Conservative 3:31, 6 November 2018

Thank you, Cabinet Secretary, for your statement. I think it's important that you keep this Chamber up to date with the situation in terms of the special measures in north Wales. You know that I've been extremely critical of the lack of progress that there has been over the past almost three and a half years since this organisation went into special measures. We've seen performance on a range indicators, including A&E waiting times, referral-to-treatment waiting times and mental health challenges, not going in the right direction so far, and I think that many people are very concerned also about the sustainability of their GP services in north Wales, given that 24,000 patients have had to find alternative arrangements as a result of their practices handing back their contracts across the north Wales area in recent years. 

We know also, of course, that the financial situation, rather than getting better under special measures, which was always the intention, has actually gotten worse. The deficit was £26.6 million at the year-end—[Inaudible.]—2015, and we note that that deficit—[Inaudible.]—was £38.8 million in the last financial year. Also, of course, there is concern about the control of escalating costs, with even things like capital projects. We saw in the news—