New Chief Executive

Part of 1. Questions to the Minister for Health and Social Services – in the Senedd at 2:18 pm on 11 March 2020.

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Photo of Llyr Gruffydd Llyr Gruffydd Plaid Cymru 2:18, 11 March 2020

We've just heard that the recently departed chief executive was in post for a little too long; you could probably say that about the three chief executives who've served during the period that the board has been in special measures and under the direct control of Welsh Government. Now, I know that you're reticent to direct the board to do anything, but, as Minister, I'm sure you can convey a few key messages to the new chief executive officer. And one of those, I would suggest, should be that the board needs to get to grips with the number of management consultants that it's engaging with—up to 40, I believe, in recent times, costing over £6 million to the taxpayer. No wonder they're heading for another hefty deficit this year. So, will you convey to the new chief executive that the time has come for them to get a grip on this relentless engagement with consultancy managers. They have managers who are employed and, if they were doing their jobs, then we wouldn't need these additional people at a huge cost. So, please tell them it's unacceptable and it has to change.