Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:42 pm on 24 November 2020.
Thank you for the questions and the comments. I particularly welcome the recognition from the Member that the pandemic response from staff and organisations in north Wales has been second to none. It has been a very positive and impressive response. And, again, that underpins an organisation where others would have been concerned about the ability of the organisation to work effectively in the face of a once-in-a-century pandemic, and yet, actually, they have risen to the challenge significantly, with not just the creation of the rainbow hospitals, but the way they've worked across their whole healthcare system. And I think it should give more people more confidence for the rest of the unfinished pandemic that we are all still facing.
And, again, to go back to the point about the advice that is given and the assurance from the previous update I gave from the regular tripartite meeting, at that meeting, in the discussion around north Wales, they recognised that further progress had been made and they asked for a further meeting because they sought further assurance on areas of progress. They've considered the extra information that has been provided, and that group of people—the chief exec of NHS Wales, Healthcare Inspectorate Wales and Audit Wales—have given clear advice that Betsi Cadwaladr should move out of special measures, and that is the basis for my decision.
I don't think it's difficult or complicated to understand, and, of course, other people are entitled to say that they reject the advice of Healthcare Inspectorate Wales, Audit Wales and the chief executive of NHS Wales. They're entitled to say that, and I think people are entitled to judge whether they think that is the right thing to do, for me to base my choice on, as a Minister, or for rather more partisan reasons not to change the status of the organisation, but to keep it in special measures when the clear objective advice is that it is no longer the right thing to do for the organisation and the people it serves.
I recognise that—. The Member has a clear view that he has set out on more than one occasion, that he believes a reorganisation with more than one health board in north Wales will provide a better future. That is not a view I share. I think the loss of focus, the money you'd spend, the upheaval, would have a real cost within it and you'd then have to remake all those partner arrangements that have definitely moved forward over the last few months and the last few years. So, I don't share his view, but I recognise he's perfectly entitled to put it to people. Members will decide, but as I say, this is an undeniably positive step forward for all the staff of the health board and indeed for every community in north Wales that is served by Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board.