Thank you. Of the 0.5 million patient pathways waiting to start treatment in December, 21 per cent are here in north Wales. Of the around 0.25 million pathways waiting over 36 weeks, over 51,000 are here in north Wales. That's up 347 per cent since the start of the pandemic. Clearly, Betsi Cadwaladr University Health Board is in desperate need of a recovery plan. In fact, I recently disclosed that one consultant has over 450 patients waiting for orthopaedic treatment.

However, the north Wales situation is unique. Not only do we need a recovery plan because of the devastating pressure caused by the pandemic, but one that takes us to a better position than ever before, as it is fact that since 2015 the board has remained under direct Welsh Government intervention. In June 2015, Mark Drakeford, the First Minister—he wasn't at the time, but he is now—placed the health board in special measures, reflecting serious concerns about the leadership, the governance, mental health services, reconnecting with the public and other areas. Last week, the Minister for Health and Social Services set out four key areas that require improvements: mental health, strategy planning and performance, leadership and engagement. So, five years and nine months on from the commencement of special measures, we are basically back at square one. 

Now, whilst I appreciate that the targeted intervention plan is backed by £297 million up to the end of 2023-24, how can we be confident that those improvements that have been identified as needed will, in fact, be secured? In 2019, I disclosed that the Welsh Government had spent £83 million on propping up this health board, but what was achieved? The interventions have failed to deliver for our staff and for our patients. In the interest of the recovery and improvement of our health board, I would ask that a plan is delivered that shares the huge long-standing treatment burden with other boards across the UK, champions schemes like the new post-anaesthesia care unit at Ysbyty Gwynedd, plants the seeds for improved giant beanstalk-size growth in recruitment through maximising the potential for a north Wales medical school, and sees a dedicated mental health worker teach GP practices across Wales. 

Llywydd, the new chief executive of the Betsi Cadwladr University Health Board is now in post, and I have great hopes going forward that she will be able to turn this board around. We've had several previous to her and we've had several promises, but one of the reasons that brought her to the board—and she makes no secret of this fact—was the fact that she herself was let down when there was an incident within her own family. So, she knows first hand how we have to get these things right. I would urge anybody going forward after May here, in particular in north Wales, that change is brought and it's brought quickly. That would at least bring some further light to the lives of staff and our patients here in north Wales. Diolch.