Part of the debate – in the Senedd at 3:40 pm on 7 June 2022.
Thank you for your statement this afternoon, Minister. The sad reality is that, back in the 1980s and the 1990s, Glan Clwyd Hospital was one of the best-performing hospitals not only in Wales but the UK, so it's sad to see how times have changed, to say the least.
I have just a couple of questions this afternoon. Do you honestly believe that these measures you've outlined can deliver improvements quickly and in a timely manner? And what additional support will be on offer to my constituents working in YGC? After all, this is not a failure of the staff working on the front line, it's a leadership failure—too many middle managers and bureaucrats. Do you have confidence that the leadership can deliver safer, improved services? And as you state in your statement, there are concerns surrounding morale and workforce well-being, so what steps are you taking to monitor the well-being of the staff working in YGC and what instruments are you going to use to measure that over a sustained period of time? And will staff at YGC be offered external reporting measures until the culture within the health board improves? And, finally, Minister, you have asked the health board to create a new director of safety and improvement. Given the recruitment issues facing the board, when do you anticipate the post being filled and how will the new director be able to drive these improvements that are well needed? Thank you.